DBi presents on maintenance workforce development
The presentation featured:
- Identifying challenges the industry faces – including non-conformity among state, potential safety issues, language barriers and cost factors.
- The contractor’s perspective on training the workforce – putting safety as a top priority, along with broad scope consistency and performance based certifications, rather than seminar/training only based certifications.
- The DBi approach – utilization of standards such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training, even in circumstances where it is not required; requirement of higher certification than mandated; and cross training.
- Comparative effectiveness of safety initiatives – certified vs. non-certified – Contractor must be accountable and must manage the risk with safety always as the top priority.

Many questions from the audience were directed toward the innovative and successful approaches to workforce development that DBi uses each and every day. DBi delivers an approach to preparing and sustaining a comprehensive, effective and safe workforce that was viewed as innovative and valuable by the audience.
At the conclusion of the conference, Mr. Yorke was quoted as saying “Events such as this continue to establish DBi’s position as the definitive leader in the Transportation Infrastructure Operation and Maintenance Industry. I think we’ve really set ourselves apart in terms of our commitment to workforce development, quality and customer service. I’m honored to be a part of this team.”
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) 94th Annual Meeting was held January 11-15, 2015 in Washington DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The TRB Annual Meeting program covers all transportation modes, with more than 5000 presentations in nearly 750 sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to all attendees – policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers and representatives of government, industry and academic institutions.