Driver Training Schedule
The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has mandated that all vehicle acceptance recipients under the Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) agree to ensure all vehicle drivers receive proper training; therefore, the following training courses are required.
These training courses, most offered free of charge to all MAP recipients through the MArtap program. Training requests must receive prior approval from MArtap.
To schedule training at your location, complete the Driver Training Request Form.
To register for course already scheduled at another location, complete the Driver Training Signup Form. Sign up does not guarantee approval. Be sure to receive prior approval from MArtap before attending the course.
You may contact MArtap directly at info@martap.org or call 877-MArtap1 (627-8271).
Please allow 14 days for your request to be processed. All requests will be confirmed by e-mail.
All training requests must be submitted to and approved by MArtap prior to scheduling. Agency will be responsible for training cost if training class is held without prior authorization from Carol Tally at MArtap.
Required Training Courses:
Coaching the Van Driver or Defensive Driving Course 4 (training requirement: yearly)
Wheelchair Lift & Securement Training (training requirement: yearly)
Safe Transportation of the Public under the ADA or Passenger Sensitivity Training (training requirement for one or the other training: every three (3) years)
In addition to the required courses, MArtap offers:
Emergency and Accident Handling Procedures
Coaching the Transit Bus Driver
Get an 'A' in Customer Service
Also required but not offered through the MArtap program:
CPR (certification must be renewed each year)
First Aid (certification must be renewed every two (2) years)
All training above, with the exception of CPR and First Aid, are provided FREE OF CHARGE, depending on funding availability, to all MAP recipients through the MArtap program.
For complete training course description, click here
To schedule one or more of these courses at your facility, complete registration form or contact MArtap directly at info@martap.org or 877-MArtap1 (627-8271). To sign up for a scheduled training course, click here.
For more information, contact
Carol Tally, MArtap Program Manager
c/o MArtap
PO Box 155
Foxboro, MA 02035
Phone: 877-MArtap1 (627-8271)
Fax: 508-698-2002
E-mail: info@martap.org
MArtap also has a wealth of training information on file to share with you. Click here for the Lend and Learn program. If you would like to donate training materials to this library, contact Carol Tally.
What you need to know about Driver Training under the Massachusetts Mobility Assistance Program
The training and education of drivers, paid or volunteer, helps to ensure their top performance in routine situations and emergencies. Training in the safe operation of a vehicle and in passenger assistance techniques not only makes sense but the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires it.
The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has mandated that all vehicle acceptance recipients under the Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) agree to ensure all vehicle drivers receive proper training; therefore, has mandated the following training requirements each year.
All vehicle acceptance recipients under the MAP program are required to have the following yearly training.
Also required under the MAP program, but not offered through the MArtap program:
CPR (certification must be renewed each year)
First Aid (certification must be renewed every two (2) years)
In addition to the mandatory yearly training courses, various trainings are offered to help meet Federal and State laws.
MArtap offers (depending on availability of funds):
Emergency and Accident Handling Procedures
Coaching the Transit Bus Driver
Safe Transportation of the Public under the ADA (training requirement: every three (3) years)
Passenger Sensitivity Training
Get an 'A' in Customer Service.
Also required but not offered through the MArtap program:
CPR (certification must be renewed each year)
First Aid (certification must be renewed every two (2) years)
By accepting a vehicle from EOT under the Mobility Assistance Program (MAP), you agree to ensure all drivers are properly trained.
Again, all vehicle acceptance recipients under the MAP program are required to have the following yearly training.
In addition, all drivers are required to have two other types of training every three years.
Safe Transportation of the Public under the ADA or Passenger Sensitivity Training
First Aid (course not offered through MArtap)
Training Course Descriptions
MArtap has contracted with Jack Mastrangelo Transportation Consultant to bring you the following training courses. Please allow 14 days for your request to be processed. All requests will be comfirmed by e-mail. All training requests must be submitted to and approved by MArtap prior to scheduling. Agency will be responsible for training cost if training is held without prior authorization from Carol Tally at MArtap.
Required Training Courses:
Coaching the Van Driver/Defensive Driving Course 4 (training requirement: yearly)
National Safety Council's DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE: These courses contain 4 hour training modules dealing with various issues including: Pre-inspection, driving safety, and how to avoid intersection collision. These courses are multi-media using videotapes, charts, workbooks, and storybooks; designed for Van Drivers. DDC 4 is designed for automobile drivers.
Wheelchair Lift & Securement Training (training requirement: yearly)
WHEELCHAIR LIFT EQUIPMENT AND SECUREMENT PROCEDURES: This course covers basic knowledge of wheelchair lift and securement equipment being used by many rural and small urban systems. Proper tie-down procedures using a variety of equipment lift operation and handling procedures are covered. This 2/3 hour course is mostly hands-on.
Safe Transportation of the Public under the ADA every three (3) years) A passenger sensitivity training course. Topics covered are:
- Describing the basic terms and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Identifies major categories of disabilities and issues involved in transporting passengers with disabilities
- Describes various procedures to be used when interacting with passengers with disabilities
- Recognizes available resources to adequately respond to needs of passengers with disabilities
Combined 8 hour course
National Safety Council's TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: This program has been designed for drivers who are responsible for the safe transportation of passengers with special needs. For these drivers, the term "safe transportation" means more than just driving; it also means interacting with and assisting passengers. This 8 hour course covers both Defensive Driving and Passenger Assistance Techniques, and can be broken down into two 4-hour segments.
Also required but not offered through the MArtap program:
CPR (certification must be renewed each year)
Known as "Adult and Infant Heart Saver", this course teaches skills to rescue adults and infants using cardipulmonary resuscitation. It also covers obstructed airways incidents and is appropriate for most lay persons (4 hours).
First Aid (certification must be renewed every two (2) years) This course is designed to give the student basic First Aid knowledge. It covers rescue breathing, foreign body obstruction management, treatment of shock, wounds, poisoning, burns, heat stroke, frostbite, fractures and the management of heart, diabetic and epileptic emergencies.
In addition to the required courses, MArtap offers: Emergency and Accident Handling Procedures
This 4 hour course instructs the driver on how to safely evacuate the vehicle during an emergency and/or accident. It illustrates the use of a variety of exits that can be used to get passengers out of the vehicle. Uses some video during the classroom with the rest of the time consisting of hands-on practice.
Coaching the Van Driver/Defensive Driving
National Safety Council's COACHING THE VAN DRIVER: A DDC course for van drivers, very effective and well received by drivers. Consists of van characteristics, safety belts, cushion of safety and special situations. Materials include a video and a workbook. The course is 4 hours long.
Coaching the Transit Bus Driver
National Safety Council's: COACHING THE TRANSIT BUS OPERATOR. A five-hour defensive driving course for drivers already trained in the basics of handling a bus. For the experienced operator, the course will help refresh previously learned skills as well as build new skills based on each other's driving experience. Through the unique design of the training material, trainees will actively participate throughout the course.
Passenger Sensitivity Training (training requirement: every three (3) years)
UNDERSTANDING THE CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS OF SPECIAL PASSENGERS: This module is designed to help transit operators communicate and work more efficiently with disabled and elderly passengers. Topics covered are:
Spinal cord injuries
Mental retardation
Vision/hearing impairments
Epilepsy
Alzheimer's
Other disabilities
Materials include a video and workbook. The course is 4 hours long.
Get an 'A' in Customer Service
To complement this well-received and very informative slate of courses, MARTAP has contracted with Hardwick Transit Associates (HTA) to make a new course in customer service available to all of your van and bus operators. Get an 'A' in Customer Service is a multimedia training program, designed specifically for public transportation operators, dispatchers, supervisors and trainers. Several Massachusetts RTA's have had great success with this program in recent years, and many transit systems nationwide have adopted this course as an integral part of their driver training program. The course covers pertinent topics, such as:
- Going 'above and beyond' for the customer, without risking safety or timeliness;
- Thinking more creatively when solving customer problems and answering questions - refrain from responding with the 'same old, same old';
- Satisfying your customer's needs before he/she exits the bus or van to reduce calls to Info Line or customer service telephone lines;
- Curbing inappropriate or offensive language on the van or bus;
- Responding empathetically to calm a frustrated customer, despite delays or problems with the service over which we have no control;
- Saying 'no' to a customer without losing the customer's support and ridership;
- Responding to challenging situations, such as unhygienic passengers, non-paying customers, and threatening or intoxicated customers;
- Welcoming and accept customers with disabilities into your service, a particularly useful section for operators with limited experience and training under the ADA.
These courses are open to all of your operators and operations staff, not just MAP vehicle drivers. You will find that the program is as relevant for your bus operations staff as it is to your rural transportation and paratransit providers, so encourage all of your operators to take advantage of this opportunity.
Other training courses available from MArtap at no charge (depending on availability of funds).
Passenger Assistance Techniques
Transportation Management Associates ADA approved and recommended course. This one day course consists of classroom and practice sessions and covers proper driver attitude, basic characteristics of functional losses, personal assistance devices, considerations in handling the elderly and handicapped and environmental considerations affecting passengers. The "hands-on" session puts to use the skills taught in the classroom. Actual practice with wheelchairs and other devices.
Reasonable Cause Drug Testing Training Program for Supervisors
This training is for those front-line supervisors responsible for supervising employees who fulfill sensitive safety job functions. Program consists of videos, true/false quiz and some case studies. The length of the training program is approximately 2 hours.
Supervisor's Guide to Dealing with Employee Drug & Alcohol Abuse
Explains to your management staff how to recognize a drug or alcohol problem. Shows employees how to best handle the situation for both the company and the employee. This course can help your management staff improve at handling drug and alcohol problems in the workplace. This course is 2 hours long.
Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the Human Body
Help your employees steer clear of drug and alcohol problems by giving them the facts. This in-depth video discusses alcohol and drug abuse, and how it can affect the home and the workplace. The information is presented in an entertaining, non-technical way so all employees can understand it. This course is 1 hour long.
NOTE: These programs meet the mandated requirements for the Federal Drug Testing Policies
Blood borne Pathogens Course
Personal Protection Equipment for the First Responder and OSHA compliance training and Blood borne Pathogens for the First Responder. This course is two hours long.
For more information, contact
Carol Tally, MArtap Program Manager
c/o MArtap
PO Box 155
Foxboro, MA 02035
Phone: 877-MArtap1 (627-8271)
Fax: 508-698-2002
E-mail: info@martap.org
To schedule one or more of these courses at your facility, complete registration form or contact MArtap directly at info@martap.org or 877-MArtap1 (627-8271). To sign up for a scheduled training course, click here.
Please allow 14 days for your request to be processed. All requests will be comfirmed by e-mail. All training requests must be submitted to and approved by MArtap prior to scheduling. Agency will be responsible for training cost if training is held without prior authorization from Carol Tally at MArtap.
MArtap also has a wealth of training information on file to share with you. Click here for the Lend and Learn program. If you would like to donate training materials to this library, contact Carol Tally.
Note: The use of information on this website (www.martap.org) has been designed for informational purpose only and does not supersede any MAP contract. Be sure to reference your contract for exact contractual information regarding MAP/driver training requirements. Copying from this website or republishing contents of the data on this website for other use is strictly prohibited. Information provided is subject to change. The Massachusetts Regional Transit Authority (MARTA) and the Massachusetts Rural Transit Assistance Program, also known as MArtap and all of its officers, agents and employees are not responsible for any errors or omission in the information listed on www.martap.org. All agencies must comply with the terms and conditions of the MAP contract.