UniGroup retrains its van operators every three years in areas such as company policies and procedures, safety measures, documentation and log-keeping, says Marsha Curtis, manager of training and distance learning development. That used to involve gathering 11,000 drivers annually at centralized locations across the country and paying for training, workshop materials, meals, lodging and transportation not to mention the lost revenue that comes with taking an employee off the job. That s a significant amount of money, particularly for a small independent agent. Thirty-nine classes are specific to the individual van lines. Another 100 courses teach business and management skills, allowing employees to pursue certification in communication, customer service, finance and human resources.
Flexibility makes the program attractive to employees.
If I need to go over something again, it s right there for me to do that. Employees on the road don t have to wait, either. Equipped with laptops, van operators can tap into the University from anywhere across America. College-age hires working for the company during the summer the busy season for moving companies can quickly get up to speed by logging on at night to learn about, say, packing procedures. They can then put those skills into practice on the job the next day.