Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
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Work Zone Training Examples and Resources

Regulation & Policy > Final Rule > Examples

Work Zone Training Compendium

The Work Zone Training Compendium lists nationally available work zone training offerings and guides. It includes information such as format, length, target audience, cost, and point of contact for each training opportunity. The Compendium is organized into nine categories: design, inspection, intelligent transportation systems, law enforcement, management, nighttime operations, short duration, traffic control, and worker safety.

Section 630.1008(d) of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule specifies that agencies require appropriate training and periodic training updates for personnel involved in the development, design, implementation, operation, inspection, and enforcement of work zone related transportation management and traffic control. More information can be found in Implementing the Rule on Work Zone Safety and Mobility.

The following examples are meant to assist agencies with developing their own work zone training programs.

Webinar on Work Zone Training Programs – held on February 1, 2012

  • Recording
  • Transcript (HTML, PDF 135KB)
  • Introduction Presentation, by Tracy Scriba, FHWA (HTML, PDF 927KB)
  • New Hampshire Law Enforcement Training, by Marty Calawa, FHWA New Hampshire Division Office (HTML, PDF 1.1MB)
  • Virginia Work Zone Traffic Control Training, by David Rush, Virginia DOT (HTML, PDF 764KB)
  • Louisiana Work Zone Training, by Barry Lacy, Louisiana DOTD (HTML, PDF 7.8MB)
  • Louisiana Law Enforcement Training, by Ron Whittaker, Louisiana DOTD (HTML, PDF 319KB)

Arizona Department of Transportation

The Arizona DOT (ADOT) offers and requires courses in Basic Work Zone Traffic Control and Advanced Work Zone Traffic Control for all construction staff. These courses are also available to other pertinent ADOT sections such as Roadway Design and the Traffic Engineering Group. In addition, ADOT promotes additional courses offered by the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) that certify employees as a Traffic Control Technician and a Traffic Control Supervisor. Flagger Training is required of all ADOT flaggers and contractors providing flagging services. Contractors must provide copies of flagging certification for flaggers on all projects. The Resident Engineers then verify the flagging certifications on ATSSA's online database.

Colorado Department of Transportation

The Colorado DOT (CDOT) includes a section on required training in its Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule Procedures (PDF 281KB) document. Page 37 of the document lists the minimum training required for CDOT personnel, project designers, project builders (general contractors and subcontractors), and law enforcement. These categories are further broken down by job title, with specific courses assigned to each title. CDOT also issued two policy memos regarding training. Policy Memo 28 – Advanced Work Zone Management and Design (PDF 1.6MB), requires all CDOT Designers and Consultant Designers who design traffic control plains for federal-aid projects in Colorado to obtain a certificate of completion for the National Highway Institute Course Advanced Work Zone Management and Design. Policy Memo 29 – Safe and Effective Use of Law Enforcement (PDF 829KB), requires that all Law Enforcement Personnel who provide uniformed traffic control on federal-aid projects in Colorado must have a Certificate of Completion for the Safe and Effective Use of Law Enforcement in Work Zones course, either provided by ATSSA or their local training office. Both Policy Memos state that all project bids will include a Standard Special Provision that require the Consultant Designer or uniformed traffic control officer to have the certificate of completion for the relevant course.

Florida Department of Transportation

The Florida DOT (FDOT) developed a narrated online training session for its employees and partners about the changes FDOT has made to its Plans Preparation Manual, specifically in the area of maintenance of traffic. These changes were made largely as a result of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule. The presentation provides background on the Rule and discusses the development of a transportation management plan (TMP) and its required components. While most of the presentation is applicable nationwide, there are some elements that are specific to FDOT's business practices and policies.

Georgia Department of Transportation

"Work Zone Safety and Mobility" an online training presentation that explains the updated Work Zone Rule and provides GDOT's response to updates to Subparts J and K. It includes a module with examples of four different types of projects, describes the responsibilities of different offices during the various stages of each project, and identifies potential TMP components and strategies for the project.

Idaho Transportation Department

Some agencies, such as the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), address training needs through reciprocity agreements with nearby States. For flagger and traffic control supervisor (TCS) training, ITD has reciprocity agreements with other organizations that offer these classes rather than offering them itself. ITD has one flagger reciprocity agreement with Oregon, Washington, and Montana and a separate flagger reciprocity agreement with Utah. They have a TCS reciprocity agreement with Oregon and Montana. ITD has a reference document (PDF 25KB) that provides flagger and TCS training and reciprocity agreement information.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

The Louisiana Transportation Research Center conducted research on the effectiveness of using an Immersive Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) simulating real-world highway work zones for delivering the content in a work zone safety Basic Flagging Procedures course. The research is documented in the report, Evaluation of Knowledge Transfer in an Immersive Virtual Learning Environment for the Transportation Community (PDF 601KB). An Immersive Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) puts the user in a real- life, simulated environment. Use of IVLE technology may aid in decreasing the number of work zone fatalities that occur each year by allowing users to apply work zone regulations and procedures in a realistic, although simulated, highway construction or maintenance work zone environment. This research tested the use of 3D technology in an IVLE, which simulated real-world case studies of highway work zones. The IVLE supplemented traditional course content and delivery methods to enhance the transfer of work zone safety procedure knowledge. The research found that users benefit from the experiential learning that occurs while in the IVLE as it fosters the necessary application of principles, rules, and regulations that are associated with flagger duties in construction or maintenance work zones.

Missouri Department of Transportation

To better educate those responsible for designing and managing work zones, the Missouri DOT (MoDOT) created a course titled "Advanced Work Zone Training" (AWZT) (PDF 1.82MB). The course contains 18 modules, including modules on MoDOT's work zone policy; transportation management plans (TMPs); law enforcement; traffic capacity; travel time information; designing for the driver; pedestrians and bicyclists; nighttime work zones; and several modules on standards and temporary traffic control. Upon completion of the course, participants are certified as a "Work Zone Specialist" (WZS). MoDOT will have a WZS involved in every aspect of the traffic control plan, from preliminary to post-construction work. MoDOT has also developed courses focused on specific roles within work zones, such as flaggers and truck mounted attenuator drivers (PDF 1.07MB).

Montana Department of Transportation

Appendix C of the Montana DOT (MDT) Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy (PDF 537KB) includes a list of planned goals and milestones for MDT's work zone training program. The policy also includes a list of potential training courses and a calendar showing timeframes for course offerings from 2008 to 2012. For each category of courses, MDT's policy describes the target audience, course objectives, specific current courses available that meet these objectives, the instructor type, and delivery frequency. MDT also includes information on some additional training opportunities and certification programs.

North Carolina Department of Transportation

The North Carolina DOT (NCDOT) has developed a Work Zone Traffic Control (WZTC) Qualification and Training Program. This program was developed through a committee that included people potentially affected by the program and industry members. The WZTC Qualification and Training Web site includes links to committee meeting minutes, approved training resources, reports and presentations related to training, and training links. The reports section includes a document that specifies work zone training requirements for various positions. These requirements apply to anyone working inside the Right of Way of the NCDOT Highway System, including, but not limited to, NCDOT forces, contractors, and encroachers. While this training program only applies to WZTC qualifications and does not cover all aspects of training required by the Rule, it is an example of how an agency can begin to develop a work zone training program that covers various job positions.

Virginia Department of Transportation

The Virginia DOT (VDOT) formed a Work Zone Safety Training Committee to develop a training program based on work zone responsibilities and job descriptions. The Committee determined that training needs fell into four distinct areas: basic, intermediate, advanced, and law enforcement. The VDOT Work Zone Traffic Control Training Specifications (PDF 164KB) describes the training in each area and the training requirements for various job positions. The basic training lasts one day and focuses on daily work zone setups; intermediate training lasts two days and focuses on long term work zones; the advanced training focuses on work zone design elements; and law enforcement training consists of a 45-minute web-based training module on performing duties safely in work zones. For all persons, the applicable training is required every 4 years to continue to be qualified to perform assigned duties. The training courses may be purchased from VDOT, or a self-developed training course that meets VDOT criteria and passes an approval process may be used. VDOT includes in contracts a special provision that requires Work Zone Traffic Control Management by an ATSSA certified Traffic Control Supervisor for major traffic projects.

Wyoming Department of Transportation

The Wyoming DOT (WYDOT) offers a Traffic Control Supervisor (TCS) Certification Program. The program was developed by and is operated under the guidance of the WYDOT TCS Certification Committee. The purpose of this program is to certify personnel involved in the layout, inspection, and design of traffic control plans. The certification requirement is tied to WYDOT's requirement for a TCS on all transportation projects. To receive certification an individual must participate in the WYDOT TCS Certification Program and pass the written examination, or become certified by the American Association of Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) as a TCS and apply to be accepted as a WYDOT TCS by reciprocity.

Work Zone Best Practice Fact Sheet

  • Work Zone Training: Examples of What Agencies are Doing (HTML, PDF 961KB)

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