Mechell Snider proudly holds her Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) and looks forward to more hands-on learning in a bus.
At the Metro Transit Learning Center, ten bus operator applicants took their first step towards employment by earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) learners permit.
Those who tested represent the first class of applicants from the new Express Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) Program, which streamlines the application process supported by a new, manageable curriculum taught by staff.
When a person decides to apply, staff start with the basics: helping applicant fill out an application form. Support continues with an eight-hour course to help prepare for a test that draws from information in a 100-plus page technical manual.
Mechell Snider of Minneapolis earned her CLP, but she’s never sat behind the wheel of anything bigger than a small moving truck. She credits free help and the coursework for her success.
“There’s a lot of technical information to take in a short period, but the coursework broke down the information into chunks and continually reviewed it, which helped me manage the workload.” Mechell Snider said. “Also, knowing that there were flexible times and people available to help gave me a lot of confidence.”
She is excited to get out of the classroom and onto a bus for more hands-on learning.
“The hardest part is done,” Snider said. “No more just learning about it in a book.”
The next step for these permit holders is getting behind the wheel and an interview. If they earn employment, transit will continue to set them up for success with a bus operator mentor.
Learn more about bus driver applicant preparation classes at Metro Transit.