Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Civil Rights

Ensuring equal opportunity for all businesses and personnel on our projects

Training programs

Workforce training programs

MnDOT offers free highway construction training for Indigenous people, Black people, people of color, women, and individuals facing disadvantages. These programs prepare individuals for a career in highway construction trades.

To search, enter Ctrl + F (Windows) or Cmd + F (Mac), then enter your keyword in the search box that appears in the upper right of your screen.

Note: Adult training programs are listed in order of their starting date. Youth training programs are listed after the adult programs.

Find a summary of the previous year of training at the bottom of this page.

Adult workforce training

Commercial Drivers’ License - Duluth

Commercial truck drivers transport construction materials and supplies to and from construction sites.

Participants gain professional driving skills through classroom and hands-on training. Participants earn a Class A Commercial Driver’s License and qualify for entry-level truck driving positions. Presented in partnership with SOAR Career Solutions and Lake Superior College.

Commercial Drivers’ License - Cook County

Commercial truck drivers transport construction materials and supplies to and from construction sites.

Participants gain professional driving skills through classroom and hands-on training. Participants earn a Class A Commercial Driver’s License and qualify for entry-level truck driving positions. Presented in partnership with Tribal nations.

Commercial Driver's License - American OIC - Metro

Commercial truck drivers transport construction materials and supplies to and from construction sites.

Participants learn how to operate vehicles that require CDL Class A licensure. Upon completion, participants earn a CDL Class A license.

Commercial Driver's License – West Metro

Commercial truck drivers transport construction materials and supplies to and from construction sites.

Participants gain CDL Class A instruction, qualifications, and experience. They also learn about highway safety precautions and OSHA regulations. Presented in partnership with Mind the G.A.P.P.

Cement Masonry-Labor

Construction laborers use a variety of hand and power tools to hammer, lift, saw and measure materials to build roads and bridges. Cement mason-labor includes building concrete forms and finishing work.

In this six-week program, participants gain training and job placement opportunities in highway construction. Work boots, PPE and construction tools provided. Offered in partnership with DEED.

Operating Engineer - Tribal

Operating engineers run and repair all types of highway heavy construction equipment like cranes, bulldozers, graders, drills and compressors.

Carpentry - Tribal, three locations

Carpenters rely on specialized techniques to measure, cut, join, erect and finish materials for jobs of all sizes including building structural frames and concrete forms.

Participants learn about the highway construction industry, earn safety certifications, and connect with employers. Participants receive a starter set of tools upon program completion.

Youth workforce training

Minnesota Virtual Academy

MnDOT supports the Local 49 Operating Engineers Pathway for High School Students through the Minnesota Virtual Academy with Minnesota Independent School District 294. This program allows enrolled high school students to learn heavy equipment operation while earning high school credit and exploring career pathways in the trades.

Get Ready! Youth work readiness training – Brooklyn Park

Get Ready! is pre-employment training designed to provide young people the foundational skills they need to successfully land a job and navigate the work environment. Open to youth ages 14 - 24 who live or attend school in the northwest suburbs.

National Summer Training Institute

The National Summer Training Institute was established by the United States Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to develop awareness and interest in construction career opportunities for diverse students. MnDOT partners with the University of Minnesota to hold a two-week NSTI Camp for middle-school students. Students learn about different career opportunities in construction, take field trips and learn about bridge design through hands-on activities.

Connected Automated Vehicle Camp

MnDOT partners with the University of Minnesota to teach high school students about connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology such as self-driving cars and automated shuttles. Students explore career opportunities in this industry. CAV Camp includes hands-on opportunities with automated vehicles, field trips to organizations working on CAV technology, and info sessions with practitioners in the field and University of Minnesota researchers.

Read a summary of MnDOT workforce training in 2024 to date (Microsoft Word)

Read a summary of MnDOT workforce training in 2023: 10 programs, 114 graduates (Microsoft Word)