Known as the "last best place", Montana also happens to hold the distinction of being the very last state to adopt the federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule since its establishment in 2017. The ELDT mandates that individuals seeking their first Commercial Driver's License (CDL) complete the federally required "entry-level driver training." Typical CDL training programs fulfilling this federal mandate are full-time, three months long, and come with an approximate price tag of $5000. As our team of almost 300 members prides itself on keeping the water flowing, waste collected, and streets travel-ready for Billings, recent labor market conditions presented challenges, particularly due to a shortage of CDL applicants. In response, Public Works has pioneered our own ELDT program, offering in-house CDL training that not only complies with the federal rule but also keeps new hires engaged and employed during training. This initiative will significantly reduce costs associated with hiring and retaining employees, improve service efficiency, and increase job satisfaction.
Jake Barnhart, our inaugural CDL Trainer, rose to the occasion from our Street-Traffic team. With his extensive experience operating various equipment within Public Works combined with the desire to share his expertise with the team, Jake is playing a pivotal role in getting the program launched. This program isn't just about hitting compliance goals. It's a win-win, giving our local workforce a boost and making both the City and our employees happy. We're excited to see this program tee off and provide more opportunities for service-minded candidates to work for the Billings community!
Interested in working with us?
There are some current openings in:
Engineering
Street-Traffic
Solid Waste
Water Distribution & Wastewater Collection
Water Treatment
Wastewater Reclamation