SAFETY SERVICE PATROL OPERATOR
To land Safety Service Patrol Operator in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
To be eligible you bring 2 years of relevant experience and a commercial driver's license. The FY 2027 range lands between $47,916 and $69,346, and state payroll currently lists about 33 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Safety Service Patrol Operator appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Transportation.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | 33 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 33 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $62,860. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (33)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
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 the direction of a Safety Service Patrol Shift Supervisor or other designated supervisor in the Department of Transportation (NJDOT), independently performs work involved in clearing highways of incidents which includes: transportation accidents, assistance of disabled motorists, removal of debris, tagging abandoned vehicles, performs minor repairs of motor vehicles; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Sets a good example in communication with the public, providing courteousness and empathy, particularly in stressful and traumatic situations.
- During incidents, contacts the Central Dispatch Unit's (CDU) Communication Operators to supply accurate information and requesting additional assistance as required.
- Assists law enforcement officers in duties relating to traffic control situations, also maintains traffic control in accordance with the NJDOT Safety Manual and NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide.
- As first on the scene of motor vehicle accidents, learns to prioritize and control situations until released by a supervisor, incident commander or stays until the incident clears.
- Assists disabled motorists along a designated section of roadway by providing a small amount of fuel, changing a flat tire, performing minor repairs, jump starting a vehicle, providing directions or calling for additional assistance (Police, Fire, Medical, Maintenance, Environmental).
- Programs and operates roadside field deployable intelligent transportation system equipment to include truck and trailer mounted variable message signs, highway advisory radio and portable closed circuit television cameras.
- Provides traffic queue information to the Statewide Traffic Management Center (STMC) and/or Traffic Operations South (TOC) on a regular basis, and provides estimated durations for transportation related incidents.
- Operates and utilizes all Safety Service Patrol (SSP) vehicles and equipment in the fleet for use in the clearing state owned roadways.
- Performs snow removal in their respective SSP facilities as necessary.
- Operates handheld/mobile computer devices for use in capturing incident Information, upon availability.
- Performs minor SSP building maintenance and clean up, both inside and out as necessary.
- Assists in instructing Safety Service Patrol Apprentices.
- Responds to maintenance calls to remove debris from roadway or reports items that are too large to move.
- Uses appropriate traffic control techniques, as outlined in the NJDOT Safety Manual and the NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide, to close lanes during an incident.
- Responds to transportation related accidents and provides safety for fire and police as necessary.
- Tag abandoned vehicles and reports information on vehicle to State Police.
- Remove debris to keep roadway clear and reports items too large to remove to maintenance.
- When necessary, due to accident or debris in the road, closes lanes using cones, signs, flares and/or flags.
- Provides cleanup of non-hazardous spills and reports incident to proper authority (Police, Fire, Medical, Maintenance, and 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.
- 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.
- 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
Two (2) years of experience in the assistance of disabled motorists, minor repairs of vehicles, maintenance of clear roadways.
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 ESP workload.
- Knowledge of NJDOT Safety Manual, NJDOT Work Zone Safety Set Up Guide, and Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Ability to work independently and to assess situations and make appropriate decisions based on needs.
- Ability to interact with the public with courtesy and sensitivity.
- Ability to detect and report unsafe and/or questionable road conditions in order to provide the most efficient traffic flow conditions for motorists.
- Ability to perform duties during all conditions including inclement weather and to provide the most efficient weather response during adverse conditions.
- Basic knowledge of fire safety.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- 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.
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.