Arkansas, Texas trucking groups to offer online courses
The Trucker News Services
1/15/2007
Arkansas, Texas trucking groups to offer online courses
HOUSTON — AdvanceOnline Solutions, the Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) and the Texas Motor Transportation Association (TMTA) are joining forces to promote a series of Web-based management and driver-oriented courses approved by the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) of the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
The two trucking associations will offer its member companies the DOT-TSI branded Motor Carrier Safety Compliance courses along with AdvanceOnline’s hazardous materials (HM) course curriculum.
The Motor Carrier Safety courses were developed by AdvanceOnline Solutions in conjunction with the DOT’s and its safety institute at Oklahoma City. Each person who successfully completes the Motor Carrier Safety Compliance courses will receive an official DOT-TSI Certificate of Completion.
“Online training places TMTA members in the driver’s seat by allowing them to control not only cost but the ability to customize courses based upon their needs,” TMTA President John Esparza said. "This is another great example of the unique opportunities we want to continue to develop for our members.”
His Arkansas counterpart concurred.
“These courses are the best available and were tested by one of our larger member trucking companies before we finalized this partnership,” Lane Kidd, ATA president said, adding that the agreements will open up management training opportunities for thousands of people because the training can be completed for a fraction of the cost a company would spend to send employees to on-site training classes.
“These courses offer affordable, self-paced Internet-based training that can be completed anywhere, anytime,” Esparza said. “Our number one goal day in and day out is improving safety and this partnership affords us yet another way to accomplish that.”
Under the agreement, the TMTA and ATA will link member companies to the courses through their respective Web sites.
Companies will receive secure and confidential login clearances for their respective employees who enroll in the courses.
"As a leader in online safety and compliance training, AdvanceOnline has long recognized that collaboration with state motor carrier associations such as TMTA and ATA are vital not only to membership growth but also critical for improved public safety," Kent Urdahl, president and COO of AdvanceOnline Solutions, said. "These agreements will make our DOT/TSI and HAZMAT courses available more broadly, increase options for members, lower barriers to education, and expand participation.”
Urdahl said that AdvanceOnline was negotiating with other trucking associations and that future announcements will be forthcoming.
— The Trucker News Services
