The Alabama Department of Transportation offers careers in a bevy of fields from technicians who work on the state vehicles, to transportation planners who direct traffic flow and plan emergency escape routes in case of natural disasters. The Department of Transportation is also closely linked to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

But before you go applying for a job with the Alabama DOT, there is some education you should receive, depending on which career path you are choosing. Required secondary education for the Department of Transportation ranges from certificate programs to master's degrees. Here are some tips on how you can obtain the necessary schooling to work for the Department of Transportation in Alabama.

1. Get the proper degree to secure a future working for the Alabama Department of Transportation.

2. Learn about the hiring process as part of your Alabama Department of Transportation education and training.

3. Fill out the correct paperwork and apply for a job at the Alabama DOT.

Action Steps
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Get the proper degree to work for the DOT Alabama

When it comes to working for the AL Dept of Transportation, there are several degrees one may obtain in order to have a long career. These range on everything from civil engineering, to transportation engineering, to transportation technology, depending on which discipline you'd like to specialize in. As with most fields, completing a undergraduate and graduate degree is preferable to an associates degree, however, on their website the Department of Transportation offers plenty of jobs for individuals with schooling from an eighth grade education on.

I recommend: Check out the website for Alabama A & M University. They offer a comprehensive program in Transportation Engineering. And, not only do they offer an undergraduate degree, but also a Masters degree. Also check out Bishop State, as they offer a course for people interested in becoming a transportation technologist. These technologists work on the massive industrial-sized machines that the state of Alabama owns through the Department of Transportation.

Familiarize yourself with the Department of Transportation hiring process

When it comes to applying for a job with the AL department of transportation, you must first read up on the merit based system they use to hire employees. The merit based system ensures and equal opportunity hiring process. After that, you must complete a state examination before applying for a job. The Alabama Department of Transportation provides all study related materials so that you can prepare for the examination. The examinations differ for various jobs within the Alabama state DMV or AL Dept of Transportation.

I recommend: Check out the Career Guide at State Personnel Department for specific instructions on their merit based hiring process. Also check out the How to Prepare Guides portion of the State Personnel Department website. After you select the Department of Transportation job that you are interested in, you'll be taken to a pdf page that instructs you which state examination you must complete before applying for that job.

Fill out the correct forms in order to apply for a job at the Alabama Transportation Department

After completing the necessary education and training for your desired discipline within the Alabama Transportation Department, fill out and submit the correct state forms so that you may be considered for the job. The application process will include personal information, such as your date of birth, social security number and contact information as well as the schooling or training you have received that you feel makes you a qualified candidate.

I recommend: Check out the website for the State of Alabama Personnel Department. They offer an application online which you may download and complete. This is the application that the Alabama Department of Transportation utilizes when seeking individuals to employ. The Alabama Department of Transportation also offers application forms for Occupational Student Trainees as well as Student Aides. These forms are downloadable into word documents.

The Alabama Transportation Department is your starting point for many business resource links including driving records, available highway projects and roadside sponsoring programs. Whether you need to find out where to send your drivers for a DMV test or would like to put a bid in on a highway department project, you'll find the information you need at the Alabama Dept. of Transportation website.

Use the AL Dept of Transportation website as a gateway to many other transportation-related venues. Find out the latest road closures and restrictions before your shipment leaves the warehouse or keep your employees informed of any upcoming road construction and traffic hassles so they can prepare ahead of time and get to work on time or run delivery routes efficiently.

1. Access DMV records, forms, handbooks and Alabama DOT testing center schedules.

2. Help your employees and fleet drivers stay informed about road closures, conditions and Alabama state transportation traffic reports.

3. Get information on highway projects or other business dealings with the Alabama DOT.

Action Steps
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Search within the Alabama Department of Transportation for DMV records and more

Start all your driving record searches at the Alabama DMV site. Order driving records for potential employees who will be driving company vehicles, or help your employees obtain the registration and licensing they need by printing out forms and handbooks for them to read. Use online forms to access driving making deliveries or covering sales routes.

I recommend: The Alabama Department of Transportation is a one-stop shop for information relating to driver's licensing, regulations and other transportation information. Request driving records using the appropriate form from the Alabama Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

Use the Alabama Dept. of Transportation to get the latest road closure and traffic information

Keep yourself and your employees informed by using one of several Alabama traffic report websites. If your employees have easy online access to the latest traffic reports, they are more likely to get to work on time or make business-related trips around town more efficient. Help them commute hassle free by providing them with a daily morning report.

I recommend: Get road closures and detour information from Alabama Live Traffic Counts website, or get the latest traffic updates from the AL DOT Traffic.

Bid on projects or apply for other programs through the DOT in Alabama

Whether you're looking to bid on a highway project, or want to sponsor a roadside clean up, you'll be able to find the information you need on the Alabama DOT website

I recommend: Check out the regulations for doing business with the Alabama Department of Transportation Project Letting, or find projects through the ALDOT Surplus Property Listings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your company has an employee website, make a direct link to DOT Alabama area traffic reports through the website so your employees can check road status before heading to or from work.
• •  Make sure you follow all state regulations through the Department of Transportation, Alabama, when bidding on any highway projects. Fill out all paperwork completely, and contact the department's bid division to answer any questions before you submit your bids.

If you own a small business in Alabama or plan to open a business, you'll probably deal with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) at some point to hash out easements, rights of way, paving and other issues. Additionally, the ALDOT serves as a valuable information resource for small business owners when it comes to deciding on business locations or avoiding traffic jams.

When dealing with ALDOT, you'll get further faster if you understand terminology that's common within the department. This guide starts with a definition of the department itself and then moves to Permits and Operations, STWP, traffic count polling system, I-65 reverse laning and Coliseum Boulevard Plume.

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Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)

The Alabama Department of Transportation is headquartered in Montgomery, AL and is organized geographically into nine divisions. The state organization's purpose is to ensure all intermodal transportation users within the state have access to a safe, environmentally sound and efficient transportation system.

I recommend: Find more information on the Alabama Department of Transportation website.

Permits and Operations

Permits and Operations is a section of the ALDOT's Maintenance Bureau. It deals with permits related to outdoor signage, encroachment, turnouts, grading, landscaping and anything to do with rights-of-way.

I recommend: Click on any of the links listed at the Permits and Operations web page to print off the forms you need.

Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP)

The Statewide Transportation Plan is a 20-year plan that includes provisions for all types of transportation and is updated by the ALDOT every five years. The ALDOT coordinates its efforts with the state's urban and rural areas and adheres to all federal regulatory requirements.

I recommend: Learn more about Alabama's Statewide Transportation Plan.

Traffic count polling system

The ALDOT maintains a traffic count polling system on its website that allows users to view the amount of daily vehicular traffic at a particular location. Not only can the live traffic counts help you avoid traffic jams while traveling in the state, they can also help you decide on a business location based on traffic levles.

I recommend: Explore the ALDOT traffic count polling system at its website.

I-65 Reverse Laning

I-65 reverse laning refers to the process of turning a north-bound section of the interstate into a south-bound section or vice versa. This is a temporary measure put into action during mandatory hurricane evacuations to keep evacuation traffic flowing.

I recommend: Visit the ALDOT Maintenance Bureau website to learn more about the I-65 reverse laning plan.

Coliseum Boulevard Plume (CBP)

Coliseum Boulevard Plume (CBP) refers to a 682-acre area in north Montgomery with underlying groundwater contamination that occurred because of solvent use by commercial and industrial companies in the past. The solvent, Trichloroethylene (TCE), now impacts groundwater 25 to 45 feet deep. The ALDOT continually monitors specific areas within the CBP for TCE in surface water and conducts a program providing information to the public on its activities and findings regarding TCE in the area. It also evaluates remedial, institutional and engineering actions to manage and control TCE in the area.

I recommend: Learn more about the CBP at ALDOT's Coliseum Boulevard Plume website.