We have all had training over the years in our respected industries, by our employers and what we call on the job, but how much of that have we used or continue to use today. Often when attending seminars or classes we hear the information but do we really take things a step further and put that information to good use? For instance, I used to take a training course every year when I was a Supervisor, just so I could learn new tips to help manage my team. Not everyone sees training the same however and how you view training can be the difference between retaining the information and becoming productive. In fact an industry publication recently showed that most professional drivers want ongoing training and many companies are now coming on board knowing that the training is improving their fleets.

So how do you view training that you have received? Do you take it as though the company is mandating you to work more hours and taking time away from your family? Do you look at it as personal improvement and knowledge that is able to give you a better hand up than the person that does not take the training? Or do you view it as a certificate that you add to your file to show you took training but don’t actually apply what you have learned? I have seen this all too many times in my career. Individuals that take a training course and assume because they have sat through the information and a certificate is on their file that they are now trained in whatever it was they were training for. Taking the training is one thing, applying it is another. As a trainer, I can always tell the ones that feel that time is equal to a certificate. How can I do this? Easy, just look at who comes into a training program and does not bring paper, a pen, spends more time on their phone with social media than taking the training seriously. I see it all the time and wonder how people plan on remembering the information put out through an eight hour day?

I don’t know about you, but I learn everyday.  With so much information coming at us from so many directions, it is important for us to to learn how to separate all that information into chucks that can be absorbed and stored for later use. The secret to doing this is to discover the best way for you to learn. Do you enjoy reading, taking classes, or learning from hands on training? Once you have decided on the best format for information for you, you can begin the process of learning what you want that will be the most effective.  I enjoy reading, so I read on topics that are of interest to me for business and personal reasons. I then try to apply that information into my daily life. It’s as easy as reading a chapter a day and you will find in over a year, you have learned many things. If you take the next step and apply what you have learned you will begin to notice that you have opened up opportunities for yourself that you didn’t even know existed. Try it and see. Who knows, you may learn something.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge has been in the transportation industry for over 30 years and is the author of books; Driven to Drive and Running by the Mile. Challenger Motor Freight has been a leading transportation carrier with a large fleet covering a wide variety of transportation sectors. To learn more about Challenger Motor Freight and opportunities with the carrier please visit their website at www.challenger.com.