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Driver training for community transportation providers

Massachusetts Regional Transit Assistance Program - also known as "MArtap" - provides free driver training to transportation providers in Massachusetts. Transit authorities, Councils on Aging, non-profit providers serving rural areas, and transportation providers who are recipients of vehicles or grants through MassDOT's Community Transit Grant Program are eligible. Other transportation providers may also be able to participate if sufficient funding is available. We are not associated with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

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Who is eligible?

Transportation providers are eligible if:

  • You are a Regional Transit Authority, Council on Aging, or municipal transportation provider
  • You are a non-profit transportation provider providing transportation in a rural area
  • You are a recipient of a vehicle or grant through MassDOT's Community Transit Grant Program

Not sure if you're eligible? Contact us, and we'll be happy to assist you.

MassDOT previously offered two related programs: MArtap and MAurbanTAP. As of July 2025, transportation providers no longer need to determine which of the two they are eligible for. If you are eligible for this program, you may sign up for any upcoming course. Our goal in merging these programs is to streamline the process and make it easier for drivers to access training.

Please note that these trainings are for transit drivers and not the general public. If you are a member of the general public looking for driver safety training, please visit the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicle’s (RMV) webpage.

If you are interested in becoming a human services transportation provider please visit the Human Service Transportation (HST) Office’s website.

What courses are offered?

For municipalities, Councils on Aging, and non-profits that receive vehicles through MassDOT's Community Transit Grant Program, the following driver training courses are required:

  • Accessible Lift Use and Passenger Securement (formerly Wheelchair Lift & Securement)
  • Defensive Driving (formerly Coaching the Van Driver, NSC DDC3)
  • Disability Awareness (formerly Safe Transport of the Public under the ADA)
  • CPR & First Aid

One additional required class is not offered through our driver training program:

We also offer some optional courses, such as:

  • Diversity and Sensitivity in Transit
  • Train-the-Trainer opportunities for providers to learn to offer their own in-house driver training

Key Actions

Detailed course descriptions 

Register for an upcoming course

Register for an upcoming course.

To register for an online webinar:

  • Provide the attendee's email address if the attendee will be using their own device
  • Provide an agency email address if the attendees will be using an agency device
CourseDate and TimeLocation
Accessible Lift & Securement Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (8:00 am - 1:00 pm)Haverhill COA, 10 Welcome St, Haverhill, MA 01830
Defensive Driving WebinarTuesday, June 16, 2026 (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm)Online
Passenger Assistance Training (PAT)Tuesday, June 16, 2026  (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)Lowell RTA, 100 Hale St, Lowell, MA 01851
Defensive DrivingThursday, June 18, 2026 (8:00 am - 11:00 am)Northborough Senior Center, 119 Bearfoot Rd, Northborough MA   01532
Disability Awareness Thursday, June 18, 2026 (11:00 am - 2:00 pm)Northborough Senior Center, 119 Bearfoot Rd, Northborough MA   01532
Accessible Lift & Securement Tuesday, June 23, 2026  (8:00 am - 1:00 pm)Town of Topsfield, 8 West Common St., Topsfield, MA 01983
Drug & Alcohol Program Management & Compliance - THIS IS A 3-PART SERIESJune 29, 30, July 1, 2026 (9:00 am - 12:00 pm)Online
Reasonable Suspicion DeterminationThursday, July 2, 2026  (9:00 am - 12:00 pm)Online
Defensive Driving Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (8:00 am - 11:00 am)Rochester COA, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770
Accessible Lift & Securement  * Waitlist Only *Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (11:00 am - 4:00 pm)Rochester COA, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770
CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens  * Waitlist Only *Thursday, July 9, 2026 (9:00 am - 3:00 pm)MWRTA, 15 Blandin Ave, Framingham MA  01702
Passenger Assistance Training (PAT)Friday, July 10, 2026  (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)Holbrook COA, 9 Jewel Rd, Holbrook MA  02343
Passenger Assistance Training (PAT)Monday, July 13, 2026 (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)Palmer Senior Center, 1029 Central St, Palmer, MA 01069
Passenger Assistance Training (PAT)Wednesday, July 15, 2026 (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)Franklin RTA, 12 Olive St, Greenfield, MA 01301
Passenger Assistance Training (PAT)Tuesday, July 21, 2026 (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)South Co. Senior Center, 22 Amherst Rd, Sunderland MA   01375
Accessible Lift & Securement   * Waitlist Only *Friday, July 24, 2026  (8:00 am - 1:00 pm)Mendon COA, 62 Providence St. Mendon MA 01748
Passenger Assistance Training (PAT)Tuesday, July 28, 2026 (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)Community Connections Inc., 10 David Drown Blvd, Fairhaven, MA 02719
Defensive Driving Monday, August 3, 2026 (8:00 am - 11:00 am)Revere Elder Services, 25 Winthrop Ave, Revere, MA 02151
Accessible Lift & Securement Monday, August 3, 2026 (11:00 am - 4:00 pm)Revere Elder Services, 25 Winthrop Ave, Revere, MA 02151

Please note:

  • If you register but don't hear from us within 5 days, please reach out to us
  • Attendees will need access to a computer within 5 days of an online course to take the exam
  • Each attendee will need to take the exam independently through the Survey Monkey link provided
  • Want training closer to home? You can offer to host a training

Key Actions

Sign up to get updates on the course schedule  Register for an upcoming driver training session 

Want training sooner?

If you have drivers who need training and no upcoming MArtap or MAurbanTAP sessions are convenient, try these options:

  1. Offer to host a training at your site for up to 8 of your own drivers
  2. Find training offered outside the MassDOT driver training program
    1. For example, check out CTAA's driver training
    2. Rural transportation providers can apply for funding to cover training costs through the MArtap Scholarship - more information and apply
  3. Enroll in the Train-the-Trainer course so you can get trained as a Community Trainer and run your own driver training
  4. Find a Community Trainer near you
  5. Email the MArtap inbox to ask for additional options if you are not able to find what you are looking for.

Host a training

Want training at a convenient location, at a time that works for your drivers? Offer to host! As a host, you can register up to 8 of your own drivers for the training. Please note that trainings will be advertised on the MArtap webpage and will be opened to attendees from outside your organization.

Key Actions

Host a driver training session 

Additional driver training opportunities

You or your drivers may also be interested in these optional trainings from other organizations:

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