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Driver, CDL Required

Position Description

Duties

  • Operates cargo vans, stake trucks, buses with capacity of more than 20 passengers, etc., having gross vehicle weight between 16,000 and 32,000 pounds or requires a commercial driver’s license.
  • Operates vehicles that usually have air brakes and two or more gear ranges capable of providing six or more forward speeds.
  • Drives vehicles on and off roads, through all kinds of traffic, terrain, and weather to haul cargo or passengers.
  • Loads and unloads vehicle, and sees that cargo is loaded properly and protected.
  • Responsible for operator maintenance, vehicle servicing, and vehicle record keeping.
  • Delivers supplies and equipment to the fireline, base and spike camps.
  • Drives personnel to and from base camp, fireline, and airports.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Valid commercial driver’s license (CDL).
  • Medical certificate or card.
  • CDL Class A or B with the appropriate endorsements or lack of restrictions as follows (source:  ID Dept of Transportation)
    • Class A – Combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is greater than 10,000 pounds.  Drivers with a Class A license may, with the proper endorsements, operate vehicles requiring a Class B, C or D license.
    • Class B – Single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle 10,000 pounds GVWR or less.  Drivers with a Class B license may, with the proper endorsements, operate vehicles requiring a Class C or D license.
    • Endorsements –  you must have the appropriate endorsement on your CDL if you haul hazardous materials, pull double or triple trailers, or drive tank or passenger vehicles.
  • Hazardous Materials (H) –  Required for drivers of vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring placards per the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.  A written test and Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment is required at each driver license renewal date.
  • Double/Triple (T) – Required for drivers of vehicles pulling two or three trailers.  (A dolly or load divider, sometimes referred to as a “jeep”, is considered to be one trailer.)
  • Tank Vehicles (N) – Required for drivers of vehicles designed to transport liquids or gaseous materials within a tank that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or chassis.  Such vehicles include, but are not limited to, cargo tanks and portable tanks, as defined in hazardous materials regulation.  This definition does not include portable tanks having a rated capacity under 1,000 gallons.
  • Passenger (P) – Required for drivers of vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers including driver.  Both written and skills test are required to obtain this endorsement.
  • School bus (S) – Required for drivers of vehicles transporting primary or secondary school students from home to school, from school to home, or to and from school-sponsored events.  Both written and skills tests are required to obtain this endorsement.
    • By federal regulation, an applicant cannot be issued a CDL with the school bus endorsement only; they must always have both the school bus endorsement and passenger endorsement to drive a school bus.
    • Restriction
  • L Restriction – Prohibits driving of vehicles with air brakes.  The CDL will carry this restriction unless you pass an air brakes knowledge test and a skills test in a vehicle equipped with air brakes.
  • N Restriction – Prohibits the driver from operating Class A or B passenger vehicles (buses).  A Class A or B CDL with the passenger endorsement will carry this restriction unless the driver obtains a passenger endorsement by successfully completing a skills test in a Class B passenger vehicle (bus).

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions

Date: April 9, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
RMC Member Eric Fransted

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) serves as the position steward for all Safety Officer incident positions and continues to improve position standards, training, and naming conventions. The implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) required changes to position titles. RMC collaborated with the NWCG Incident Position Standards Committee (IPSC) to propose and implement these updates. 

References:

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions 

NWCG Position Catalog

Updated, NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412

Date: April 8, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee

PMS 412 provides guidance for wildland fire investigations. This guide outlines recommended procedures, practices, techniques, and methods to promote a systematic approach. The last update to this publication was in 2016.

References:

NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination PMS 412

Updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508

Date: March 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Airtanker Base Operations Unit

The updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508 standardizes operations and procedures at interagency airtanker bases to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations in support of interagency goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508