A spirit of continuous learning is crucial for growth. At our Orlando, Florida, office, the transportation team is putting that sentiment into action with a cross training program. Through this initiative, employees are invited to learn and perform various roles on the team beyond merely their assigned title. This practice allows our team members to expand their own knowledge base while also increasing the overall efficiency of our department.
A Look at Logistics
There wasn’t one official moment that kickstarted this idea. Our cross training program was born out of the desire to boost utilization and ultimately generate better solutions for our clients. Our projects tend to cycle in phases, meaning one group might have a lighter workload on a given week while another group is overwhelmingly busy. As a result, we started to see employees with a more flexible schedule volunteer their time in service to their busier co-workers, even if it meant taking on tasks outside of their usual job description.
Today, the idea has evolved into a more common practice, with a vast majority of our transportation team members electing to participate. There is no formal selection or application; if someone raises their hand and displays an interest in learning someone else’s role, that person willingly meets with the trainee to show them what they know. By making participation in cross training a voluntary decision, we can also avoid accidentally overwhelming employees, preventing burn-out.
Employee and Client Benefits
Our clients and employees alike are reaping the benefits of cross training. Employees have the opportunity to be dynamic, learn new skills, and experience professional development that makes them all the more valuable to the team. This leads to increased career growth and a wider variety of available opportunities.
Furthermore, our employees are eager to have multiple team members who understand how to perform each function. We have both traffic and roadway team members who can handle maintenance of traffic, several roadway people who can assist traffic with signing and marking, and a wide range of employees who can support plans production. With this strategy, there is always someone available to do the necessary work, no matter how busy the official person assigned to that job may be. This reduces stress for everyone involved, leading to smoother workflows and a more well-rounded team.
On the client side, cross training creates better talent with expansive knowledge. We can accomplish more at a higher quality than before, meaning we can provide more intelligent solutions and resources for clients. With multiple people who can work on a task, we can stay on or ahead of schedule, generating faster turnaround times. As a whole, cross training leads to greater efficiency in how we service our clients.