Central ND News

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) marked the 20th anniversary of its Fall Transportation Technician Training Academy this week at Camp Grafton, south of Devils Lake. The event brought together new maintenance team members from across the state for a week-long program focused on classroom instruction and hands-on training with machinery and road maintenance processes.

Senior NDDOT staff led the sessions, sharing their expertise to help standardize practices, improve safety, and foster teamwork among participants statewide. Since its inception two decades ago, the Academy has trained 1,248 students and delivered more than 62,400 hours of instruction.

The Academy was recognized last year with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials President’s Award for its impact on transportation workforce development. In addition to NDDOT employees, operators from Tribal Nations also participate in the program.

“After 20 years, the Transportation Technician Training Academy remains a cornerstone of NDDOT’s commitment to excellence,” said NDDOT Deputy Director of Engineering Matt Linneman. “By combining hands-on experience, mentorship, and teamwork, we’re not just training team members, we’re shaping the future of transportation in North Dakota.”

During last week's graduation ceremony at Camp Grafton, Linneman presented a token of appreciation to the North Dakota National Guard for their ongoing partnership. The collaboration between NDDOT and the National Guard provides participants with practical road maintenance experience while contributing to infrastructure improvements at Camp Grafton.

Looking ahead to its third decade, NDDOT plans to continue preparing new transportation professionals through hands-on learning and mentorship aimed at maintaining safe roads throughout North Dakota.