Safety
Public transportation on a bus is one of the safest modes of transportation available and Butler Transit makes sure it stays that way.
Butler Transit contracts with MV Transportation. Below are safety measures and standards MV Transportation takes to ensure the safest ride possible for passengers, drivers and other motorists.
Butler Transit contracts with MV Transportation. Below are safety measures and standards MV Transportation takes to ensure the safest ride possible for passengers, drivers and other motorists.
Here's How:
- Our buses go through preventative maintenance to ensure they are in good running condition.
- Our buses meet high safety standards.
- For your safety and security, the buses are equipped with audio & video surveillance. All buses are equipped with cell phones and two-way radios for communication between the terminal and the buses and for emergency calls.
Safety meetings offer an opportunity to provide refresher training and address timely topics. All employees must attend this hour-long meeting every month.
All safety meeting agendas are issued by MV’s safety department, and address topics in fleet safety (for example: defensive driving, wheelchair securement, adverse weather) and injury prevention (for example: drug and alcohol, back safety, bloodborne pathogens, and heat safety). Maintenance safety topics include subjects such as HAZCOM, back safety, and machine guarding.
All safety meeting agendas are issued by MV’s safety department, and address topics in fleet safety (for example: defensive driving, wheelchair securement, adverse weather) and injury prevention (for example: drug and alcohol, back safety, bloodborne pathogens, and heat safety). Maintenance safety topics include subjects such as HAZCOM, back safety, and machine guarding.
Passengers using mobility devices generally require a greater amount of time and attention. Proper securement is critical to ensuring each customer enjoys a safe ride. In addition to learning safe securement procedures, MV trains operators to always communicate with the passenger throughout the boarding and securement process, making clear what they wish to do, prior to taking any action.
All operators are trained on the 4-point tie down system to secure all mobility devices. Training is performed for mobility device securement during initial hire and all drivers are re-trained and re-certified for mobility device securement.
All operators are trained on the 4-point tie down system to secure all mobility devices. Training is performed for mobility device securement during initial hire and all drivers are re-trained and re-certified for mobility device securement.
Safety Messages: Daily, a corporate issued safety message is published and delivered to all MV locations. Each message is posted at the location and read over the radio. Additionally, all meetings and conference calls must begin with a safety message.
Safety Board: MV provides a safety board in the operator break room. Safety board content includes messages from corporate departments, weather advisories, OSHA information, performance statistics, employee awards, announcements for upcoming meetings and events, and other timely data.
Safety Board: MV provides a safety board in the operator break room. Safety board content includes messages from corporate departments, weather advisories, OSHA information, performance statistics, employee awards, announcements for upcoming meetings and events, and other timely data.
Employee recognition and positive reinforcement is an important part of a safe work culture and employee relations program. MV ties this critical component of its operation to safety and security by creating fun, safety-focused teambuilding activities that create an environment where safety remains the basis for the company’s culture, celebration, and reward. Some examples of successful programs include:
The Katherine McClary Operator Award: This award recognizes MV’s finest vehicle operators across the country. Qualifying operators must exhibit safe and professional driving behavior, a positive work attitude, excellent customer relationships skills and strong attendance record. Quarterly, annual, regional and national awards are presented and include cash prizes.
Safety Pins and Patches: Operators are given safety pins and patches for each year completed without a preventable accident or injury.
Safety Blitzes and Other Safety Events: MV’s local management team hosts safety blitzes and/or other employee events to promote safety messages.
The Katherine McClary Operator Award: This award recognizes MV’s finest vehicle operators across the country. Qualifying operators must exhibit safe and professional driving behavior, a positive work attitude, excellent customer relationships skills and strong attendance record. Quarterly, annual, regional and national awards are presented and include cash prizes.
Safety Pins and Patches: Operators are given safety pins and patches for each year completed without a preventable accident or injury.
Safety Blitzes and Other Safety Events: MV’s local management team hosts safety blitzes and/or other employee events to promote safety messages.
New Hire Training: Seamlessly blending classroom and hands-on learning, MV’s (BTA’s transit contractor) Avatar Fleet training curriculum uses adult education techniques, keeping trainees engaged and interested throughout the duration of training. The initial new hire training encompasses a total of 110.50 hours of training.
Training Formats
Classroom Training: The instructor-led classroom training uses video training modules which are reinforced by the written training/study guide. The video training is presented through an interactive, panel-hosted discussion led by MV personnel. Testing occurs at the end of each module and at the end of classroom training with a cumulative, closed-book exam. Employees must pass with a score of 80 percent or higher in order to proceed to behind the wheel training.
Pre-Driving Skills: All new hires must possess a CDL with prior CDL driving experience – ensuring drivers are familiar with operation of large vehicles. The MV Pre-Driving Skills section is designed to familiarize the student with the operation of BTA specific vehicles and spacing of BTA transit buses before driving the vehicle on the street, the pre-driving skills course training requires that all students learn the use of multiple mirrors and vehicle controls.
Observation: Observation training gives students an opportunity to study the proper way to handle a vehicle. Once a student has successfully completed all pre-driving skills and observation training, they begin driving the vehicle on the street with a training instructor.
Behind the Wheel (BTW) Training: Behind the wheel (BTW) training focuses on honing specific basic driving maneuvers and skills necessary to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle under actual road operation. During BTW training, the student puts into practice what they have learned in the classroom and refines his/her driving skills with a certified trainer. During this period, the student must demonstrate mastery of 26 specific defensive driving and performance skills before graduation.
Cadet Training: After completion of the behind the wheel training, each trainee is provided with in-service cadet training with a line trainer. Operators will operate the vehicle and all on-board technology in service, and interact with the passengers on a practical level. During the training, the operator becomes familiarized with the routes, transit centers, and park and rides, and the service area as a whole. During this period, the trainee is closely monitored and receives his/her final road and training evaluation. Any areas of needed remedial training are identified and documented.
Post-Training Testing and Remedial Training: Before a student is released into service, he/she is closely monitored and receives a final road and training evaluation. Recognizing that not every operator is one hundred percent ready to enter revenue service after the base training program, MV offers up to 40 hours of remedial training. During the cadetting period, any areas of needed retraining are identified and administered based on this need.
Training Formats
Classroom Training: The instructor-led classroom training uses video training modules which are reinforced by the written training/study guide. The video training is presented through an interactive, panel-hosted discussion led by MV personnel. Testing occurs at the end of each module and at the end of classroom training with a cumulative, closed-book exam. Employees must pass with a score of 80 percent or higher in order to proceed to behind the wheel training.
Pre-Driving Skills: All new hires must possess a CDL with prior CDL driving experience – ensuring drivers are familiar with operation of large vehicles. The MV Pre-Driving Skills section is designed to familiarize the student with the operation of BTA specific vehicles and spacing of BTA transit buses before driving the vehicle on the street, the pre-driving skills course training requires that all students learn the use of multiple mirrors and vehicle controls.
Observation: Observation training gives students an opportunity to study the proper way to handle a vehicle. Once a student has successfully completed all pre-driving skills and observation training, they begin driving the vehicle on the street with a training instructor.
Behind the Wheel (BTW) Training: Behind the wheel (BTW) training focuses on honing specific basic driving maneuvers and skills necessary to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle under actual road operation. During BTW training, the student puts into practice what they have learned in the classroom and refines his/her driving skills with a certified trainer. During this period, the student must demonstrate mastery of 26 specific defensive driving and performance skills before graduation.
Cadet Training: After completion of the behind the wheel training, each trainee is provided with in-service cadet training with a line trainer. Operators will operate the vehicle and all on-board technology in service, and interact with the passengers on a practical level. During the training, the operator becomes familiarized with the routes, transit centers, and park and rides, and the service area as a whole. During this period, the trainee is closely monitored and receives his/her final road and training evaluation. Any areas of needed remedial training are identified and documented.
Post-Training Testing and Remedial Training: Before a student is released into service, he/she is closely monitored and receives a final road and training evaluation. Recognizing that not every operator is one hundred percent ready to enter revenue service after the base training program, MV offers up to 40 hours of remedial training. During the cadetting period, any areas of needed retraining are identified and administered based on this need.
Defensive Driving – LLLC: All accidents have a cause, which can always be traced back to one or more people – most commonly the operator of one of the vehicles involved in the collision. MV built its defensive driving training curriculum upon the Triple L-C (Look Ahead, Look Around, Leave Room, Communicate), which encompasses The Four Driving Principles to Safety™. Developed throughout the course, these concepts provide MV’s operators with everything they need to know to avoid collisions.
Drug and Alcohol Policies and Procedures: This module describes prohibited substances and their detrimental effects, gives an overview of the history behind government policies regarding substance abuse, and discusses occasions for DOT drug and alcohol testing, testing procedures. During this module, operators also become familiar with MV’s Zero Tolerance Substance Abuse Policy.
ADA-Focused Training: This module covers ADA regulations and how they impact the transit operation. Operators learn about various disabilities and guidelines for the sensitive and proper assistance of passengers with specific disabilities protected by the ADA. This module covers the proper handling of service animals, procedures for passenger pickup and drop-off, and other procedures that ensure a comfortable ride for passengers with disabilities.Customer Service: MV’s proprietary four-hour customer service training program, “Platinum Connection Customer Service” (PCSS) was recently developed and deployed by MV’s learning and development team. PCSS teaches all MV employees how to make customer-centric, solution-focused choices with a focus on personal responsibility. This interactive program uses video examples of customer service situations from the MV Vault to guide participant discussion. The learning is then reinforced by engaging facilitator-led activities to enable participants to practice their customer service skills
Drug and Alcohol Policies and Procedures: This module describes prohibited substances and their detrimental effects, gives an overview of the history behind government policies regarding substance abuse, and discusses occasions for DOT drug and alcohol testing, testing procedures. During this module, operators also become familiar with MV’s Zero Tolerance Substance Abuse Policy.
ADA-Focused Training: This module covers ADA regulations and how they impact the transit operation. Operators learn about various disabilities and guidelines for the sensitive and proper assistance of passengers with specific disabilities protected by the ADA. This module covers the proper handling of service animals, procedures for passenger pickup and drop-off, and other procedures that ensure a comfortable ride for passengers with disabilities.Customer Service: MV’s proprietary four-hour customer service training program, “Platinum Connection Customer Service” (PCSS) was recently developed and deployed by MV’s learning and development team. PCSS teaches all MV employees how to make customer-centric, solution-focused choices with a focus on personal responsibility. This interactive program uses video examples of customer service situations from the MV Vault to guide participant discussion. The learning is then reinforced by engaging facilitator-led activities to enable participants to practice their customer service skills