Driver’s license examiner will specialize in CDLs

Shoring up support for the treasurer’s office’s new CDL licensing program was front and center during the Dec. 28 board of supervisors meeting.

Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop asked the board’s permission to begin the hiring process for a new driver’s license examiner.

Whoever is hired as the new examiner, Bishop said, will be spending the next two years helping his department during its expansion to include a new section entirely focused on certifying people to receive commercial driver’s licenses.

“I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t think this position wasn’t needed by my department,” Bishop said. “The lack of qualified truck drivers is really hampering local business. And if I can do my part to help alleviate some of that demand, I will.”

Bishop also reminded the board the position may only be temporary, with this hiring agreement only lasting two years.

The position will also be funded entirely by using money from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA or ARP) funding. Bishop estimates the position’s two-year tenure will only cost the county $160,000, which will be taken from the ARP reserves.

“This new CDL center is definitely COVID-related, so this position will be a good use of the ARP money,” supervisor Brandon Talsma said.

The board authorized Bishop’s department to begin the hiring process.

In two years the position will be reevaluated to see if it has had a major impact on the amount of people certified at the county licensing center. If it has, it is likely the board will make the position permanent. If it hasn’t, the board will dissolve it.

The treasurer’s office will begin the hiring process immediately, and the position will begin work officially Jan. 10.

Bishop then went on to share some news about DMACC Newton Campus adding classes to help students receive their commercial drivers license.

“The class will allow students to learn how to drive almost every type of commercial vehicle, everything except tractor trailers,” Bishop said.

Joe DeHart, provost of DMACC Newton Campus, confirmed in a statement Dec. 29 that new transportation classes will begin soon.

“We are in the process of putting this together at the Newton Campus through our Transportation Institute. This has been a collaborative effort through the Transportation Institute lead by Dr. Jenny Foster, DMACC Continuing Education lead Mike Hoffman and the DMACC Newton Campus. In addition, with Doug Bishop’s approval and help, we now have Jasper County on board,” DeHart said.

The course will be open to anyone looking to become certified in type B commercial vehicles.

“As of now, we have put a course together and it has been approved by the DOT. We also have a truck to instruct and test with that we are sharing with other campuses in the district. When we get curriculum and staffing ready to go, we will be offering this program this spring,” DeHart said. “Our goal is to have a completely self-contained program so students can do all requirements locally.”

And while the treasurer’s office is not directly involved with the classes, Bishop does think the classes and testing center being only a few blocks from each other will increase the amount of people taking the CDL test.

“A lack of truckers is really hampering local businesses, so having a class that anyone who wants to get certified can take is really useful,” Bishop said. “Students can complete their classes and then immediately walk down to the county’s new administration building and begin their CDL tests.”

An exact date for the opening of the new testing center has yet to be set due to ongoing renovations at the administration building, but the treasurer’s office inside the courthouse will be open for class B tests in mid-February.

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-4687 ext. 6531 or aknipfel@shawmedia.com