Transportation Operations
Wisconsin rural and small urban transportation providers, please call 1-888-560-3382 to borrow these publications or videos from the WTRC lending collection.
Assessment of Computer Dispatch Technology in the Paratransit Industry
Bilgert J.R. Stone and A.G. Nalavenko, DOT-T-92-23, Federal Transit Administration Office of Technology Assistants and Safety, March 1992
This comprehensive study explores the implementation of technology in a taxi paratransit company. Also examines future enhancements to these software programs. (68 pages)
Contractual Arrangement for Coordinated Transportation Services: A Contracting Manual (Fourth in a Series)
Center for Transportation Research, Feb. 1982
Discusses the five major types of contracts transportation providers frequently use. They are assurance contracts, cost plus fixed fee contracts, fixed unit cost contracts, performance contracts and incentive contracts. (10 pages)
The Effective Management of Volunteer Programs
Marlene Wilson, 1976
A fresh perspective to volunteer programs outlines effective management strategies for managers and volunteers. Also describes the role of a manager and the scope of responsibilities to plan, evaluate, design jobs, recruitment techniques, proper placement, training and communications. (197 pages)
Essential Skills for Dispatching: Dispatcher's Workbook: An overview of the dispatcher's job.
UMTA RTAP National Program, Undated, (59 pages)
Establishing A Dispatch Operation that Works
Elaine C. Novak, Fair Access, Inc., 1992
Novak suggests goals and guidelines that can enable a paratransit operation to run efficiently and effectively while simultaneously providing on-time service. (159 pages)
A Handbook for Dispatching
The dispatcher in paratransit operations is the center of all communications. This individual must continually make changes in response to requests from passengers. As the requests flow in, the dispatcher works to maintain a balance between the passenger's needs and available vehicles while striving to maintain on time schedule and productivity. This requires a dispatcher to be well organized and to have all the necessary information readily available to make immediate scheduling decisions. (103 pages)
Manual on Contracting for Vehicle Maintenance Services
DOT-T-93-16, T.H. Maze and Kathleen Waggoner, Iowa State University, Oct. 1992
This manual, particularly designed for managers of rural and small transit agencies, contains an overview of contracting for the novice and includes advanced topics for the veteran. Topics discussed include: competitive bidding and negotiations, drug testing guidelines, state statutes governing contracting and handling alternative fuels. It also contains sample contracts as well as group exercises for workshop trainings. (237 pages)
Organizing and Conducting an Effective Pre-Bid Conference
Public Private Transportation Network
This handout goes through the steps of a conference between the procuring agency and potential bidders, held prior to submitting a response to an RFP. (7 pages)
Public/Private Partnerships: Implications for Innovation in Transportation
National Science and Technology Council, Dec. 1998 (reprint July 1999)
This report assesses public/private partnerships, the challenges these partnerships face, and their potential within the nation's transportation system. (52 pages)
Public/Private Partnerships II: Engines for Innovation in Transportation
National Science and Technology Council, May 2000
This is a follow-up to "Public/Private Partnerships: Implications for Innovation in Transportation." This document explores the "potential for public/private partnerships to stimulate the development and deployment of advanced transportation-related technologies." Four actual partnerships are assessed in the report. (52 pages)
Succeeding with Volunteer Transportation
Dennis Studebaker, 1990
Explores important management and fiscal issues related to starting and effectively managing a volunteer transportation program. (88 pages)
Volunteer Driver Service and Policy Manual
Minnesota Rural Transit Assistance Program, Minnesota DOT
This is a guide for volunteer driver transportation programs for developing operating guidelines and procedures. (43 pages)
Volunteers on Wheels: A Volunteer Driver Program Manual-Draft
Jo Pebworth and Mary Mulroy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sept. 1989
This is a manual a transportation manger can consult when recruiting and hiring volunteer drivers. Pebworth and Mulroy also explore how to train and recognize drivers for their services. This manual includes resource lists and sample forms. (210 pages)