HIGHWAY OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN TRAINEE
Highway Operations Technician Trainee is non-competitive, meaning the state checks your education and experience against the spec instead of ranking you on a test.
The main requirement is a commercial driver's license. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $45,364 to $47,044, and state payroll currently lists about 126 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
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
Highway Operations Technician Trainee appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Transportation.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | 126 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 126 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $45,453. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (126)
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 close supervision of a Crew Supervisor in a highway operations crew within the Department of Transportation, as a trainee and productive worker, receives on-the-job training in performing unskilled and semi-skilled work involving the repair and maintenance of the State's highway systems including right of way and all ancillary highway structures which may involve a variety of duties requiring physical exertion, manipulative ability, the routine use of hand, machine, and power tools; performing tasks requiring the operation of power mowers and other less complex power equipment; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Learns to assist in all phases of work for the repairs of the New Jersey State transportation system.
- Learns to use bituminous materials and various aggregates for the repair and maintenance of varied types of highway pavements and shoulders.
- Learns to patch potholes in roadways with asphalt.
- Learns to repair, clean, and maintain state highway drainage systems (e.g., inlets, basins, culverts, etc.) and structures of all types.
- Mows grass, cuts weeds, cleans brush, and maintains vegetation on roadsides and slopes; removes small and large litter debris.
- Learns to construct, paint, and maintain guide rails.
- Learns to paint, clean, and maintain various departmental equipment (e.g., snow plows, push frames, etc.).
- Learns to perform routine maintenance on State vehicles.
- Learns to perform maintenance on mowing vehicles.
- Learns to operate power mowers, weed whackers, and other landscaping equipment.
- Learns to use hand-held machine tools, less complex power equipment, and power tools.
- Learns to operate trucks and other equipment/snow equipment.
- Learns to install snow plows and spreaders.
- Learns to assist in the application of pesticides.
- Loads and unloads State vehicles.
- Performs general housekeeping duties in the yard such as sweeping, mopping, cleaning, etc.
- Performs snow removal and ice control work at any time of day or night as required.
- As required, acts as a service attendant by dispersing fuel, oil, and other related supplies.
- Learns to perform basic safety operations.
- Maintains essential records.
- 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.
Education
Appointees must successfully complete the following training within one (1) year of appointment:
- Work Zone Safety (Including Flagging) - Chain Saw Safety - Blood Borne Pathogen/Poison Plants - Hazardous Material Handling/Right-to-Know - Driver Awareness 3-hour mandatory class - Basic Snow Fighter Training - Communications/Two-way Radio - Attention to roadway safety device maintenance (e.g., guide rail, inlets/manholes, fence) - Understanding basic vegetation issues within the transportation system (e.g., line of sight issues) - Manual on Uniformed Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (includes all sign damage) - NJ Highway Operation's Training overview class along with attaining a set minimum number of On-the-Job Training (OJT) hours as established by the Operations Training Unit
Appointees must also achieve the following milestones within one (1) year of hire:
SAFETY - Follows safety procedures in performing all assigned duties. Assists with setting up safety equipment for traffic control. Notifies supervisor of any unsafe conditions prior to beginning work.
SOFT SKILLS - Displays courteous and respectful behavior to others in response to their inquiries, feedback, guidance, and viewpoints to establish and maintain a positive working environment. Demonstrates empathy to ensure a mutual understanding amongst the crew members.
TEAMWORK - Contributes to the team in providing ideas, information, and work effort to accomplish team goals. Builds an effective working relationship with crew members. Works cooperatively with the crew, Division, and Department.
License
Appointees must obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated within the first six (6) months after appointment to the title.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the proper use and care of hand, machine, and power tools.
- Knowledge of standard practices in laboring operations.
- Ability to learn to install snow plows and spreaders.
- Ability to learn to operate trucks and other equipment/snow equipment.
- Ability to learn to assist in the application of pesticides.
- Ability to learn to patch potholes in roadways with asphalt.
- Ability to learn to clean drainage systems such as inlets, basins, culverts, etc.
- Ability to learn to operate mowers, weed whackers, landscaping equipment, etc.
- Ability to learn to perform maintenance on State vehicles, mowing vehicles, snow plows, push frames, etc.
- Ability to learn basic safety operations.
- Ability to learn to assist with traffic sign repair.
- Ability to learn to assist with the repair of concrete.
- Ability to learn to assist in repairs of the New Jersey State transportation system.
- Ability to respond to emergency situations including snow removal and ice control.
- Ability to disperse fuel, oil, and other related supplies.
- Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and written instructions.
- Ability to perform a wide variety of manual tasks such as painting, sweeping, mopping, cleaning, removal of litter, maintaining vegetation on the roadside, etc. usually as a member of a group.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
- Ability to perform heavy manual labor, such as loading and unloading vehicles and clearing brush and large debris for prolonged periods of time under varying temperatures and climatic conditions.
- Ability to follow established procedures.
- Ability to maintain simple records.
- 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.
- <b>ADVANCEMENT:</b>
- Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month trainee period, including the required training units and obtain the required CDL permit within four (4) months of appointment and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated within six (6) months of appointment, will be eligible for advancement to the title of Highway Operations Technician 1.
- The inability of an employee in this title to attain the required CDL permit within four (4) months of appointment and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated within six (6) months of appointment to complete the required training units, and/or to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to the Highway Operations Technician 1 title shall be considered as 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.
The inability of an employee in this title to obtain a validated CDL permit within four (4) months of appointment, shall be considered as cause for separation.
The inability of an employee in this title to obtain a CDL license and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated within six (6) months of appointment, shall be considered as cause for separation.
The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.