Jul 12, 2023 —
A change in CDL licenses shrinks the applicant pool
Like most industries, public works departments have been struggling to find and hire workers.
That’s partly because of federal regulations that changed last year, making Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) more difficult to obtain.
If you want to work in a public works department, a CDL is mandatory. It’s what you need to drive a dump truck, a garbage truck, a plow, and a school bus. But in February of 2022, the government changed CDL regulations.
In the past, you got a permit, studied independently, and then did a road test. Now, you have to take what’s called ‘Entry Level Driver Training’ (ELDT) course, with a certified instructor.
There aren’t many of these courses available in the North Country. There is one at SUNY Canton; it’s an 8 week course, and costs $7000 dollars.
Marty Miller is the Village of Massena’s Superintendent of their Department of Public Works. When Miller heard about the new regulations, he said his first thought was, “If you’re 20 years old, are you gonna go pay six $7,000 to go to a truck driving school and get your training? No. Because most people don’t have that money, right?”
Miller says because of the coronavirus pandemic, there was already a shortage of CDL drivers. He says the Massena Public Works department used to get 20-30 applicants for an open job, now they’ll get 2 or 3. The new regulations made the pool even smaller.
Becoming a trainer in a bid to attract new workers
Miller was especially concerned the new regulations and training course would cut out younger applicants altogether.
That’s why he decided to get certified as an ‘Entry Level Driver Training’ trainer, so that he could offer in-house, free CDL training to employees.
“It’s a big deal,” said Miller, “because it opens the door for a lot of different people to put in [an application] when I do have a job opening.”
This way, Miller said the employee can work and make money, while simultaneously doing their required training. The individual won’t have to pay to take a course, and the department won’t lose them for two months.
“I can hire somebody, and all I ask them is to go get their permit,” said Miller. “Then I will train you in-house. At the same time, you’re still a benefit to the village of Massena, because I can still work you doing other jobs, that doesn’t include driving.”
Miller got certified as an ELDT trainer in early June.
His hope that this will open the door to younger applicants is already coming to bear fruit, in his most recent hire, a young man who just graduated high school. He did a job shadow with Miller through BOCES in the spring. Miller then hired him for the summer, and recently offered him a fulltime job.
“He’s an outstanding worker, 19 years old,” said Miller. “I asked him to get his permit, and then we’ll train him to get a CDL. And it’s a little – it’s actually a lot of work – on my part, but I’m happy to do it to make this program work.”
Miller will start training his new employee later in July. He’s also been advising other departments and organizations in the area on how to get one of their employees certified as an ‘Entry Level Driver Training’ trainer.
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