WASHINGTON - Security training for motorcoach company employees will be offered free at 10 workshops being conducted across the United States starting next month.
The training is part of the national campaign to combat terrorism.
The training provided at the workshops will complement the self-training security packages that became available last month to all U.S. motorcoach companies. (See full-page announcement on page ????.)
The self-training program and the workshops are being organized by the American Bus Association and the United Motorcoach Association under grants awarded by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.
The joint program is called Operation Secure Transport and it is designed specifically to help motorcoach operators improve security throughout their companies. There is no requirement to be a member of ABA or UMA to participate.
More than 3,000 motorcoach operations nationwide were sent letters last month inviting them to participate in the self-training program. Accompanying the letters was a form for signing up.
The next phase of Operation Secure Transport is the 10, two-day workshops, which are being designed as trainer-the-trainer sessions. Attendees will come away armed with information they can take back to their companies and communicate to employees in virtually all aspects of the business.
Five modules will be presented during the workshops:
Operation Secure Transport Drivers: Security Considerations for Motorcoach Drivers.
Operation Secure Transport Maintenance: Security Considerations for Motorcoach Maintenance Personnel.
Operation Secure Transport Ticket Agents and Terminal Employees: Security Considerations for Motorcoach Terminal Employees.
Operation Secure Transport Management: Security Considerations for Motorcoach Company Managers.
Operation Secure Transport Crisis Response: Incident Control and Operations Shutdown During Security Threat Events.
Conducting the workshops for the ABA and UMA will be The Daecher Consulting Group of Camp Hill, Pa., and its principal, Carmen Daecher.
There is no charge to attend at the workshops, but there is no reimbursement for travel expenses associated with attendance. A working lunch will be provided both days, and on Day Two, if the hotel does not provide breakfast to registered quests, a continental breakfast will be provided.
Those interested in the program can request registration information by sending an e-mail to security@safetyteam.com. ABA also is developing a Web address to handle electronic registration.
Here are the dates and locations for the workshops:
April 13-14 Boston: Holiday Inn Boston/Logan, 225 William F. McClellan Highway, Boston, MA 02128. Phone: (617) 569-5250.
April 15-16 Chicago: Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown, 33 W. Illinois, Chicago, IL 60610. Phone: (312) 832-0330.
April 20-21 Charlotte, N.C.: Hampton Inn & Suites, 9110 Southern Pines Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273. Phone: (704) 525-3333.
April 22-23 Pittsburgh: Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, 1406 Beers School Rd., Coraopolis, PA 15108. Phone: (412) 262-3600.
April 29-30 Memphis, Tenn.: Holiday Inn Select Memphis Airport, 2240 Democrat Rd., Memphis, TN 38132. Phone: (901) 332-1130.
May 4-5 San Francisco: Hilton Garden Inn SF Airport Burlingame, 765 Airport Blvd., Burlingame, CA 94010. Phone: (650) 347-7800.
May 11-12 Phoenix: Hampton Inn Phoenix Airport North, 601 N. 44th St.,
Phoenix, AZ 85008. (877) 777-3210.
May 13-14 Denver: Hilton Garden Inn Denver Airport, 16475 E. 40th Circle
Aurora, CO 80011. Phone: (303) 371-9393.
May 18-19 Dallas: Holiday Inn Select DFW Airport North, 4441 Highway 114 at Ester Blvd., Irving, TX 75063
May 20-21 Tampa, Fla.: Double Tree Hotel Tampa West Shore Airport, 4500 W. Cypress St., Tampa, FL 33067
Questions can be directed to the Daecher Consulting Group at (717) 975-9190.