Village Shuttle is committed to providing training to drivers and supervisors that meets all state
and federal requirements. Training topics and protocols are provided below and at what stage of
employment.

Village Shuttle is committed to using as many National RTAP resources as possible for various
training tasks. Currently, the following RTAP resources are utilized: Customer Driven Service;
Drug and Alcohol Testing DOT and FTA Compliance; Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit
Providers; Passenger Service and Safety (PASS); Problem Passengers/Challenging Situations; and
Safety Training & Rural Transit.

All Village Shuttle drivers must go through the process of obtaining, and keep current, a
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certification.

Initial Training Program Content and Requirements

CDL Certification Process:

  • Application/Interview
  • Physical
  • Drug/Alcohol Test (results confirmed)
  • DMV – Temporary CDL
  • CDL Test (three phases)
  • DMV – CDL Certified
  • Job Action – W4/I9

Bus and Route Training:

  • Appearance/Conduct
  • Paperwork
  • Start/End of Shift Responsibilities
  • Two-Way Radio/Telephone
  • Behind the Wheel
  • Specific Route Training
  • Maintenance Shop
  • Maintenance Shop Bus Storage

Service Orientation:

  • TOSV Safety Manual
  • Safety Training & Rural Transit RTAP Manual
  • Drug Testing RTAP Video and Manual
  • Customer Driven Service RTAP Video
  • Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Providers RTAP Video
  •  PASS and ADA Accessible Wheelchair Lift Procedures
  • Use of Brake Retarder and Roto Chains
  • Snowmass Village General Information and Property Orientation
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Defensive Driving

Detailed Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Certification Requirements 

Many new employees do not have a CDL when they apply for a position with Village Shuttle. After
applicants pass the Pre-Employment Drug Test and secure a DOT medical certificate and a
temporary instructional CDL permit, the applicant will enter the Village Shuttle driver trainee
program. All driver trainees are considered temporary employees until they pass all CDL
requirements and are certified to hold a CDL. Training is done by junior staff and testing is
performed by a Third Party Tester who is a senior staff member. The trainee is hired under the
Driver Trainee position for this training portion of their duties. The applicant is not allowed to
transport any passengers until fully licensed.

Vehicle Orientation and Pre Trip Inspection: The goal is to provide trainees an adequate
understanding of the mechanical function of various vehicle components. After general
orientation using a maintenance pit bay, the instructor begins to walk the trainee through the
“what and why” of a detailed Pre-trip inspection.

Vehicle Familiarization and Basic Skills Test: In a secure area the trainee is allowed to operate
Village Shuttle vehicles and to learn the maneuvers of the Basic Skills test. The trainee is given as
much time as necessary until both the trainee and trainer feel comfortable with the
demonstrated skills.

Over the Road Test: As trainees becomes familiar with the vehicle fleet, they are allowed to
operate vehicles over the road with a junior staff member present. General elements of the
orientation are: speed control, proper lane placement, the sequences of a turning movement,
lane changing, stopping on grade, monitoring of cautionary signs, and simulation of crossing
railroad tracks. Once the trainer feels comfortable that the trainee is competent in all three
categories, the trainer will recommend the trainee for the CDL test.

Final Classroom: Final classroom training is covered through a combination of video and hands
on activities. The week before the winter season starts Village Shuttle trainers hold classroom
sessions for new hires to cover most general orientation topics and returning staff for specific
updates.

Videos are used to cover information on a number of training topics such as drug and alcohol
testing and safety requirements, blood borne pathogens, emergency procedures, and
evacuation. Hands on training focuses on ADA specific service elements such as lift/ramp
deployment and securing a wheelchair.

Defensive Driver (DDC) training is presented by a certified DDC instructor and a refresher course
is given to returning staff bi-annually.

Refresher Training Program Content
Once per year refresher training is provided on lift/ramp deployment and wheelchair securement
requirements. Bi-annually refresher training is provided on defensive driving and overall Village
Shuttle policies and procedures.

Training Process and File Retention
The training process for a new hire as defined above takes six (6) weeks from start to finish to
complete. Most new hires go through this process in the fall of each year, from October to
November.

Training for new hires is documented in an individual’s personnel file and there is a master
training list kept for all employees. Training is documented by the Transportation Forepersons
who are assigning employees to particular tasks. Documentation notes the date of the training
and the instructor who conducted the training.

Village Shuttle staff maintain training logs and records electronically that can be sorted by year,
by driver or position, and by a list of key training categories.

All employee personnel files house drug and alcohol policy verification (sign off by employee),
safety manual verification (town policy), medical certifications, and CDL certification.

Driver Performance Monitoring
Each driver has a personnel file kept in which observations of job performance are documented.
General observations on performance, observations from periodic drive around or road
monitoring, accident reports, customer complaints, and absences are all noted in this file.