BNSF News

Simplified Certification Training Schedule for Transportation Supervisors to Begin in 2010

2009-12-10

Transportation supervisors will soon begin a two-year cycle for supervisor certification training with increased emphasis on rules training. This is a change from previous years' supervisor certification training as it increases rules focus but reduces overtraining in other areas.

What's changing?

All Transportation supervisors will begin using a Year A and Year B cycle similar to training for scheduled employees. All supervisors will be on Year B training in 2010 and Year A training in 2011. Supervisors will alternate between years from 2012 forward.

Year B

During Year B (2010, 2012, 2014, etc.), all Transportation supervisors are required to:

• Attend instructor-led rules training.
• Complete an exam and answer all questions 100 percent correctly (supervisors will take all questions until they pass).
• For certified supervisors, completion of supervisor certification rules training will also count for completion of certified rules training if they achieve 90 percent in the second attempt.

Year A

During Year A (2011, 2013, 2015, etc.), all Transportation supervisors are required to:

• Complete instructor-led rules training either by computer-based or instructor-led training.
• Earn 100 percent on the exam.
• Complete other required training (Rail Security, Drug and Alcohol Training, etc.) via computer-based training.

"Supervisor rules proficiency is an essential element in BNSF leadership development," said Greg Fox, vice president, Transportation. "Transportation officers will be trained and tested on rules every year as part of supervisor certification, which complements other leadership training such as front-line supervisor and 'Leader of Leaders' courses."

What's next: 2010

Each division's field training manager has been notified of this change and is responsible for scheduling and instructing supervisor rules training in his/her division.

• All supervisors should complete 2010 (Year B) training within the first two weeks of 2010; however, if schedules do not allow for this, all training must be completed by March 31, 2010.
• Year B training will be scheduled for one full day; four hours of training and four hours for the 50-question open-book exam.
• The supervisor exam is the same exam the scheduled workforce will complete.

"The increased focus on rules training and reduction of overtraining in other areas is one more step to help establish a renewed climate of compliance and commitment," said Fox.

Any questions regarding this training change should be directed to the division managers, Field Training, or representatives at the Technical Training Center at 913-319-3982.

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For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com