SAFETY SERVICE PATROL APPRENTICE

Code: 10316 State Non-Competitive Range: O12 (FY 2027) Work week 40: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $43,933.62 - $63,340.72/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under close direction of a Safety Service Patrol Shift Supervisor in the Department of Transportation, as apprentice and productive worker, receives on-the-job training in emergency service patrol duties; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Effectively communicates with the public, providing courteousness and empathy, particularly in stressful and traumatic situations.
• Contacts the Central Dispatch Unit (CDU) for all incidents, communicating accurate information and requesting additional assistance as required.
• As first on scene at motor vehicle accidents, learns to prioritize and control situations until released by a supervisor or incident commander and in some cases until the incident clears.
• Assists law enforcement officers in duties relating to traffic control situations, also maintains traffic control in accordance with the NJDOT Safety Manual as well as the NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide.
• Receives on-the-job training in assisting disabled motorists along designated section of roadway by changing a flat tire, providing a small amount of fuel, jump starting vehicle, providing directions for lost travelers or calling for additional assistance (Police, Fire, Medical, Maintenance, Environmental).
• Responds to transportation related accidents and provides traffic control for fire and police as necessary as stated in the NJDOT Safety Manual as well as the NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide.
• Learns to respond to transportation related accidents and provides safety for fire and police as directed by supervisory or other senior NJDOT personnel.
• Learns how to properly tag abandoned vehicles and fill out reports on vehicles for the State Police.
• Removes debris to keep the roadway clear and learns when to report items too large or that have been removed from the roadway to CDU for maintenance response if/when needed.
• Learns to close lanes due to an accident or debris in the road, using cones, signs and flares to provide appropriate traffic control during incidents, as indicated in the NJDOT Safety Manual and/or NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide.
• Assists in cleanup of non-hazardous spills and reporting incident to proper authority (Police, Fire, Medical, Maintenance, Environmental).
• Reports all suspicious activities accurately to supervisor and proper authority with direction for situations such as potential stolen vehicles, questionable individuals, illegal motorists, and drivers suspected under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
• Learns to program and operate roadside field deployable intelligent transportation system equipment including truck and trailer mounted variable message signs, highway advisory radio and portable closed circuit television cameras.
• Works in all weather and provides motorists assistance particularly during harsh conditions such as heavy snow, ice, rain and other hazardous events.
• May be required to perform emergency overtime during weather emergencies and other types of critical situations.
• Learns to operate and utilize all Safety Service Patrol (SSP) vehicles and equipment in the fleet for use in the clearing of state owned roadways.
• Performs minor SSP building maintenance and clean up, both inside and outside as necessary.
• Learns to accurately estimate and report traffic queue information to the Statewide Traffic Management Center (STMC) and/or Traffic Operations South (TOC) on a regular basis.
• Learns to provide estimated durations to the Statewide Traffic Management Center (STMC) and/or Traffic Operations South (TOC) for transportation related incidents.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Requirements

Appointees must successfully complete the following training within one (1) year of hire:

- Basic Automobile Repair - Incident Command (ICS-100) - Emergency Traffic Control for Emergency Responders - Bloodborne Pathogens - Use of Fire Extinguishers - Hazmat Awareness - Hazardous Communication Training

Appointees must also successfully complete Incident Command Systems (ICS-200) training within two (2) years of hire.

License

Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey. Appointees are also required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsement for the class and type of vehicle being operated.

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles operated, rests with the Appointing Authority.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of care and maintenance of trucks and motorized equipment, including cleaning, servicing of batteries, care of tires and lights.
• Knowledge of the procedures for the competent, safe, and efficient operation of vehicles.
• Knowledge of the minor repair procedures which can be done without recourse to the repair shop.
• Knowledge of safety procedures and ability to apply to Safety Service Patrol workload.
• Knowledge of Department Of Transportation Safety manual and Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Ability to interpret and apply DOT Safety Manual and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as well as the NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide.
• Ability to interact with the public with courtesy and sensitivity.
• Ability to understand, remember and carry out oral and written directions and to learn quickly from oral and written explanation and demonstrations.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• <b>ADVANCEMENT:</b>
• Appointees who successfully complete the twenty four (24) month training period will be eligible for advancement in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.7 et. Seq., to the title among the following for which they have been trained: Safety Service Operator.
• The inability of an employee to complete the required training period and/or to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to the title listed above shall be considered cause for separation.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.