When you join an association you get a variety of people involved in all business types or sectors and companies. It can take a new member a long time to understand who else is involved with a group and sometimes that can hinder the growth of a group.
I am part of many groups in the world of business and each time I join a group I find it takes a long time to finally realize who else is involved. This is because you meet people one by one, learn about their business, evaluate whether their the type of business for your network, and then follow up with them and that takes time. Almost every group I have joined takes about a year to really understand the dynamic of the group.
When a group decides to put on an event the decision is either made up from the group as a whole or a specific Board or team that make the decision for the rest of the group. In a group with different member types this can cause many to feel as though the decision does not meet their needs.
I have been working with the people at the Truck Training School 
Association of Ontario (TTSAO) for a number of years and have noticed that over time they have started segmenting their people within the organization. When I first started working with them they had certified schools and associate members, you were either a school or not. Since the transportation industry is such a large sector of the population with a variety of people involved it got to be very confusing as to whom was in the room and how they helped the industry. Like many other industry groups the associate membership often out numbers the actual members and this was the case with TTSAO. They have started segmenting the groups to give a better view of the membership to the industry and it is helping them in growing their membership.
Over the last couple of years they have formed four groups within the TTSAO Association. They have the main group of Certified Schools, the TTSAO Carrier Group made up of any carrier that joins the organization, the TTSAO Insurance Group with any insurance partners involved with the group, and the Associate Membership which makes up consultants and other professionals from the industry. It’s been helping grow their membership because other companies involved in the industry can now see where they fit in within the group and who the members are.
If you would like to learn more about joining the TTSAO click here for more information.
The TTSAO is taking things one step further which is making the group even more powerful. They are giving power to each group to get involved on a deeper level within the Association. At events such as the annual conference each group will hold their own meetings with an agenda talking about their goals for the year and what they hope to get accomplished as a group. Some are starting to put on their own events to promote their particular expertise to the public. This is what’s happening with the TTSAO Carrier Group who decided this year to put on a hiring event. The TTSAO Hiring Event is a job fair for the public under the TTSAO name allowing people to learn more about jobs in the industry. All groups are welcome to participate and show what they have to offer the public within the industry.
Join us for the TTSAO Hiring Event on May 26th, 2018 
The TTSAO groups within a group program is working out very well from an outsiders standpoint looking in. The groups are aligning nicely and the streamlined look is helping other companies see how they can be a part of the TTSAO.
If you would like to learn more about membership with the TTSAO please visit our membership page.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge has been in the transportation industry for over 30 years. He is an author of the books Driven to Drive and Running By The Mile, and host of The Lead Pedal Podcast. TTSAO also known as the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario has certified member schools in the truck training vocation ensuring quality entry level drivers enter the transportation industry. To learn more about the TTSAO or to find a certified school in your area visit www.ttsao.com