CTHRC launches courses for owner-operators, dispatchers

TORONTO (June 24, 2002) — The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council, an Ottawa-based group that develops training programs for the trucking industry, has released three new courses, including one to help owner-operators improve their business skills.

All three courses are available on both the Internet and CD-ROM, so it can be accessible anywhere, any time, the CTHRC said.

The Business Skills Improvement for Owner-Operators was created with input from highwaySTAR managing editor Jim Park as well as several working truckers. It covers such issues as negotiating loads and contracts, keeping records, spec’ing and financing vehicles, and balancing work and family demands. It costs $195 and will demand about 40 hours of work in total, broken up as the participant sees fit.

The CTHRC also published two courses for dispatchers: “Interpersonal Skills Improvement” and “Professional Skills Improvement.” The first two are available now, the third one in early fall.

The Interpersonal Skills course for dispatchers (it can be used by people in other roles as well) costs $150 and will take about 20 hours of work. The first of its kind, it deals with such practical skills as: negotiating effectively with clients and drivers, motivating work teams, resolving conflicts, managing stress, balancing driver and company needs, and recognizing and building on your individual talents. It’s designed to be user friendly and to be useful for both new and veteran dispatchers.

Also costing $150, the Professional Skills Improvement dispatcher course deals with planning for various kinds of trucking operations, matching load to equipment, making the best use of resources, helping drivers meet safety and regulatory requirements, and handling unforeseen problems. It will take about 20 hours to complete.

The two dispatch courses were also created by a committee of professionals, in this case including several working dispatchers and dispatch supervisors from across the country along with Today’s Trucking editorial director Rolf Lockwood. Completing both courses will certify students as meeting the National Occupational Standard for Dispatchers.

All three courses were implemented by Training Alternatives, using TAI’s Flex School technology. Flex School divides courses into modules so that learning can be done in manageable chunks, allowing students to start up where they left off, making the whole process easy to manage. A web-based quiz after each course unit allows both the student and the CTHRC to confirm the learning process. Students only need to go on-line to complete the interactive exercises and each quiz.

For more information call the CTHRC at 613-244-4800 or visit www.cthrc.com.


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