Welcome to the On the Move newsletter, your gateway to the latest developments and initiatives brought to you by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Whether you're a commuter, a contractor, or simply interested in the future of mobility, our newsletter keeps you updated on infrastructure projects, safety measures, and innovative technologies shaping the way we move.
April 2026 Edition
Construction season is here: Plan ahead with ND Roads
The 2026 construction season is officially underway. Crews are already working on several major projects across the state, and even more projects will be starting in the coming weeks.
If you are planning road trips, family outings, or weekend getaways this summer, there is a handy tool that can help you stay ahead of construction zones.
The ND Roads travel map at travel.dot.nd.gov makes it easy to see where work zones are located across North Dakota. Orange highlighted roads and diamond icons will appear on the map. Click on any of them to see details about that specific project.
Prefer using your phone? The same information is available on the ND Roads app, which you can download for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
As construction ramps up across the state, it is also a great time to remember the basics of work zone safety. Slow down, stay alert, and follow posted signs and flaggers. Road workers are out there every day working to improve North Dakota’s transportation system, and a little extra caution from drivers helps everyone get home safely.
Non-domiciled CDL services are back
The department has been officially recertified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to resume issuing non-domiciled commercial driver licenses.
NDDOT can once again issue new, renewed, transferred, or upgraded non-domiciled CDLs. These services are available immediately after a temporary pause that began in December 2025.
The pause followed a federal audit that required states to meet stricter standards for issuing these credentials. During that time, NDDOT teams worked behind the scenes reviewing procedures, updating systems, and strengthening training and quality assurance measures. After reviewing the improvements, FMCSA confirmed the state meets all federal requirements and cleared the program to move forward.
“We are very pleased to receive our recertification from FMCSA and resume this important service,” said Robin Rehborg. “Thank you to the dedicated team whose hard work made this possible.”
Drivers applying for a non-domiciled CDL will need to complete their transaction in person and provide required documentation, including an unexpired foreign passport and valid immigration documentation. Federal regulations limit eligibility to H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 specific nonimmigrant statuses and cap credential validity at one year.
NDDOT recommends scheduling an appointment ahead of time to make the visit quick and easy.
Jane Berger gives State Of The State at ATSSA regional conference
Jane Berger, Programming Division director, spoke at the Northland “How To” Conference 2026, sponsored by the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) in March. ATSSA’s Northland Chapter consists of North and South Dakota and Minnesota.
Berger gave a State of the State address to kick off the conference on its first day. She gave a brief update on NDDOT’s project funding status and an update on Vision Zero ND.
The 2026 construction season will be the largest spend since at least 2018, at an estimated $745 to $810 million. At least $400 million of that increase is due to some large federal discretionary grant projects that have now received their funding allocation.
Some projections Berger shared for North Dakota’s 2026 construction season are:
- 75 miles of concrete pavement repair (~4000 square yards of concrete)
- 20 miles of concrete reconstruction (~375,000 square yards of concrete)
- 450 miles of asphalt roadway reconstruction /rehabilitation (1.3M tons of Hot Mix Asphalt)
- 750 miles of seal coats
- 35 box culvert rehabilitations or replacements
- 60 bridge removals, rehabilitations or replacements
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Berger says one of the benefits of the annual conference is the way all three states make it a priority to gather and share information on innovation and highway safety.
“We share the same challenges from state to state, and meeting to discuss our best practices and successes – as well as the struggles – is helpful for all of us,” said Berger.
Around 450 transportation professionals attended the conference.
U Drive, U Text, U Pay
Driving deserves your full attention. We know it, but it's easy to be distracted.
In 2024, preliminary data showed 936 distracted driving-related crashes in North Dakota. Because distraction is often difficult to verify at a crash scene, experts believe the actual number of incidents is significantly higher.
Share this video to help your team remember how quickly everything can change and how important it is to focus on driving, always. Avoiding distractions while driving may seem difficult sometimes, but it is worth it to help us all get home safe.
Please join us for the 2026 Vision Zero Partner Conference, on May 11 - 12
This annual event is a unique opportunity for safety partners across the state to collaborate, learn about innovative strategies, and work toward the ultimate Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.
- When: May 11–12, 2026
- Where: Bismarck State College (National Energy Center of Excellence) OR virtually!
Ice Krispy snap, crackled and popped to the top spot
Valley City district plow was crowned North Dakota’s first Battle of the Blades champion
After weeks of head-to-head matchups, spirited voting, and a little friendly rivalry with South Dakota, the Battle of the Blades has officially wrapped up, and North Dakota came out on top.
Fan-favorite snowplow names battled their way through the bracket, with employees and the public casting votes each round to keep their picks moving forward. In the end, Ice Krispy claimed the championship title and secured statewide bragging rights.
While the competition brought plenty of fun and engagement, it also served a larger purpose: keeping winter driving safety top of mind. Throughout the tournament, reminders about slowing down, giving snowplows space, and staying alert reinforced the important role our operators play in keeping roads safe.
Thank you to everyone who participated, voted, and helped make this year’s Battle of the Blades a success!
Making a difference, one road and license at a time
Public service is often measured in numbers. The number of miles traveled, and the number of projects completed, but some of the most meaningful indicators of success come directly from the people we serve.
Recently, our department has received thoughtful messages from members of the public recognizing the professionalism, dedication, and care demonstrated by our employees. These kudos reflect both individual efforts and a shared commitment to safety, service, and excellence. Take a look at a few of the notes our team has received from the public in recent months:
“Hello, I just wanted to praise the NDDOT office in south Minot. I just renewed my driver's license on February 11 at 9:40 a.m., and it was a pleasant experience. The woman who helped me at window #3 was very nice to me.” – Justin
“Hi, just a quick note to thank you and your team for your dedication during these winter months. I had to go in for an appointment today and just to see three snowplows on my way in, moving snow making the roads safer for us, it was just so appreciated. I just appreciate the dedication of your team it's just the competence and their professionalism is off the charts, so anyway thanks for your leadership in this area and thanks for all you do take care.”
– Jonathan
Thank you, North Dakota for continuing to trust us to safely move people and goods across our great state!