Development of a Minimum Set of Recommended Railroad Dispatcher Training Objectives: A Case Study

Abstract

Two recent Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) safety audits found substantial variability in the way railroad dispatchers are trained. Given this variability, and the potential for compromised safety that arises, a need for more uniform dispatcher training exists. This paper discusses the development of a minimum set of railroad dispatcher training objectives that can be used by a wide variety of railroad operations, and are acceptable to all of the different stakeholders, including railroad management, railroad dispatchers, and the FRA. Using information from site visits, interviews, and existing training materials, a set of training objectives was developed using Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive learning outcomes. The objectives were reviewed by stakeholders to ensure that the objectives were broadly applicable and acceptable. The objectives can be used to develop instructional materials for any dispatcher training program. Lessons learned from this approach are discussed.