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Office of Business Opportunity
OBO Press Release
City Seeks Applicants for Free FOCUS on Fleet Safety Training Program
Info Session Set for March 16; Businesses with two-100 vehicles must apply by March 26
March 11, 2021 -- The Mayor and the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), in partnership with Together for Safer Roads (TSR), announces FOCUS on Fleet Safety, a free training program that will help businesses and organizations with fleets of as little as two vehicles build cultures of safety and continuous improvement.
FOCUS is part of the City’s Houston Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Launching for the first time in Houston, FOCUS is seeking ten businesses or non-profit organizations to participate in this inaugural cohort. To qualify for the program, a business must:
- Have two to 100 vehicles, some of which must be trucks (single unit class 2 and above -- e.g. Ford F-250s, box trucks, Sprinter vans and larger, no tractor trailers)
- Operate in Houston (can be based elsewhere)
- Commit to building a safety culture
“Vision Zero requires the commitment of all parts of society, and the City of Houston is proud to partner with Together for Safer Roads to make the private sector an active partner,” said The Mayor. “Supporting small businesses and empowering their fleets to lead by example will make our communities safer and benefit their bottom line.”
FOCUS is equal parts safety training and workforce development. It helps fleets support Houston’s Vision Zero goal. It also helps leaders, managers and drivers develop professional skills that they can use in almost any job: change management, employee management, human resources management and working with data.
Participants chosen for the program will receive training shaped by TSR’s global partners – major companies who lead the industry in fleet safety standards – including AB InBev, AT&T, CalAmp, Geotab, Lyft, Marsh, PepsiCo, Republic Services, Samsara and UPS.
“We commend The Mayor and his staff for recognizing fleets’ role in achieving Vision Zero,” said TSR president David Braunstein. “By bringing the best practices from some of the largest fleets in the world to professional drivers in Houston, we’re proud to help people feel safe as they travel in their neighborhoods and throughout the city.”
Those interested are invited to sign up for an informational webinar scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16. Applications for the program are due Friday, March 26 and selected participants will be notified the week of April 5. The program is slated to begin the week of April 26.
“The Office of Business Opportunity and Together for Safer Roads staff are available throughout the process to assist with the application process and answer questions,” said OBO Director Marsha E. Murray. “We encourage Houston businesses to sign up for this program, which includes workshops, trainings, executive coaching and supporting materials which will help advance leadership and organizational change management; training and professional development; and vehicle safety technology.”
By setting a time-bound goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries and committing to Vision Zero, Houston joins an international movement of other world cities including Los Angeles, London, New York and Stockholm. Annually, Houston ranks among the U.S. cities with the most traffic deaths. OBO and TSR are also partnering with local chambers of commerce to promote the program.
ABOUT TOGETHER for SAFER ROADS (TSR)
Together for Safer Roads is a global NGO that works with government, businesses and community stakeholders on local projects, fleet safety management and technology initiatives to prevent traffic crashes, injuries and deaths. TSR was started in conjunction with the UN’s Decade of Road safety and has partners around the world. TSR’s members include AB InBev, AT&T, CalAmp, Geotab, Lyft, Marsh, PepsiCo, Republic Services, Samsara, UPS and others.