What is the Traffic Control Coordinator Program?
road work signAn employee that has a Traffic Control Coordinator (TCC) designation is allowed to be assigned as the on-site Traffic Control Coordinator on NJDOT and NJ Turnpike Authority (NJTA) construction projects with the responsibility for and authority to implement and maintain all traffic operations for the project on behalf of the Contractor.

The responsibilities and duties of a TCC can be found in the NJDOT Standard Specifications subpart 159.03.01 and the NJDOT Construction Procedures Handbook, Section VIII, Subsection B, as well as NJTA 2004 Standard Supplementary Specifications Section 801.07 for the New Jersey Turnpike or Section 801.04 for the Garden State Parkway.

If you previously possessed a valid TCC Designation, but have not completed the required (every two years) Refresher training, you are not eligible to serve in the TCC capacity until you have completed the training requirement. You must have a valid (within two years) TCC Designation to serve in this capacity.

The Traffic Control Coordinator (TCC) Program is made up of three parts.

Part One is successful completion of a one-day Work Zone Safety Awareness Workshop (formal flagger or traffic control technician/supervisor training may be substituted as an equivalent). The Work Zone Safety Awareness Workshop presents an overview of work zone safety compliance with the national MUTCD standards. It is a required prerequisite for the Traffic Control Coordinator Program. If submitting an alternate course for consideration as an equivalent, please upload your certificate of completion when registering.

Part Two is the Traffic Control Coordinator Designation (TCC), a three-day in-person or three-day virtual workshop designed for experienced highway work zone personnel who seek additional training in work zone traffic control. The Traffic Control Coordinator (TCC) designation allows an employee to be assigned as the on-site Traffic Control Coordinator on NJDOT and NJ Turnpike construction projects with the responsibility for and authority to implement and maintain all traffic operations for the project on behalf of the Contractor.

Successful completion of this course includes attending all three days of the workshop and passing an exam. This course provides 24 PDHs upon request.

Part Three is a required Traffic Control Coordinator Refresher. The NJDOT and NJTA now require designated New Jersey Traffic Control Coordinators to take this class every two years if they wish to continue working as a TCC on NJDOT construction projects, as well as New Jersey Turnpike Authority projects.

How is proof of TCC designation provided?

Those who have (1) provided documentation of their prerequisite workshop, (2) provided proof of their 4,000 hours experience, (3) have successfully completed the TCC workshop and have (4) paid for their workshop will receive a digital TCC card via email. This card will include specific information to the individual who has been designated a TCC, including an ID number and a valid through date. Laminated cards will no longer be mailed after 5/1/2022. You must maintain a copy of your digital card for verification purposes. We recommend printing a copy and keeping it in your wallet.

What material is covered in the TCC Program?
The course material is developed around typical long-term and short-term roadwork that occurs on any roadway, whether two lanes or multi-lane Interstates. The training covers the minimum work zone protection as specified in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). It also offers practical exercises on setting up work zone safety devices found in a traffic control plan. Sessions on OSHA, NJDOT, New Jersey Turnpike Authority specific requirements, and state police relationships and work zone traffic control liability issues are included.
Who presents the class?
The class is presented by Rutgers University and is taught by various instructors: David Maruca; Lee Steiner; NJTA; New Jersey State Police, & OSHA.
How do I become eligible to enroll in the full TCC Program?
In order to be eligible for enrollment, you must show proof of having successfully completed a Work Zone Safety Awareness Program (or flagger or traffic control technician/supervisor training workshop, and documentation of 4,000 hours (100 weeks) field experience in highway work zones. You will be asked to upload both documents when registering online for the TCC course.

The required documentation is a letter from a past and/or present employer on employment verification. Please do not send a resume. This information needs to be received and evaluated prior to the start of class. You can find an example of this 4,000 hour letter here.

What if I do not have 4,000 hours of highway work zone experience yet?
If you do not meet the training prerequisite, you may still attend the Traffic Control Coordinator Program but will receive a certificate of successful attendance only, not the digital TCC Card required by NJDOT and New Jersey Turnpike Authority for the Traffic Control Coordinator designation. Upon registration, you should contact Rutgers to say you are participating without the 4,000 hour prerequisite. Once you do attain the required amount of experience and submit a letter from your employer, you may trade in your certificate for a digital TCC Card. All prerequisites must be complete in 2 years or less from the TCC course attendance date, in order to keep up to date with Refresher training, otherwise the full TCC course must be taken again.
What happens after I complete the TCC Program?
Upon completion of the three-day TCC Workshop, a permanent record of the course is maintained by NJ LTAP. For those individuals that successfully fulfilled the prerequisites and passed the final exam, cards with a unique ID number and expiration date will be mailed. Certificates and digital TCC cards will not be issued to students if their course fees are delinquent and/or any course prerequisites have not been fulfilled.

Additionally, to maintain your status as a TCC, you will be required to take a Refresher course every two years. If you previously possessed a valid TCC Designation, but have not completed the required  Refresher training, you are not eligible to serve in the TCC capacity until you have completed the training requirement. You must have a valid (within two years) TCC to serve in this capacity.

What if my Traffic Control Coordinator Designation has lapsed?
If you previously possessed a valid TCC Designation, but have not completed the required Refresher training, you are not eligible to serve in the TCC capacity until you have completed the training requirement. You must have a current (within two years) TCC card or Refresher card/certificate to serve in this capacity.

Attention: If your TCC Designation, or certificate of attendance, or TCC Refresher was issued more than 6 years ago, you must complete the 3-day TCC course again (this includes providing the prerequisite documentation.) This must occur before being able to again serve in the TCC capacity.

If your TCC Designation or TCC Refresher was issued less than 6 years ago, you must complete the 1 day Refresher course before being able to again serve in the TCC capacity.

Is the Rutgers TCP referenced in the NJDOT Solicitation for Technical Proposals the same as a TCC?
Yes. The NJDOT Technical Proposal for Professional Services Instructions and Evaluation Criteria for Key Staff may include the abbreviation TCP as one of the criteria for Key Staff. A person that has received the Traffic Control Coordinator (TCC) designation digital card or successfully completed the TCC course (attendance certificate) and is current with any subsequent refresher course meets the following definition for TCP included in NJDOT Technical Proposal Instructions.

TCP – Candidate possesses either a Rutgers CAIT -Traffic Control Coordinator Program certificate (digital card) or a certificate of successful attendance completion of the Rutgers CAIT -Traffic Control Coordinator Program. Starting January 1, 2011, if the candidate’s certificate (or digital card) is dated more than two years prior to a posting, the candidate must also possess a Rutgers CAIT – Traffic Control Coordinator Refresher Workshop certificate (or digital card) dated less than two years prior to a posting. Certificates will be considered as acceptable up to the Valid Until date noted on a certificate (or digital card). For certificates issued prior to the practice of providing a Valid Until date, certificates will be considered as valid up to two years plus 90 days after the end of the month in which the certificate was issued. For those expiring between December 15, 2019 and June 15 2020, the grace period is extended from 90 days to 180 days.

Resident Engineers and consultant personnel, such as project managers, are encouraged to have TCC/TCP training. Proof of attendance, either certificate or digital card, is favorably considered when evaluating proposals.

 How much does the program cost?
The TCC Program costs are as follows: $125 for Awareness, $150 for Refreshers and $595 for TCC
Helpful Suggestions for Registration
  • Each individual that signs up for one of our courses needs his/her own individual email address. Our event management system does not accept duplicate emails, and it will wipe out the previous occupant’s training record if you do try to repeat an email. If an individual who needs training does not have a work email, a personal email needs to be substituted.
  • If you would like to pay by credit card and did not select the “Online Payments” option when registering, please contact Shane at caitregistrar@soe.rutgers.edu. Note that American Express is not accepted at this time.
  • All checks need to be made out to: “Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey” and should be addressed to: CAIT
    100 Brett Road
    Piscataway, NJ 08854
    Attn: Registrar

If you haven’t found the answer you were looking for, please feel free to contact the program coordinator:

Shane Mott | caitregistrar@soe.rutgers.edu |

CAIT
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
100 Brett Road • Piscataway, NJ 08854-8058