PHOENIX – More than 400 formerly incarcerated individuals have completed a job-skills training program in trucking, a field that is currently in high-demand. The CDL program is a collaboration between the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR), Department of Economic Security (DES), the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Since the program began, nearly 100 of the participants have earned their commercial driver license (CDL) and are working in the trucking industry.

The program, part of the Second Chance Center, allows certain inmates to obtain their commercial learner's permit (CLP) before release. ADOT and ADCRR provide the curriculum prior to release from prison. Thanks to these partnerships, offenders are able to immediately enroll at the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, or other CDL schools, to obtain their commercial driver license. ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division works to address any license or identification issues. The program also works with the traffic courts to address any fines or issues upon successful completion of the program. MVD personnel also assist with the medical exam process for inmates as all commercial drivers must have a medical certificate.

“This is a great example of collaboration between state agencies to reduce recidivism and the shortage of commercial drivers,” said Eric Jorgensen, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division. “A commercial driver license really enhances the chances of getting a job because of the need in the industry.”

The program was launched at the Eagle Point Unit of Arizona State Prison Complex - Lewis as one of several career focused programs for inmates working towards their release at the Second Chance Center. This program was recently expanded to the Second Chance Center at the women’s Perryville Prison last November. So far, 76 women have completed the program prior to release from prison and are now able to pursue their CDLs in the community.

“We are extremely grateful for the collaborative efforts by everyone involved in this program, including state and local agencies, as well as community partners,” said David Shinn, director of ADCRR. “Programs such as this are crucial opportunities that help people change their lives as they return to the community.”

Currently, this program is also provided through virtual avenues at other prisons and may be expanded to additional state prisons in the future.

The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. 

PHOENIX – After wandering across both directions of Interstate 40 on foot and into the eastbound facility of the Topock Port of Entry this past spring, an impaired commercial driver was taken into custody after an ADOT Enforcement and Compliance officer recognized the signs and symptoms of impairment thanks to DUI training.

The training, which is funded through a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, consists of the common indicators of someone under the influence, conducting standard field sobriety tests, guidance on DUI investigations and obtaining e-warrants. Currently, 52 ADOT officers have taken one or more of the training classes.

“Being able to identify commercial drivers who come into the ports under the influence and take them off the road helps keep everyone safer,” said Tim Lane, director of ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division. “Though our operations are primarily confined to the ports of entry, our officers see lots of different situations. Having the proper training helps us do our jobs more effectively.”

The training classes are held throughout the year at different locations around the state. Refresher courses are also held for officers who have already completed training. 

“Driving impaired is always dangerous and deadly, but an impaired driver behind the wheel of a large commercial vehicle takes it to a whole new level,” said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “We are glad to help fund efforts to catch impaired commercial drivers at the ports of entry and help keep Arizona’s roads safer.” 

The DUI training paid off earlier this year when a commercial driver, who was determined to be under the influence of methamphetamine, entered the Topock Port of Entry. Sgt. Jill Osgood with ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division was able to recognize the signs the driver was exhibiting due to the training. 

More officers and customer service representatives at the ports of entry going through the training means better preparedness to identify commercial drivers under the influence and take them off the road.

ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division protects Arizona’s transportation infrastructure and promotes road safety through the inspection of commercial vehicles at the state’s ports of entry and mobile inspection stations. 

For more information, visit azdot.gov/enforcement.

PHOENIX – A new feature added to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Traveler Information 511 website will help commercial vehicle drivers more easily plan their route through the state.  

This new feature at az511.gov allows truck drivers to see commercial vehicle restrictions along state highways. This way, they can plan their route to avoid those restrictions. Click on the ‘Map Legend’ box on the right-hand side of the screen and check the box next to ‘Truck Restrictions’ to bring up the truck restriction icons on the map. Clicking on an icon will show details including length and width restrictions and any escort requirements.

This is the latest ADOT innovation that helps professional truck drivers. Last summer, ADOT added a feature to the 511 website to show the total number of commercial vehicle parking spaces at each of ADOT’s rest areas so truckers can find a place to rest. 

Also last year, ADOT expanded the number of truck parking spaces along I-40 by nearly 100 spaces at the Haviland and Meteor Crater rest areas.

Nearly 2.4 million users have accessed az511.gov since the redesigned website launched in March 2019. More than 76,000 visited the site during the recent snowstorms at the end of January. For more information, please visit az511.gov and azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – When commercial truckers purchase their permits for driving through Arizona online ahead of time or use a cashless method at the port of entry, they spend less time making payments and get on their way faster. 

That’s one reason the Arizona Department of Transportation successfully implemented a pilot program to move to a fully-cashless permitting system. Now, after working with trucking companies that pay with cash to ensure they have enough time to convert to a cashless system, ADOT’s ports of entry intend to go fully cashless on Jan. 1, 2021. 

The move to end the acceptance of cash and checks at ports of entry also supports recommendations by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention to curb the spread of COVID-19 through the exchange of currency.

ADOT’s truck permitting systems, ePro and Transport, have cashless features and nearly 80% of truckers getting permits use those features. But in order to help trucks move through the ports more efficiently, ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division began to encourage the other 20% of truckers to pay for permits online using Apple Pay, Android Pay or credit card.

“We have been getting a feel from the trucking industry on how much they would support this change and the feedback has been positive,” said Lt. Jason Sloan, team lead for implementing the change. “This improvement will help eliminate waste and maximize resources available at ports of entry to process commercial traffic faster.”

The move also allows more officers to be available for enforcement duties instead of having one or more of them make a long drive from a remote port of entry to a financial institution to deposit the cash and checks collected.

This change is one more way ADOT’s continuous improvement process is making more efficient use of time, resources and taxpayer dollars. It will also be implemented at VIN inspection stations around the state.

ADOT is also developing a new commercial permitting system that will support the move to cashless and touchless that is expected to be operational by the end of next year.