Tow Professional Podcast
Tow Professional Podcast
Empowering Towing Professionals Through Education/ERSCA
What does it take to stay ahead in the towing and recovery industry amidst rapid technological advancements and the rise of electric vehicles? Join us for a compelling conversation with Shane Coleman, the National Director of Training for ERSCA, who reveals the secrets to maintaining operator safety through cutting-edge education and training. Learn how continuous, structured training can be a game-changer for your business, keeping you and your team prepared for the challenges posed by alternative fuel initiatives and electrified fleets.
Discover the transformative impact of ERSCA's train-the-trainer programs and their comprehensive training calendar, crafted to meet the rising demand from industry partners and independent businesses. Shane discusses how the right mindset and consistent in-house training sessions can mitigate risks, reduce damage claims, and ensure workers execute their tasks with confidence. Hear about the specialized partnerships ERSCA has formed to manage risk effectively and how these collaborations are setting new safety standards within the industry.
Finally, delve into the strategies for effective instruction that go beyond merely passing down experience. Shane highlights how structured delivery styles, public speaking techniques, and engagement methods can make training sessions not only memorable but also profoundly impactful. Concluding with heartfelt advice on ensuring every worker returns home safely, this episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to advancing their towing business through excellence in education and training.
Welcome one and all. This is the Toe Professional Podcast. Remember, this is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go, the true voice of the towing and recovery industry. I'm DJ Harrington, better known as the tow doctor. I'm the co-host, but the real man and the real host of this program is the president and publisher of Tow Professional Magazine, a dear friend of the industry and a good friend of mine, darren Weaver. Darren, as always, how are you to this beautiful day?
Speaker 2:Man. I tell you, DJ, I am fantastic. It's uh, we just got a little bit of rain and, let me tell you, my grass was out there. It already posted a sign Need help, come anytime. So, uh, we, we, we certainly needed this. Um, I'd put head feathers on, danced around the yard, so it was a good thing it came through and it's a beautiful day now. It's a cool 90 degrees with about 90% humidity, so it's a great day, happy to be inside and I'm excited.
Speaker 2:You know, just the other week we talked about the importance of training. Just the other week we talked about the importance of training and we talked about how that can help owners in a time of a claim or something comes up. So we talked about ERSCA. We talked about what ERSCA has done as an organization to do a tremendous amount in this industry to bring training to the front and get those that need it trained. Training to the front and get those that need it trained. And, dj, I'm excited today to have their national director of training, shane Coleman, on again. He's always great on here. He's a textbook of knowledge and let me tell you, we always say it, but because it always is, this is going to be a good one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, he's one of the most listened to podcasts. We archive all of these so our listeners know we have archived all of these programs so that if you want to listen to Shane Coleman's last program, by all means just go on the archive and you can see it. But this is great to have him back again. Shane, would you be kind enough just to kind of reintroduce yourself to some of the new people that are on for the first time today?
Speaker 3:Well, sure, well, first off, gentlemen, thanks for having me back. It's always a good time and I always like to have a good conversation with my peers in the industry. So, yeah, I've definitely been looking forward to this all week. So thanks for having me back. I appreciate it. Yeah Well, I guess you know just a little bit of my background. So, like Darren said, I'm currently the sitting director of the National Director of Training for URSCA. Currently the sitting director of the National Director of Training for ERSCA. Ersca is the short version, because the longer version is the Emergency Road Service Coalition of America. So you kind of can tell, after all that why we abbreviate it. Yeah, so you know industry veterans second generation, you know, second generation tour. I've been fortunate enough to serve a few different roles in this industry, everything from owner operator to operator manager, to working at one of the manufacturers for a time, and then was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to lead the training program here at ERSCA. So that's kind of the Reader's Digest version, as they used to say.
Speaker 1:Well, Darren, how about I do this? I'll ask the first question which we got after his last podcast, so I'll start it off with an easy one. Here's the question how are things going in the industry with ERSCA training and how about this whole alternative fuel electric vehicle initiative? How has that impacted the operators out there in the industry?
Speaker 3:Well, yes, I'd have to say to start, we've been very fortunate this year with our training program. It really has taken off. Since we've been pushing it on the national footprint, we've had a lot of interest from not only, you know, independent businesses, but we've gotten the attention of other industry partners and what that's done is it's fostered a lot of conversation. That you know they just want to know who we are and what we're about and what our goals are. You know our main, you know our main focus is operator safety and obviously that you know that ties to a lot of things that are folded into training, which is, you know, skill building and, you know, putting in some of that modern day information that operators need to know, just so they're, you know, kind of minimizing any kind of risk that they might be exposed to. So you know they kind know we've been real fortunate. If you go to erskaorg you can see our training calendar there and there's a significant number of classes that have been hosted by some very gracious associations. So it's really inspiring to see how this is really ramping up and getting out there. Inspiring to see how this is really ramping up and getting out there. So, you know you mentioned.
Speaker 3:Speaking of, you know, new things coming to, you know, come to the industry, the whole alternative fuel or electric vehicle side of the industry.
Speaker 3:I'd say there's probably twofold.
Speaker 3:One is how it's impacting the fleets, because there's several states, california being one of them, but there's several states where there's a strong push to have electric vehicles run on the roadways Kind of hand-in-hand with that, there's a push to have electrified or electric towing units, which that you know, that in and of itself is its own, you know it's its own animal.
Speaker 3:You know manufacturers have been working hard to try to get the information out there on the challenges, on getting, you know, getting the units upfitted with the equipment so that they can, you know, they can provide some service. But it's, yeah, I don't know. That's a touchy subject because there's a lot of companies that just aren't ready for an electric fleet and continuous conversation at all levels on how this is going to influence the fleet when it comes to having an electric flatbed or an electric wrecker. So I'll never say that it can't happen, because I literally just saw an ad earlier this week of one of the first electric flatbeds transporting a passenger car. One of the first electric flatbeds transporting a passenger car, so it'll be interesting to see how that unfolds in the future here. Right.
Speaker 1:And that's going to be happening, that's for sure. All right, darren, yeah, yeah, I don't think no, that's okay, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3:I don't think it's a matter of if, I think it's more of when. But the when you know wind is, says yet to be seen gotcha.
Speaker 2:All right, darren, you asked the next one you got it, dj, I think, man, I think, shane, you're on it 100. I think the owners worry about it a good bit, but you, you still got uh congress and uh the senate and the government trying to figure it out as well, and I know when it comes down the pipe, you are the guys that they can go to to get that information and training. So, guys, keep your ear to the grapevine and keep your eyes on the URSCAD website because they'll keep you up to date on it. Well, second question here, shane, is what I'm going to ask is Well, second question here, shane, is what I'm going to ask is what do you think the biggest changes are in the industry when it comes to training today, opposed to many years prior? I know there's been a big scale and I know you've been there from day one to see it since you got in the industry.
Speaker 3:So what's your thoughts on it? Well, you know, I think for me you know starting and not trying to stir up, you know too many parts of a conversation I think the biggest change that we need to adopt as an industry is that our training needs to be continuous and consistent. When I went to my first training classes, it was kind of the mindset and that mindset is still out there today is, once you go to a select number of training classes, at some point we as operators, business owners, they like to know that they're done. They put the check in the checkbox and it's all done. And with as many things that have changed in our industry and continue to change, like the onset of alternative fuel vehicles, it changes how the operators, how they do their work, how they pass these jobs, anything from a recovery to a basic, you know, load and transport.
Speaker 3:There's some other things that come into play, considerations that they need to put at the forefront of how they do the job to keep themselves safe.
Speaker 3:So, you know, for training as a whole, I think that shifting the mindset, that not just on the electric vehicle side, but you know there's so many moving pieces to this, you know, to this profession, that there almost needs to be a continuous or steady process of training, and that doesn't necessarily mean training like going to an actual training event going to an actual training event. It could be just as beneficial for individual companies to just hold, you know, consistent trainings in-house to address various things that they, you know, that are new to the business. So, you know, I think the you know, the wrap-up comment on that would be having a new mindset on training, to say that we need to just have a structure within the industry where everybody has access to consistent training to build new skills, gain the information they need for what's changed and you know kind of a little bit of what I mentioned earlier is what we're doing, is you're managing some of those safety aspects of the job, you know.
Speaker 2:It's a lot to keep up with your data on it, shane, and when you're talking about that, it's like the software on a computer. That technology changes so fast. You have to stay along with it and keep up with it. You have to stay along with it and keep up with it. And a lot of times when you're talking to these alternative fuel vehicles, if somebody doesn't have the training, they'll pay for it in the long run because you can make a mistake out there. That can be very costly. So, man, this is fantastic. I know our listeners are loving this, but, dj, let's take a quick break and, listeners, when we come back we're going to have more from Shane Coleman, the National Director of Training with ARSCA. So hang in there, we'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to Toe Professional on the Go podcast Every week. We do our best to bring you informative episodes like this one with Shane Coleman from Erska. Please remember we're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iHeartMedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts Now. Right before we took our break, shane was talking about consistent training. So here's my question, shane when it comes to the industry as a whole, what do you feel is the greatest purpose for companies to conduct this consistent training with their operators?
Speaker 3:That's a great question. Today, the two primary words that describe that are risk management. So, you know, say those two words in any circle, whether it's with a business owner, with the operator, with the customer, with insurance providers everybody has a stake in managing risk. You know, I literally just said it in one of my training classes a couple weeks ago. You know, risk for us usually starts when our feet touch the floor, like that's when it starts right, and there's a lot of action and activity between that time and the time we take our feet back off the floor and hopefully get some sleep. But the consistent training what it does is it provides opportunities to address, you know, like kind of what I'll call is a micro training. So let's say it's a 15 minute huddle up, you know, among the team at the company and they talk about maybe there's a particular type of vehicle that they've been running into more often.
Speaker 3:I'll give you a good example. I just saw one of the personalities that's out there that provides a lot of you know, a lot of content. Just did a great video on the. There's a front fascia piece that drops down on a on one of the ford products and it literally when it's in transit or going down the road. It actually lowers a few inches and just doing a basic load and secure with a carrier is about a $1,200 damage exposure. That's based off of what he said in his video.
Speaker 3:So one of the things that we try to, you know, encourage everybody to take in as a mindset is consistent training is not just about you know, coming to Erskine and taking our training program and so on. It's about getting a structure within the company so that you can mitigate the risk of anything from you know, a damage claim or even worse yet, as an injury, and it could be any number of things. There's so many different aspects to this job, everything from supporting loads to chalking tires to stabilizing and securing the vehicle while you're doing you know, doing your work around it. All of that lends itself to have just that, anything like I said from a 15 minute huddle up meeting to an actual you know full-on training event for skill, you know skill building.
Speaker 3:So I think that's that, you know. That's really the core is we just want to have that consistent pattern so that we can mitigate those risks, keep them at bay.
Speaker 1:Exactly, that makes sense. It makes sense, all right, darren.
Speaker 2:All right, sir. Well, that was good. That makes me think of muscle memory. You do it enough that you just go to it every time, because it's just ingrained in there, so it's fantastic. Well, shane, let me ask you this. I know it's been a controversial topic ever since the concept of training came to the industry. When it comes to being trainer or instructor, what do you see as a significant challenge to being qualified to instruct? That's a big one.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that is a big one and let me kind of put some words together here. You know like I'm going to go back to one of the first questions we talked about in changes in the industry and bring it into this question. When I went to my first training, you know, obviously several years ago the industry was basically looking for those quote unquote experts. You know I've used the word guru often. First, I've used the word guru often. We were looking for somebody that has that wealth of, not only the wealth of knowledge but the vast amount of experience and that's what would get buy-in from the attendees, so those that would come in and sit in the seat, they'd be willing to listen to that person because they knew that they had kind of been there and done that.
Speaker 3:As they say, today the whole training landscape has changed. We still need a vast amount of instructors or trainers in our industry, so that, even more so, today we've got more newcomers into the industry than we have veterans that are still there working Like that is that? You know that's a. That's a significant loss to our industry. Into the industry. Then we have veterans that are still there working Like that is that. You know that's a. That's a significant loss to our industry, meaning that we've got a. We have a lot of skill and a lot of experience that have retired out.
Speaker 3:So a lot of the newcomers need access to instructors that not only have experience, but when they, when they instructor train and I've learned this in the last few years more more closely there is this there is a structure to training, so we learned it without ever being made aware of it, when we were going through, you know, going through school. Um, the kind of how I break it down is that, you know, most of us have to see it, hear it and then do it. Yeah, and, and that kind of build, you know that builds that skill set and I'm going to rob your, your expression there there is is that muscle memory piece?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So when it when it comes to the actual. So when it comes to the actual, when it comes to actually conducting training. Training has been a kind of an umbrella word for a very long time in our industry and in my opinion, today there's a need to create a standard and to follow those same training standards that have already been put in place by multiple disciplines, follow those same training standards that have already been put in place by multiple disciplines, so that whole see, hear and do concept. It's already exercised and executed in all the other disciplines that our industry works with fire law enforcement.
Speaker 3:EMS and so on. So when we have instructors or trainers that step to the plate, we as an industry, I think we need to be looking at that training structure as a whole and saying, okay, if I want to be an instructor, then I want to know that I'm going to deliver this information in a way that falls in line with those standards. And I think that's going to be the big hill to climb because, you know, I'll throw myself in the mix A lot of times when, when I sat down at, you know, at a training class, sometimes I had my arms folded up and I was sitting back at the back of the room kind of like, okay, what's this guy going to teach me? You know, um, and, and some of the best training classes that I attended not only challenged me in the kind of the classroom, if you will, but put me out in the field and had me physically tasking the job, and by the time I left, I left with a lot more confidence than what I did when I walked in.
Speaker 3:So I think the important thing and I would say this to anybody that either is an instructor or wants to become an instructor is that obviously number one, you have to have the experience in the industry because, you have to be able to speak from that experience but, more importantly, to step into the role of being an instructor or a trainer, be willing to open the mind even wider, open that mental toolbox and fill it with those training delivery standards so that the effectiveness of the training is what you want it to be at the end and that effectiveness is handing that skill set off to those that are in attendance.
Speaker 3:And that's a big lift for instructors today because a lot of the training classes that all that, all of the training you know entities are doing today they have a mix of, you know, new talent is what I call them, so people that are fresh to the towing industry and they're sitting in the same room with somebody with 10, 15, 25 years of experience. So, um, having that standard in the delivery helps kind of accommodate both of those levels of experience in today's training classes.
Speaker 2:Man, that's 100%. Again, you're just knocking them out of the park, as always. Shane Well, DJ, do you want to take the next one or do you want to cut for a break? You tell me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's take a break. And then, when we come back, I want to talk about the standards or methods that Shane's talking about. So let's take a fast break. And, listeners, when we come back, let's talk about the standards and methods. So let's take a quick break and we'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to the number one podcast in the towing and recovery industry Tow Professional on the go. Every week we do our best. Now, darren and I want you to remember to like, review and share everywhere. We're building listener base because you have shared with your friends in our industry, listener base because you have shared with your friends in our industry. Now there's also a hotline. If you want to hear another industry expert, like a Shane Coleman from Erska, dial our hotline number 706-409-5603 and leave a message and by all means, darren and I will do our best to get that industry expert on this podcast. So, darren, let me ask this one.
Speaker 1:Just before we took the break, shane was kind enough and he was talking about standards and methods, so I guess I want to ask the standards or methods of instruction that an individual can align with or practice to endure? Are there some instructing in a way that is effective? Because you know you go to some classes and even though they're good trainers, they're not really effective. So is that being too rude? Uh, so, shane, if you could answer that one, I think our listeners should come to a class, but they should know that when they leave. The different way of being trained today is so different than the way my father was trained back 40 years ago.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I was classically, you know, the, the, the. The appropriate way that I say it now is I was classically trained. There's a lot of what we called was on the job training, yes and um and and and. What I'm about to say is by no means a dig on anybody that's out there that is trying to, you know, help the industry with providing some sort of information through a training event.
Speaker 3:But my eyes were significantly opened when I stepped into this role, especially, you know, last year I took a training through the University of Wisconsin, milwaukee, and it was basically a train the trainer and what that. What that entailed was was the standards of instruction that we've been talking about here. And you know because before, when I kind of walked into that class, you know, I was like All right, hey, you know, I've seen training happen before. You know you get somebody that class, I was like all right, hey, I've seen training happen before you get somebody that knows what they're talking about. They talk to you in the class and then you go outside and they kind of demonstrate what you're doing or what they're trying to teach you and you grasp what you can, and then a couple weeks later you're really not remembering a larger percentage of what they shared with you.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:And so through taking that train-the-trainer, I started to understand and see, and what they had shared with me was that there is a structure. I've kind of taken that and then enveloped that in our train-the-trainer program. I've taken that and then enveloped that in our train-the-trainer program and literally what it's become is that there's a delivery style that is, you know, every instructor has their own personality, they have their own bank of experience, but there is literally a structure in how you can deliver that training so that, like I said earlier, it's most effective.
Speaker 3:And you know, without scaring everybody on taking public speaking classes, one of the first eye openers in knowing how to deliver effective training is to know how to speak.
Speaker 3:So you know, just because and again, this is where I said I'm not digging on anybody there's lots of operators out there who have experiences that I don't have that could tell me about those experiences. But it's a very different delivery when you're trying to train somebody in that knowledge, because it takes a sequence of delivery in order to be effective so that when that attendee leaves two weeks later they can still remember because they saw it, they heard it and then they actually did it, and that's what really seeps it into that muscle memory aspect Right. All instructors, both today and future, you know, be open to taking those public speaking classes, be open to getting some more knowledge on the delivery of effective training, as opposed to we all would like to just stand out, you know, in the hands on side, just stand out there and talk about all the stuff that we've done and what we're about to do. But to build that muscle memory it's got to follow that structure.
Speaker 1:What we're about to do. But to build that muscle memory it's got to follow that structure. So yeah, I agree with you, tony Robbins. When he does his training classes he always says there's a way of training. But there's a way of training so that the attendee remembers it and they have to become part of the activity. And I agree with you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So we all know he knows what he's doing.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly, all right, Darren.
Speaker 2:You got it, DJ. Well, the next question I have, I guess, is how has ERSCA worked to establish a base for individuals wanting to instruct the ERSCA training?
Speaker 3:So that kind of comes from some of my own experience and what I've worked with the education committee on. We really kind of sat down and built a framework that I don't want to say it speeds up the process, but it eliminates a lot of the fluff in what it really can do when you deliver that training content within a certain structure. So what we've done in our train the trainer is that we've incorporated a lot of the elements from a training aspect, from that training standard aspect, from that training standard. We've incorporated those in the train the trainer so that you know you can take that experienced operator that has the ability to, you know, have good conversation with a you know a variety of people, because we all know there's lots of personalities in this industry, um, and we've built that framework for them and given them, we give them tools to use. And it's not tools as in to say, manipulation or you're fixing a problem, but it's tools so that as you're delivering, when some of those different learning styles pop up in the training, that the instructor has the ability to navigate those different learning styles so they can still be effective. That way you're not leaving anybody behind, you don't have anybody sitting in the classes going well.
Speaker 3:I, you know I really didn't understand what the guy meant. You know, it was a good class, it was fun, it was informative, but I was kind of lost. And so what we've done is built a framework around those training standards. But we've, we've given it a little bit of a, a turbocharger, so to speak, so that we can, you know, we can harness the, the talent and the experience of those that, uh, that want to kind of shift gears and maybe set, you know, get out of a truck and take on an instructor's role I tell you, saying that I think it's phenomenal and it's'll tell you something I've always lived by is if not you, then who?
Speaker 2:And I was a sales guy many years ago that had to use that phrase and say is it time to step up? What about leadership? If not you, who, then let's step forward and do it. And with the training going from somebody that's in sales, uh, to somebody that's running an actual business and collections and everything else, there has to be education and uh and knowledge to be acquired to be able to do it. So it's a steep curve, um, and you guys are offering our SCA is is putting that out there so that the curve's not so steep. You can come in and get this training and have something that will be very beneficial to your business going forward. So I love every bit of it. Well, dj, I'm going to throw the next question to you.
Speaker 1:All right. So let's do this In towing and recovery, as this podcast is all about, we specialize in. So here's what I want to ask how does training provide a measure of risk management within a company or organization that you explain to the people attending one of the classes for IRISCA?
Speaker 3:Well, that's a pretty comprehensive question. It kind of pulls back on the question from earlier. You know, there's been an understanding in the industry that this is, you know, it's so specialized that it takes a special kind of talent or a unique set of you know skills. You're born under the right stars, that sort of thing. And one of my own personal experiences was that, you know, my dad used to tell us when he was, you know quote unquote training or teaching my brother and I, as we were, you know, coming up in the business, he used to say well, you know, you got to be, you got to be blood in order to understand how to do this work. And me, being the younger of the two, I, you know I wasn't wanting to challenge that, but it didn't make sense to me. I thought that there had to be a certain foundation or a certain set of skills, that that you could share and then cut them loose.
Speaker 3:So it doesn't matter what type of vehicle you go after, it doesn't matter what kind of you know, it doesn't matter what the rigging system is, whether it's standard duty or medium or heavy, or, you know, getting into the use of rotators.
Speaker 3:There's a fundamental set of skills that every operator must know and they can exercise those on any given job. So you know, there's a baseline set of skills that are non-specific. So, in other words, the easy one to pick on would be rigging skills, because in this industry we're always using something that has a working load limit based on how we're using it. So one of the cornerstones in this business obviously would be having some rigging skills and that would be what is the working load limit of a sling in a vertical choker or basket? What is the tension on that sling when it's at a 60 or a 45 or even a 30-degree angle? Do I need to upgrade the sling? Like, there's fundamental things that we can layer into the training that provides that baseline so that when they walk back out, it doesn't matter which truck they get into. Those rigging skills are applicable, no matter what they're doing. You know.
Speaker 3:They know that if they, as long as they've, you know, built the skill, they know that they need to consider what is the working load limit in this configuration or what is the D to D for this chain?
Speaker 3:And D to D for, you know, without getting too specific, it's the diameter of chain to the diameter of what you're wrapping the chain around, Um. So those core principles, that's the skillset that can be put into the training so that it's a universal application. When they hit the streets, Well, when you know whether they're in the field or they're on the freeway, they, they can, they're going to use those same skills, Um, and and it's more than just that. So, while it seems specialized, there's really some comprehensive skillsets that we can build through this training program so that, whether they're a newcomer or, if they've been, they're a, they're a veteran to the industry. We can, we can share that information so that when they get back out there, they're within best practices and um. I think that's, I think that's how we can kind of tackle, you know, the issue of of thinking that we're so specialized, we are a special industry.
Speaker 1:I, I believe that 100%, but it's not so specialized that, you know, you have to be born from a toer in order to do it hey, before I turn it over to darren, and here's my question, I'm listening, just like you know, our thousand or so listeners that are on today's podcast. Can I ask the person that you look for to come to a train-the-trainer? What are some of the qualifications they should have before you accept them as a participant in train-the-trainer?
Speaker 3:Well, that's a very good question. It's almost close to the hotbed question or the controversial question from earlier. Nobody from my experience and if somebody listening, if they've seen this before, please reach out and share it with me but from my experience and time in the industry I have not seen a legitimized standard for what it takes for somebody to be an instructor. Basically it's kind of been well. If you've got a bank of experience, then you can step up to the plate and hang your shingle and go about your business.
Speaker 3:What we've tried to do through our program here at ERSCA is the trainers. If they want to become a trainer in the program there's an instructor profile that they would fill out and that goes before the education committee. I got you. Some of the requirements is going to be do they have previous training, and not just previous training from other towing agencies? You know towing, you know that's doing towing training.
Speaker 3:But have they gone to organizations like Crosby or Keto Crosby as it is today? Have they taken, you know? You know official rigging training? Have they gone to crane training like, and you know, nccco, that kind of experience? What you know? Those are all points of knowing the experience level of the instructor that wants to, you know, to put on the shirt, so to speak. So there is an experience level requirement for the standard duty as well as heavy duty. But a lot of what's considered is the background and experience of those coming in too. So they fill out the profile, it goes before the committee and they just you know, basically they're evaluated on whether they can you know, they can step up and make it work.
Speaker 2:I think that's fantastic alright, darren it's fantastic. Well, my last question is going to be Shane, tell our listeners about anything that's new, exciting, in the works for Erska, from programs, training alliances, because I know they're going to want to know about it.
Speaker 3:Well, without getting ahead of myself too fast or too far, I'd say probably what's been a really good training this year for us is what we call our advanced classes. So we have an advanced winch and rigging class that we do, um. One is on the heavy duty side, that's a two days, that's a two day 16 hour class. Um, we have another one that's an eight hour. That's for standard duty. So for those out there that wondering why I'm saying standard, we've, uh, we've taken the position to shift it from light duty to standard duty. Obviously, the biggest reason is that there's nothing light about moving vehicles. So you know, there's the standard side of it. Standard duty is, you know, all the passenger vehicles of the standardized vans, right? So there's been a lot of attention on these advanced classes. I think it's because, you know, and I'm guilty of it myself I think it's because there's less classroom and more hands-on so uh, you know, but most of the time what we find is that those classes are the front runners.
Speaker 3:Um, they, they, you know, they. They kind of that's where the attendees can kind of kind of dip their toes in the proverbial water, uh, to see what you know, what the training is about. And then you know, behind that, once we're done with those classes, they're usually asking about our, you know, electric vehicle classes, trainings that we offer, and so on. So this year, I would say, a lot of the attention has been on those advanced sessions. So awesome.
Speaker 2:You guys have some great alliances out there in the industry as well. I know you work. I want you to talk about some of them, but I know you work with one of our good friends, um daylon um dartman, over at esa and we, so we do a lot of uh partnerships at what we call industry, industry partners and industry supporters.
Speaker 3:Yeah so, um, you know companies, you know companies that want part of our training program. They want to say, you know, they they believe and buy into the safety of what they do. Um, they just they think, from sponsored lunch to offer rigging to you know, just being present and speaking on behalf of their product. We've had some opportunities that have come up here recently which we'll be able to come public with it here in the near future. There's some alliances with. They're not necessarily in the industry, but they're a large part of our industry. So we have a partner in rigging that has stepped up to the plate and they want to be one of our partners or alliances in their program. And there's some other entities, clubs and otherwise that have taken interest in our essential programs. So they see the need, they know that there's a high priority, today more than ever, on managing risk and they know that that happens through awareness and safety training. So we're excited to see how those are going to unfold and 2025 is going to be a very exciting year for us, for sure.
Speaker 2:Man. I agree, shane. I'm very excited about what Erskine is doing. I certainly see the tremendous need for it in the industry and all I've heard in the industry on my side of the grapevine is just tremendous great feedback on the training courses that you and your members are putting together. It's really been good to hear because, like you said, it's something that we really need more of in the industry. So let me tell you folks, if you want to find out more about this, um, make sure you jump on online. You can go to erscaorg to find out more information on on the training. You can also call them directly 916-617-2882. But don't go another day without having that training. It's advancing so much that, hey, what does it cost me if I don't have it? It can cost you a tremendous amount more than what it costs just to get your men and women trained. So make sure you check into this again. Arscoorg Um, anything, dj, before we leave.
Speaker 1:No, I just want to remind all of our listeners that if you think it's expensive to train your people and have them leave, try not training your people and have them stay. So it's a key to training. And, shane, I'm thinking about the person who has, you know, 18, 20 trucks and he sits there and says how could I get some of my people trained? Well, see if you got one or two that qualify for train-to-trainer, fill out the prospectus and go from there. I mean, what does it cost a phone call to Erskine and say how could I qualify for a train-to-trainer program and see what they have? But it's so important, the life of the people that are there every day. You know the whole magazine, the podcast. When we kiss our loved ones goodbye in the morning, we want to come home safe and sound that night and it's only done through training. Yeah, all right, yes, sir.
Speaker 3:Well, darren, gentlemen, that night, and it's only done through training.
Speaker 1:Amen, gentlemen, thank you hold on Shane, because Darren has to end this podcast, like he does all of them we certainly appreciate you coming on today.
Speaker 2:It's always a big treat to have your knowledge in and let me tell you folks, our listeners, if you haven't attended a class yet with either Shane Coleman, the National Director here training for IRSCA, or any of their qualified instructors, you're missing out. Make sure you reach out to them today and thanks again for coming on, shane.
Speaker 3:Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Speaker 2:You're certainly welcome. Before we end, listeners, I just want to say a prayer First off. Heavenly Father, thank you for another day. Thank you for our great industry leaders like Shane Coleman, ersta and others that are stepping out here with knowledge and training to help bring our loved ones home safe every day. Father, we ask that again you step forward, put your hand on this nation and protect it.
Speaker 2:Our nation's in a spot and all everyone needs to do is turn and understand that love is the answer. Through through Christ, Father, we ask that you bless every one of our advertisers more knowledge, wisdom, wealth, spiritual, mental and physical and our men and women of Cohen. Bless them for their servant's heart, bring them back home safely to their loved ones and for those that have loved ones that have lost along the way. Father, fill those hearts with peace and fill them with your presence. We ask this in your precious name, amen. Thank you, listeners, for making Co-Professional on-the-go podcast number one in industry with 13,000 plus listeners worldwide. We appreciate you. We want to keep bringing industry legends out here, like a Shane Coleman, to talk to you about the latest in services, products, training. Thanks for you, keep listening and until next week, god bless.