Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce (2019) / Chapter Skim
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18 This chapter contains the results of the survey. The survey contained many questions, most of which are analyzed and discussed in this chapter; however, some additional tables and figures are available in Appendix C
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Survey Results 19 used: 70% use computer-aided dispatch/automated vehicle location (CAD/AVL) data and 60% use APC data.
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20 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce According to a few transit agency responses, using data has affected their transit scheduler workforce management practices. For example, the increased use of data has changed the nature of the transit scheduler job -- requiring transit schedulers to be more familiar with data analysis and manipulation.
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Survey Results 21 Sched21, Shah Software, Streets, and Geofocus. Three agencies reported not using any software, including one tribal, one rural, and one medium urban system.
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22 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce resides. Level 1 indicates that the scheduling department is located in the same level as the transit agency's chief executive.
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Survey Results 23 Transit agencies also indicated whether their transit schedulers are also their transit planners. Although 58% of respondents (22 of 38)
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24 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce inside and outside the transit agency. How transit agencies obtain and use feedback can have an impact on the job requirements of transit schedulers -- particularly if schedulers are encouraged to interact directly with operators, supervisors, or members of the public or expected to record, sort, and synthesize feedback.
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Survey Results 25 held within the transit agency (see Figure C-8)
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26 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce Transit agencies also reported what experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities are required for new transit schedulers (see Table C-6)
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Survey Results 27 Training Once hired, new transit schedulers often do not have the knowledge or skills to succeed as a transit scheduler without significant training on both scheduling concepts and scheduling software. Even transit schedulers with a few years of experience may need ongoing training to continually develop their expertise.
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28 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce received training. Transit agencies were presented with a list of scheduling topics and asked to rank in order of importance those topics that were normally a part of training.
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Survey Results 29 Overall Rank Item 1 Transit system design (routes and services) 2 Local geography 3 Trip building 4 Scheduling terminology and vocabulary 5 Scheduling software intermediate skills 6 Service data collection and analysis 7 Setting running times 8 Schedule optimization 9 Scheduling software advanced skills 10 Blocking 11 Scheduling software basics 12 Vehicle types and operations rules 13 Setting headways 14 Operator or union work rules 15 Setting deadhead times 16 Setting layovers 17 Runcutting 18 Rostering 19 Garage assignment 20 Schedule metrics (e.g., pay-to-platform ratio)
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30 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce A substantial portion of transit agencies responded that reaching full competency typically takes 5 or more years (10 respondents, or 29%)
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Survey Results 31 A majority of agencies responded that they do not currently have specific practices to help manage and improve transit scheduler retention. Only four out of 36 agencies (11%)
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32 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce schedulers with specific scheduling work while other schedulers shared responsibilities. At 21 of 36 agencies (58%)
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Survey Results 33 • Having conversations about performance early and often helps ensure the scheduler is aware of performance issues and expectations for change. These conversations can help correct issues and can also provide the case for dismissing the employee if performance does not improve.
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34 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce requirements when checking created schedules; however, agencies reported examining a wide variety of other metrics during the review process. However, although transit agencies have processes in place to review created transit schedules, most agencies (four of six responses)
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Survey Results 35 software built specifically for scheduling (e.g., Trapeze or HASTUS) and some agencies using Excel (or a similar product)
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