New Transportation Workforce Training Available Online

Two new free Web-based training opportunities are available from the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council (TCCC), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI). The TCCC's members include representatives from FHWA, NHI, regional State training and certification groups, several American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials subcommittees, and industry associations.

TCCC Plan Reading (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134081) is a 4-hour online course that covers basic plan reading instructions for work on State and county roads and structures, as well as more indepth instruction for those seeking additional information.

"The ability to read plans is essential for all staff involved in highway or bridge construction. This course is designed for anyone desiring a better understanding of plan reading," says Christopher Newman of FHWA's Office of Asset Management. The highway plan reading modules include information on curves, stationing, utilities, and right of way. The bridge module contains information on plan details for both substructures and superstructures, while the culvert module covers steel placement, walls, footings, and other details of culvert plans.

Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:

Read and interpret plan sheets for highway, bridge, and culvert construction.
Read and interpret a variety of plan details, including station locations; cross section, profile, and plan views; centerline location; and point of intersection.
Read and interpret plan sheets for all parts of a bridge substructure and superstructure.
Understand the terminology and symbols used when reading plans.

Also available online is TCCC Fundamentals of Materials Used for Concrete Pavements (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134084). "The materials used in portland cement concrete play an extremely valuable role in the quality and long-term performance of the concrete," says Newman. Course participants will learn more about how to assure that the materials used in portland cement concrete meet specification requirements and are compatible, producing a high-quality and durable product. The 2-hour training covers aggregates, curing compounds, reinforcement material, and materials that are chemically reactive. The training module was adapted from the Integrated Materials and Construction Practices for Concrete Pavement manual developed through the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University.

Figure 3. Photo. A view of a highway with traffic traveling on it.

The TCCC's new online courses include information on plan reading and the fundamentals of materials used for concrete pavements.

Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:

Identify materials used in portland cement concrete.
Understand the importance of each material and the role it plays in the performance of the concrete.
Understand how each material reacts with the other materials to obtain strength, permeability, workability, and other attributes.

The training is designed for State and local transportation agency, FHWA, and industry staff.

To register for the new courses, visit www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov. For more information on the courses, contact Christopher Newman in FHWA's Office of Asset Management, 202-366-2023 (email: christopher.newman@fhwa.dot.gov). To learn more about the TCCC's many training resources, visit www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/tccc.

		January/February 2009
		FHWA-HRT-09-010