AS PART OF A LONG-RANGE (1965-69) RESEARCH PROJECT IN LOUISIANA, A STUDY (1) IDENTIFIED TRAINING NEEDS OF PERSONS SUPERVISING THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, FERRIES, AND EQUIPMENT, (2) ESTIMATED TRAINING NEEDS OF POTENTIAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL, (3) DETERMINED CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH GROUPS, AND (4) MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A TRAINING PROGRAM. A SAMPLE GROUP UNDERWENT WRITTEN TESTS, PERFORMANCE TESTS, AND SUPERVISORY APPRAISALS. PERSONNEL RANGED IN AGE FROM UNDER 25 TO OVER 65 (OVER 45 PERCENT WERE OVER 45), THE RANGE OF EDUCATION WAS FROM BELOW FOUR YEARS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE, AND WORK EXPERIENCE VARIED FROM A FEW MONTHS TO OVER 20 YEARS. READING, MATHEMATICS, RECORD KEEPING, USE OF MANUALS, SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, TRAFFIC SAFETY, UTILITIES, AND DISASTER OPERATIONS WERE THE MAIN AREAS OF NEED FOR BOTH CURRENT AND POTENTIAL SUPERVISORS. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT SET UP A PERMANENT TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDING FOR SELF, OR SMALL GROUP, INSTRUCTION DURING WORKING HOURS, WITH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT COULD BE USED BY OPERATING MANAGERS OR SUPERVISORS. A SPECIAL TRAINING ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE SET UP, FURTHER DATA COLLECTED, AND ADDITIONAL RESEARCH BE CARRIED ON. THIS DOCUMENT, PB-174-962, IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR FEDERAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION, SPRINGFIELD, VA. 22151. MICROFICHE $0.65, HARDCOPY $3.00. (LY)