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Arancivia's CDL primer could help supplement
pool of snowplow drivers

ITD recruits for culture first, not necessarily technical achievement. "We look for the right person first, and in the course of discovering if they are the right fit, we can usually determine if they have the drive and ability to learn the skills we need from them," says Kate Rice, the department's Human Resources supervisor.

The latest example of this is within the maintenance workers classification. Until recently, ITD job announcements for those positions would always indicate "Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Required." Now, they say that CDL training will be provided by the department, which greatly opens up the candidate pool, especially in small, remote areas. In years past, where requiring a CDL might mean only one guy qualifies in these smaller talent pools, and ITD would hire him even if he couldn't get along with anyone and was extremely hard to work with.

Sophie Arancivia came to ITD six months ago with no CDL, but within the allotted six weeks, she's completed both the written and skills testing portions of the program to obtain her license. She rode with seasoned snowplow drivers to learn the ropes. Then, one day after completing her six-month probationary period, she was out plowing snow on Sunday when the winter storm hit in the Treasure Valley three hours before it was predicted by the National Weather Service to begin.

Sophie was one of just six plows available that morning at 2 a.m., and she "absolutely knocked it out of the park," Caldwell Maintenance Foreman Steve Porter said.

Sophie and D3 Equipment Training Spoecialist Chris Cunningham put together a PowerPoint for newbies needing to obtain their CDL.

"ITD's maintenance crews and shops can truly benefit by having the chance to hire non-CDL holders and train them for the job," said Arancivia. "Removing the requirement of having a CDL prior to hiring has many advantages. When you hire on someone new who does not already have a CDL, it gives the crew that opportunity to train that person for the job."

Currently, there is no uniform statewide standard for CDL hiring — each foreman dictates how it is done at their shed. Some foremen choose to only hire people who have their CDL beforehand.

Arancivia doesn't agree with this practice.

"I think this takes a great deal of people out of the running who probably have a lot of potential as a maintenance worker. In the long run, it takes away opportunities to further people's careers who could really progress in ITD."

Arancivia's PowerPoint could be a valuable learning tool.

"The Caldwell crew did an amazing job preparing me for my CDL testing, and I think that the PowerPoint can be a helpful tool to use while training," she said.

Mechanic Luke Jacobsen from the Boise shop was sent to the Caldwell crew and utilized Sophie's instructional tool for training because of the success the crew has had with new members getting their CDLs within the 60-day time limit.

“It was great to drive with multiple people. Everyone who helped me had something to add to becoming a better and safer driver,” Jacobsen said. Luke said he received help on parallel parking a 48-foot trailer, offset parking, the walk-around and general snowplow practices.

At the Caldwell shed, four people have been hired with only a CDL Learner's Permit, and all four have passed both the written and driving portion of the test within six weeks to get a CDL. One of those individuals was Sophie.