ATSSA is known as the industry leader for roadway safety instruction and is looking to expand its team of master instructors.

With a continued emphasis on delivering top-notch training, ATSSA has opened the application process and is looking for individuals with experience in the roadway safety industry and who love to teach and share their expertise. A degree in civil engineering or equivalent experience or education as determined by ATSSA is needed as well as a flexible schedule and willingness to travel to deliver in-person courses.

“Our instructors are at the heart of our roadway safety mission and we are looking for a handful of exceptional individuals to join our team," said ATSSA Vice President of Education & Technical Services.

ATSSA is partnering with The Utility Expo to provide roadway safety training—including flagger certification—during its Sept. 26-28 event.

A Safety Symposium offering 30 hours of roadway safety and education training takes place the first two days of The Utility Expo. This includes six morning workshops on Sept. 26 led by ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry, ATSSA Manager of Innovation & Technical Services Melodie Matout and ATSSA Master Instructors Bill Birdwell and Tim Luttrell. It also includes two ATSSA four-hour courses the afternoon of Sept. 26 and a choice of two eight-hour courses on Sept. 27.

“Safety has always been a front-and-center issue for The Utility Expo. From the equipment that utility professionals use onsite, to the potentially hazardous environments they can find themselves in, safety needs to always be priority number one,” said The Utility Expo Show Director John Rozum. “The people at ATSSA understand that a lot of utility work is done in and around traffic and they have put together a great education agenda to help keep utility pros safe when the traffic cones come out.”

ATSSA launches its Traffic Sign Technician (TST) training course this spring after investing years in development.

This course prepares public and private sector employees responsible for the installation, location and determination of appropriate roadway signing. It addresses the fundamentals of traffic signing and the role of the sign technician and covers several parts of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), temporary traffic control for short-duration activities and basic sign installation techniques.

ATSSA Master Instructor Bill Birdwell spent time with the ATSSA Sign Committee in creating the course to be sure it met everyone’s standards, said ATSSA Training Program Manager Jessica Scheyder.

ATSSA’s redesigned and updated Training & Products Catalog is now available online.

“The ATSSA Training & Products Catalog is a valuable tool for our members and anyone in the roadway safety industry in need of training to operate effectively in work zones and elsewhere,” said ATSSA Training Program Manager Jessica Scheyder. “The catalog also includes information on the benefits of ATSSA membership, the Corporate Training Program, certification and recertification, courses offered through grants and the Online Training Library.”

At the most recent ATSSA Instructors’ Meeting in Providence, R.I., a question was asked about the proper orientation of the front wheels of a truck-mounted attenuator (TMA), a key issue for roadway safety.

TMAs are trucks equipped with energy-absorbing attenuators, to provide physical protection for roadway workers from traffic approaching from the rear.

A common myth is that the wheels should be angled to prevent the TMA from being pushed into workers in case of an impact. This is not the preferred method and not what ATSSA teaches.

Instead, the preferred method is to point the wheels straight ahead (not turned left or right) and allow for the TMA’s roll-ahead distance.

ATSSA has partnered with Certified Safe Driver Inc. (CSD Inc.) to bring driver education courses and services to its members at a discount.

Members can choose from more than a dozen courses and services including Defensive Driving for Class A, B and C; Licensing School for Class A, B and C; Truck Driver School for the CDL Class, A, B and C; License Upgrade CDL School and One-to-One Behind the Wheel Evaluation.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance our training offerings and meet the needs of our members,” ATSSA Training Director Rameeza Shaikh said. “This partnership with Certified Safe Driver Inc. provides an excellent way to provide driver education courses to our members at a great rate. Well-trained drivers help keep the roadways safe.”

It’s not too late to catch ATSSA’s first virtual Town Hall on the state and federal response to COVID-19 and potential infrastructure investments. A recording is now available of Tuesday’s one-hour session featuring Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon. 

The virtual Town Hall is a new feature for members. The next topic is "Innovations in Online Training to Keep Your Employees Engaged" and will be held Aprtil 28 at 2 p.m.