PennDOT CDL Operator Trainee (Transportation Equipment Operator Trainee)

Penndot Cdl Operator Trainee

Become a PennDOT CDL Operator Trainee with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and gain valuable training that sets you up for long-term success! This position helps you grow into a skilled equipment operator through real field experience and guided learning. You will be part of a team that keeps roads safe and reliable for all travelers. Take the first step toward a stable and meaningful career with opportunities to advance!

This position is a six-month training role where you learn to operate heavy equipment and perform manual labor for highway and bridge maintenance. The job helps you gain required licensing, certifications, and familiarity with PennDOT procedures. As a PennDOT CDL Operator Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Equipment Training: Develop skills to operate heavy trucks, loaders, and other construction equipment
• Safety Practices: Follow safety procedures and use protective equipment to maintain a safe work environment
• Tool Operation: Use motorized and non-motorized hand tools properly to support maintenance work
• Equipment Checks: Perform and document pre-operation and post-operation inspections, as well as make basic field adjustments
• Worksite Awareness: Stay aware of hazards and report injuries, accidents, or damaged equipment promptly
• Environmental Compliance: Carry out environmental protection and management requirements for maintenance activities

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Travel, overtime and shift work is required. Work hours are subject to change based on seasonal requirements and operational needs.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Required Experience, Training & Eligibility:

Special Requirements:

• This position requires possession of an active Pennsylvania non-commercial Class C Driver's License or equivalent.
• All employees must possess an active Pennsylvania Class A or B Commercial Driver Learner's Permit on the first day of work.
• All positions require employees to possess an active Medical Examiner's Certificate in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations by the first day of work.

Additional Requirements:

• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.