county commission

Cari Drees  

A severe shortage of Class A CDL drivers coupled with new restrictions from the federal government regarding training have put a strain on the ability to hire new drivers for both the Highway Department and the Solid Waste Department. A new incentive program to include the payment of the Class A CDL driver class for the employee and an increase in base pay after completion. The class must be completed within 45 days of employment. Mr. Larson said that there are truck drivers in the pipeline for driving positions that are waiting for this program to become a policy.

 Commissioners Campbell and Mongeau clarified that the payment for the class goes to the training institution, not the individual employee. This program will require the employee to reimburse the county for the cost of the CDL training over a two-year period. If an employee comes to the position with a current CA CDL they would be immediately placed at a higher pay rate. While these employees would be assigned to an individual department there is an understanding that crossover assignments might be required.

 In discussion Commissioner Gross asked about the consequences if the employee leaves their position before the two-year payment plan is completed. Mr. Brooke responded that it would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. “I don’t think that we have any agreement on training, per se” so I guess we’d have to take a little bit of a deeper dive. If an employ is terminated there is an opportunity to recoup the costs through final paychecks and vacation time.