Merit System Commission certifies street maintenance hiring list after discussion of CDL rules

The Merit System Commission certified and released a list of applicants for a full‑time street maintenance worker at a July 16 meeting that began at 9:11 a.m., and commissioners heard an extended staff discussion of commercial driver's license (CDL) classes, endorsements and how those rules affect promotion and vehicle assignment.

The certified hiring list covers applicants who passed the written test portion of the selection process; staff said the written passing score for the exam was 60. Commissioners approved releasing the list so departmental interviews can proceed, while staff will verify which applicants hold required CDLs before scheduling interviews.

Why it matters: CDL class and endorsement requirements determine who can legally operate certain city vehicles and tow trailers. Commissioners flagged the issue because promotions and some day‑to‑day tasks in the street maintenance shop require specific CDL categories or endorsements, and state/federal CDL rules have changed in recent years.

In the meeting, staff described the difference between Class A and Class B CDLs and the practical effects for the street shop. According to staff discussion, a Class B license allows operation of straight‑axle vehicles such as dump trucks, while a Class A license covers combination vehicles and trailers; endorsements such as tanker and hazmat add further qualifications. Staff noted that many current employees hold Class A licenses and that some older licensing arrangements allowed drivers to be grandfathered into categories.

Staff told the commission there are 10 names on the list the commission was comfortable moving forward with for certification, and that four applicants are confirmed to have a CDL. Other names on the list are marked "unknown" for CDL status; staff said they will contact those applicants to verify whether they hold the required license before interviews. Staff also said that applicants who did not take the test or who failed are marked accordingly on the list.

Commissioners and staff discussed potential policy implications, including whether the city should require higher CDL classes for promotion within the maintenance shop and whether any such change would require bargaining with the union. Staff said changes to promotion requirements would be a larger topic that likely would involve the union and a more in‑depth review.

Staff also described changes in CDL training requirements and testing over time, saying where training once required roughly 20 hours of classroom and 20 hours of driving, some programs now ask for 40 hours of classroom and 40 hours of driving. Staff raised safety concerns behind tighter rules and noted endorsements can be obtained by passing written tests. The discussion included an example staff cited of a tanker truck crash that led to scrutiny of tanker endorsements.

Formal actions taken at the meeting included approving the minutes, excusing Commissioner Wasty from the meeting, and a unanimous vote by the three commissioners present to certify and release the list of applicants for the full‑time street maintenance worker. Commissioners directed staff to proceed with verifying CDL status and to begin scheduling interviews for qualified candidates.

The commission adjourned at 9:22 a.m. The certification allows the department to move forward with the next step of the hiring process but leaves open questions about any future changes to promotion criteria tied to CDL class or endorsements, which staff said would require separate, broader discussions with the union and department leaders.