Implementing driver selection and training for human service agencies : administrator's guidelines : final report

Davis, Frank White; LeMay, Stephen · 1983 · ROSA P / United States. Dept. of Transportation. Office of the Secretary

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Summary

This report, prepared by Frank W. Davis, Jr. and Stephen LeMay for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, addresses the critical need for effective driver selection and training within human service agencies. The research was motivated by the reality that transportation availability is often the primary constraint preventing these agencies from delivering essential services to elderly and handicapped beneficiaries. With federal funding cutbacks limiting resources, the report aims to provide administrators with guidelines to maximize transportation productivity, enhance passenger safety, and reduce costs through coordinated training programs. The methodology involves a structured framework for designing transportation training delivery systems, heavily informed by the recommendations of over 60 individuals responsible for state school bus, Section 16(B)2, Section 18, and Human Services programs. The report outlines eight essential elements for an effective program: understanding the mission, identifying target groups, defining required skills, locating delivery organizations, determining motivators, developing delivery and coordination approaches, and establishing evaluation procedures. It categorizes target audiences into five groups: elderly/handicapped passengers, existing transportation network employees, public agency drivers, private non-profit groups, and extended helping networks (family and friends). Required skills are divided into mainstreaming, basic driving, emergency response, passenger management, vehicle care, policy, and special courses. Key findings emphasize that training serves multiple strategic missions beyond simple vehicle operation. These include increasing the use of existing transit networks, minimizing the need for publicly funded transportation by training volunteers and family members in transfer techniques, improving passenger and employee safety, extending vehicle life through preventive maintenance, and screening trainees for suitability. The report identifies six potential training delivery organizations: educational institutions, special interest groups, in-house trainers, "moonlighters" (part-time instructors), special service groups, and professional training groups. It further details eight motivators for training delivery, including direct funding, making classes available, mandates, prerequisites for licensing, liability and insurance approaches, professional status incentives, and the influence of pivotal individuals. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a comprehensive administrative guide for human service agencies to implement cost-effective and safe transportation solutions. By treating training as a strategic management tool, agencies can leverage low-cost, locally available resources to expand their transportation capacity. The report concludes with case studies of selected state programs, illustrating the range of options available for organizing state-level training initiatives. This framework allows agencies to move beyond ad-hoc solutions, ensuring that driver selection and training are systematically integrated into the broader mission of providing social services to vulnerable populations.

Key finding

Training programs for human service transportation can effectively increase passenger safety, reduce vehicle maintenance costs, and minimize the need for publicly funded transportation by leveraging volunteers and existing networks.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• older driver retraining
• learner drivers
• novice curricula

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation