Road Crew Regional Recruiting, Hiring, Training Exploratory Minutes 08.25.26

Road Crew Regional Recruiting/Hiring/Training
Exploratory meeting 8/25/26 – Guilford

Regional models for Highway Crew Development – refer to doc created by Guilford’s Chip
Carter Regional Recruiting .docx
● Starting with a dept alongside pursuing training opportunities leads to better
retention
● https://aashtojournal.transportation.org/oregon-dot-continues-high-school-hiring-p
rogram/ (Oregon program)
● Statewide models in Oregon and Wisconsin have had good success – supported
at state
● VT DOL Has this certification available as a code requires coordinating with
administration
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovativeprograms/centers/workforce_dev/policy_guidance_regulatio
ns.aspx
(Federal program)
Is this a State or Regional level program to train and produce CDL-holding applicants towns can
hire from? (although then you have competition with other private entities)
Highlevel BDCC Workforce program (existing)– worked directly with High School Students (not
career-changing adults) targeting HS students that have an interest in CDL – intensive
week-long introduction to the career paths (training, career paths, etc.) NE driver training
created a small pipeline to enroll directly with Todd @ NE Driver training after HS. Pay scale
differences CDL-A start upper $20’s/hour
State CDL-A earn 29.25/hour; in Southern VT $28.07 average
State Registered Apprenticeship program
https://labor.vermont.gov/workforce-development/apprenticeship
– questions to answer: who is the host and sponsor? – an entity needs to ‘own’ the
apprenticeship
Types of CDL Licenses – A is tractor trailer, CDL-B is usually what a municipality would require
Question: Is CDL the barrier to entry? Can you hire non-CDL employees?
Idea for Municipal role: changes in Town Policy to support apprentices/ability to train drivers
(note better retention rates for folks who start in the position) – what does your hiring policy
allow?
Depending on the size of the crew having folks who can’t drive may not be possible – in winter
everyone needs to drive and there may not be time to train
Problem for small towns is keeping non-CDL drivers busy
Bratt has 15 full time, while
Guilford has 4 including foreman
Local Roads Program: 40 hours of training in their guidebook (certifications required) – Todd
Eaton’s program can support this training; town needs to support on the job local training
Karen (Putney) – interested in targeting folks between 26-30 yo (adults) (retention)
Putney and Westminster do train, Halifax has done this (then have them leave for another town
but did cover the price of CDL
Price of CDL $3500-5000
Colin noted morale issues within road crew members – gathering road crew members/foremen
together with other town officials to discuss if there are governance issues or other issues
(administrative support for example on required paperwork) Learning from other towns/shared
experiences making sure road crew feels supported
Verandah – interviews with HW dept members – times are different and climate change has had
an impact on the work – conditions of work have changed – dealing with rain in winter, etc. icing
makes the job more difficult and extra hours (sanding every 90 minutes during rain events for
example)
Supporting the road crew is key (benefits vs wages $) but can’t necessarily attract younger folks
with benefits.
Issue – coordinating host for creating a pool of applicants, source of funding for training
(fed/state OR town investing in a trainee position but towns don’t have a lot of leeway. Need
visibility for position/better ‘marketing’ for the position.
If there is a pool, what kind of support does the town provide to hire, then to support hires?
https://www.vlct.org/resource/2025-vlct-compensation-and-benefits-survey-results-dashboard
VLCT compensation and benefits survey
Guilford did a Highway Wage Comparison – will share that as well
But collecting data from private sector is also important as that is competition
Q? Does any town subcontract any part of highway work out?
From Colin – NH/MA subcontracting out some portion of plowing in S. VT only Brookline
Edee – ‘unofficial’ applicant pool of folks with CDL in town who have been called on in
emergencies
Next step – solidify project lead to ‘hold’ the project.
BDCC can help support conversations, connect to DOL
DOL would be for help with structuring an apprenticeship program/creating the code/creating
the apprenticeship. BUT needs a person on the ground in the community to coordinate.
This is not exactly a ‘shared staffing’ model (for sharing a service e.g. shared policing services)
Also in this case there is no ‘Mark Anderson’ (sheriff) who can coordinate
VTRANS has some recruitment/retention programs that could be a model – Todd participates in
this effort so can be a resource https://vtrans.vermont.gov/aot-recruitment
Next steps – continue to hear from road crews/invite SB members to road foreman gatherings
(Colin/Jeff?) Aug 6th talked about strategies/issues, lack of support from SB (esp for complaints
from residents – job satisfaction/morale) WRC can maybe convene meetings between SB and
Road Crew?
Craft a solution to bring to the legislature (they know the problem but it needs to be packaged a
solution)
Define a scope and deliverable – goals and milestones along the way.
Sheila – looking for volunteers who can help put together the next steps
● Todd Eaton
● Edee Edwards
● Laura Sibilia/Meg Staloff – BDCC SVEP can provide Tech assistance and
support connections
● Sheila, Verandah and Chip – Guilford
● Road Crew foreman TBD
● WRC – Colin or Jeff?