The following article will focus on the value of operator training and share with you some of the steps you can take to implement training into your company.

Over the last 10 years our industry seems to have adopted the concept of training, more importantly our industry as a whole now understands the value of training. We have witnessed its benefits in areas such as increased confidence and professionalism, reduced insurance premiums, reduced claims and most importantly; safer more efficient operators.

I must first give credit to the men and women in the towing industry that have invested countless hours and decades of time into this great profession. I have had the pleasure of speaking with many of these men and women and I must say that you can learn a lot from their integrity and longevity in this industry. During their careers there was only a limited amount of formal training available and our industry did not have the same level of structure or communication as we do today. Take some time to discuss the early years of towing with them and you’ll realise just how far we’ve come.

Historically, most new operators that entered the towing industry had no idea what to expect from this profession or what was expected of them. Therefore when most new operators began working in the towing industry they fumbled their way through, learning from their mistakes. These lessons sometimes resulted in damage, injury and delay; but they completed the job and many of the techniques that are used today came from this type of “learn as you go” environment. The problem is, as congestion began building and the expectations from law enforcement continued to increase, they were forced to respond by polishing their skills to meet the needs of a changing society.

Thankfully times have changed, today you can find just about anything that you are looking for on the internet. A tremendous resource such as the internet should be a part of your daily lives. Whether you are looking for a uniform company to outfit your operators or dispatching software to make your job easier, the internet has the answers to almost any question that you may throw at it. Everything from trucks and equipment to training companies and associations can be found by a click of a mouse.

It is quite common for companies to have some form of in-house training for new operators. Typically new operators find themselves in the passenger seat for a few weeks as they learn from an experienced operator in the fleet. But once they have proven that they can drive the truck and hook up a vehicle the training seems to stop and this new operator begins working on his own.

Consider adding to his toolbox by holding weekly meetings where you can discuss topics relating to the week ahead. This keeps everyone in the loop of what is happening and allows them a time to ask questions. Communication is the key ingredient in a successful towing company. Your operators are far more inclined to go the extra mile for you if they feel like they are a contributing member of a team. If you can get your staff talking through their differences and helping each another out you will see improvements across the board. These weekly meetings can stem into monthly training sessions, where you could set up various scenarios in your yard for your team to complete. Take this opportunity to discuss different techniques including safety and awareness. We offer a safety poster program that provides your company with posters and handouts for each member of your team that discusses general safe practices. Use the internet to find other programs that you can incorporate into your weekly meetings. Organize your training sessions by setting objectives, record their progress and reward them for doing a great job.

There are many companies today that out source their training to formal companies such as WreckMaster Inc. that specialize in the skills they are looking to acquire. This not only saves the time and effort of you designing your own but your staff is more inclined to absorb what is being taught because this information is coming from an outside source. Regardless of the type of training you choose, starting with a positive mental attitude and an open mind is the best way to ensure that your operators will get the most out of the time and effort that is being invested.

In closing, I feel it important to discuss awareness. On far too many occasions we hear about a fallen tower that was injured or killed while performing service. As a towing and recovery professional you have a responsibility to yourself to be aware of your surrounding and always think two steps ahead.

Cya in the Ditch!

Justin Cruse
President
WreckMaster Inc.