When snow blankets Granville Street and neighborhood roads, most residents simply notice that streets are clear and ready for the morning commute. What’s easy to miss is the behind-the-scenes work that keeps Gahanna moving safely – often before most of the City is awake.
City of Gahanna
Gahanna Horticulturist Miranda Bauman during CDL training.
Those clear roads are made possible by City of Gahanna employees trained to operate snowplows, dump trucks, bucket trucks, and other service vehicles. Having employees with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) means the City can respond quickly to winter storms, maintain infrastructure, and deliver essential services without delays – helping residents get to work, school and appointments safely.
Many of those employees earned their CDL through the City’s in-house CDL training program.
Developed in 2024 by Risk Management and Safety Administrator Melissa Jackson, the program increases access to CDL training while expanding the number of City employees certified with a Class B CDL – the license required to operate many of the vehicles used to provide services to residents year-round. By training employees internally, the City builds a stronger, more flexible workforce that can step in when emergencies or staffing needs arise.
A Smoother Path to Licensure
Earning a CDL is no small feat. The process includes classroom instruction, permits, vehicle inspections, road training, and multiple exams. The City’s program simplifies that journey by bringing much of the training in-house and opening it to employees across departments, including the Departments of Public Service and Parks & Recreation.
City of Gahanna
Members of the Departments of Public Service and Parks & Recreation participating in CDL training.
For residents, this cross-training is key, as it allows more city employees to safely operate critical vehicles — which translates into safer operations, quicker response times, and consistent service — especially during high-demand situations like snowstorms or infrastructure repairs.
Employees begin with CDL Theory Training, a 28-hour course offered through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Local Technical Assistance Program. Lessons cover vehicle systems, safety protocols, and driving rules, and can be completed online, allowing employees to learn at their own pace - often during downtime at work.
While permit and license exams still take place at outside facilities, the City now provides behind-the-wheel training internally. Experienced CDL-holding employees serve as instructors, helping coworkers practice maneuvering and on-the-road driving using city vehicles. This hands-on training ensures drivers are familiar with local streets, equipment, and safety expectations —an added benefit for residents sharing the road.
Since the program began, 11 employees have earned their CDLs, increasing the City’s capacity to operate snowplows, dump trucks, bucket trucks, and vacuum trucks. The program has also significantly reduced or eliminated out-of-pocket training costs for employees, which can otherwise range from $3,000 to $9,000 per employee.
“By bringing this program in-house, we’re able to expand our employees’ access to training at a cost savings and ensure that we have enough resources within our team to handle and respond to events timely and effectively,” said Jackson.
A Team Effort with Lasting Benefits
Darren Arnett, the City’s Fleet Superintendent and one of the program’s driving instructors, worked closely with Jackson to research other CDL training programs and identify best practices for starting the City’s program. He has seen firsthand how employees learn from one another throughout the process.
“As an instructor, there’s a lot of stuff that I don’t necessarily think about because I’ve had my CDL for so long,” Arnett said. “You get a group of people who are new to it, they come up with questions I wouldn’t even have thought about, so it’s nice to be able to have them all share their ideas with each other.”
Parks & Recreation Horticulturist Miranda Bauman is one of the newest CDL holders driving city vehicles this winter. She joined the program to expand her skills and be ready to help when needed.
“I think it just kind of helps,” Bauman said. “If something comes up, I have that extra ability to step in and help.”
She noted that the support of her Parks coworkers who completed the program, along with her other fellow students, was a valuable resource throughout the process.
The City will begin its next CDL training class in May, continuing its investment in employees — and in the reliable, responsive services Gahanna residents depend on every day.
Jane Dimel is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at jdimel@cityscenemediagroup.com.
