Organisation of the company in relation with the Public Transport market in the Netherlands

Organization

- Organization/Company -
VTL/Hermes
- City -

- Country -
The Netherlands

Goals

To obtain a personal quality certificate, based on NEN-EN 45013 (training quality standard), drivers of the bus company have to be trained according a defined scheme. A Committee of Experts from the urban bus industry developed this scheme. VTL participates in this committee and carries out the training. The scheme is public and available in Dutch. Due to the tendering system for Public Transport in The Netherlands, urban bus companies have to distinguish themselves from their competitors by means of quality systems.

Context

Drivers receive teaching material by post 6 weeks for the actual start of the training. They are supposed to study the material at home. At the end of this part of the training a training session is organised. The duration of this session is 4 hours. At the end of the period a theoretical exam is organised.

Target group

Urban bus drivers

Period of innovative practice application

Length: 6 weeks

Content

Public transport market in the Netherlands
Mission and strategy of the company
Obligations in public transport
Quality
Personal performance indicators
The role of the driver
Collective Agreement
Self steering teams
Quality assessment form
Impact of the drivers actions on service level
Group discussion on personal and company progress
Quality and improvement
Work council

Innovation

The innovation is the application of the NEN-EN 45013 norm and the self-study material. This norm sets professional standards for training. Every five years the certification has to be renewed. An independent body which consists of users, experts in PT and assessors will set the standards in conformity with the industry.

Results

Well-trained drivers according to public NEN-EN 45013 scheme. Quality can be proved by assessment and examination (practical and theoretical).

Points of strength

Less costs for the company
Better motivated staff
Consistent company standard
Better competitive advantage
Improvement of customers service

Points of weakness

Teaching material is send in advance of training, but some drivers are reluctant/not able to study it in advance.

The organization's internal actors involved in the "innovative practice"

Training experts of VTL will work together with middle management of bus company.

Organizations, institutions, authorities involved in the application of the "innovative practices"

Middle management of bus company will train staff in internal procedures and driving skills, VTL trainers will train staff in communication skills and social skills. Drivers will benefit from this combined approach.

Examination will be held by independent agency

Type of "innovative practice"

	Political
	Organizational
	Technical

Field of application

	Recruiting and integration policies within the company
	Skill and career management procedures
	Training program content, practices and processes associated with the evolutions observed in the occupation
	Relations with national/regional policies
	Relations with Collective Agreement
	Other

How the "innovative practice" can be transfered?

Hermes is a subsidiary of Connexxion, an international player in the PT market.
Transferring this innovative practice can be organised by Connexxion.

This type process and related standards (International standards EN Process, long distance learning, examinations, 5 years of validity of certificate, committee of experts that set the standards) can be adopted in other companies.

Is there a specific handbook for the dissemination?

	Yes
	No

If affirmative, is the Handbook available?

	Yes
	No

Notes

There is no handbook but standards are available to the public