Management & Administration
When the Town Board Becomes a Real Pain in the Ass
A survival guide for highway supers with frayed nerves and a half-empty coffee mug. The Anatomy of a Board-Induced Migraine Town boards are like asphalt mixes: every batch is a little different, and sometimes you get one with too much aggregate and not nearly enough binder. One meeting they’re praising your pothole-patching prowess, the next they’re counting paperclips in your office like they moonlight for the IRS. It’s whiplash with a gavel. Classic Board Member Archetypes (Collect ’em all!) Nickname Telltale Signs Why They’re a Pain in the… neck Budget Hawk Can spot a $47.12 overspend in a 200-page ledger. Thinks duct tape solves everything, including bridge decks. The Micro-Manager Emails at 11 p.m. asking for sign-post torque specs. Wants a daily GPS ping from every plow blade. Spotlight Seeker Sits quiet until TV cameras arrive. Turns routine culvert news into a three-act saga. Ghost Member Votes “abstain” because they didn’t read the packet (again). Vanishes when you need a quorum for new equipment. Mystery Expert Watched one YouTube video on asphalt recycling. Now critiques your paving plan like it’s the Great British Bake Off. Proven Tactics for Taming the Beast Pre-Game the Meeting Email your one-page “cheat sheet” 48 hours before showtime. Summaries beat sagas, board members are allergic to long PDFs. Speak the Language of Dollars (and Voters) “A $15K grader repair now saves us $90K in lost gravel next spring.” Money math + election math = ears perked. Feed the Budget Hawk First Provide line-item details before they ask. Like pre-treating an road before the snow falls, it prevents a skid into interrogation. Turn Micro-Management into Micro-Victories Offer a ride-along during storm prep. They’ll either respect the grind or decide their car’s heater is cozier. Control the Spotlight Arrive with crisp visuals: before-and-after photos, drone shots, even a “pothole of the month” trophy. If they crave attention, hand them a prop that tells your story. Keep Receipts (Literally) Detailed logs of hours, materials, and weather conditions are your Kevlar vest when Monday-morning quarterbacks start lobbing blame grenades. Play the Long Game Board makeup changes. Your reputation for transparency and “no surprises” outlasts any single squeaky wheel. Jedi Mind Tricks for Your Own Sanity Adopt a Meeting Persona Think of yourself as an unflappable news anchor: calm, factual, haircut optional. Schedule a Post-Meeting Decompress Whether it’s coffee, cardio, or quality time with your second-favorite chainsaw, put it on the calendar before the meeting. Keep a “Wins” Folder Photos of triumphant resurfacing jobs, thank-you emails from residents, maybe that newspaper clipping headlined “Snowmageddon Averted.” On rough days, it’s proof you’re not the crazy one. Turning Pain into Progress A feisty board can be a curse or a catalyst. Use their scrutiny to sharpen your budgeting, tighten your specs, and document everything like a court stenographer on triple espresso. When they finally realize you’ve already answered the next ten questions in your handout, you shift from “problem child” to “prepared professional.” Town boards can indeed be a complete pain in the ass. But with strategic prep, a dash of humor, and spreadsheets sturdier than a 12-inch concrete slab, you can keep them out of your blind spot, and maybe even in your rear-view mirror. If they crawl too far up your back-end, maybe remind them of that town board members have limited powers. Until then, smile, nod, and remember: you run the roads, not the circus.
Core Operations
Keep Your Chainsaws Sharp and Your Backups Sharper: A Road Super’s Guide to Backup Saws
You know what’s worse than a beaver dam blocking your culvert? A beaver dam blocking your culvert and your only chainsaw refusing to start like a teenager on Monday morning. Highway superintendents, listen up: If you’re only relying on one chainsaw to keep your roads clear of fallen trees, then you’re just one flooded culvert or thunderstorm away from starring in your own personal horror movie called “Return of the Blocked Road.” Here’s why you should keep backup chainsaws, and keep them ready for battle: Chainsaws Are Like Teenagers: They Quit When You Need Them Most Chainsaws may hum like a kitten in the shop, but take them out on a rainy, windy night, and suddenly they act like they’ve never met you. A backup saw is your secret weapon against sudden carburetor rebellion. Weather Doesn’t Wait for Repairs Storms don’t politely pause while you tinker with your flooded two-stroke. Having a backup saw means you can keep the road open while you figure out why your primary saw’s spark plug looks like it’s been to hell and back. Fuel, Oil, and Bar Maintenance: Not Optional Nothing’s worse than having a pristine backup saw… with an empty tank or a chain duller than your Uncle Randy’s jokes. Rotate your backup into use occasionally so you know it runs, and keep it fueled, oiled, and the chain sharp. One Saw Is None Every seasoned road supervisor knows: One chainsaw is none, two chainsaws is one, and three chainsaws means you can finally take a day off without waking up in a cold sweat about tree limbs falling across Route 47. Don’t Let “That Guy” Borrow Your Backup Every highway department has that guy - the one who can’t put gas in without cross-threading the cap. Hide your backup saw from him like it’s your grandma’s secret pie recipe. Or better yet, label it “NOT FOR LONERS.” Quick Checklist for Keeping Backups Ready: ✅ Fresh, stabilized gas in the tank ✅ Bar oil topped off ✅ Sharp, properly tensioned chain ✅ Air filter clean ✅ Run it monthly (don’t just let it sit and collect dust) ✅ Store it somewhere dry and easy to access in a storm Keeping your roads open during storms and emergencies isn’t just about having a chainsaw—it’s about having a backup chainsaw (or two) ready to roar into action when you need it most. So give your backups a little love before the next storm hits, and you’ll keep your reputation—and your roads—clear and clean.
Environmental
Dam Beavers! A Road Superintendent’s Guide to Dealing with Nature’s Little Engineers
So you're a highway superintendent just minding your business, sipping your burnt gas station coffee, when the phone rings: "There’s a pond forming on Maple Hollow Road and the water’s coming over the top!" That’s right. The beavers are back. Again. Welcome to the time-honored municipal tradition of battling with nature’s most persistent public works crew: the common North American beaver. These furry little dam-builders mean well, after all, they’re just doing their jobs, but their career goals often conflict directly with yours. Here's your slightly sarcastic, semi-serious, and fully functional guide to dealing with beaver-created drainage disasters. Step 1: Confirm It’s Beavers and Not Just Some Teen With a Shopping Cart First, check the scene. Are there freshly chewed logs? Mud pies expertly slapped together? If it looks like someone built a structure out of sticks with more integrity than your 1983 culvert pipe, it’s beavers. If there’s an old tire and a rusted mattress wedged in the inlet, it’s probably local hooligans - call the sheriff, not the DEC. Step 2: Don’t Just Rip the Dam Out (Unless You Like Instant Karma) You might be tempted to fire up the excavator and rip that puppy out, but slow down, Rambo. Beavers are committed. You take it out today, they’ll rebuild it tonight. Possibly better. Possibly with architectural lighting. Plus, tearing out a dam without a plan can flood out the nearby road, a neighbor’s tomato garden, or the local Little League field. Now your dam problem is a political problem. Step 3: Get Yourself a “Beaver Deceiver” No, that’s not a folk band or a weird Halloween costume. A Beaver Deceiver is an actual device. It’s a pipe system designed to let water pass through the dam without the beavers realizing they’ve lost control of the situation. Install one properly, and the beavers will think the pond is full, even as water slowly drains through your culvert. It’s psychological warfare. Cold. Calculated. Beautiful. Step 4: Call in the Professionals (the Ones With Waders and Wildlife Permits) Depending on your state laws, trapping or relocating beavers may require a permit or professional help. You don't want to end up on the six o'clock news for harassing a protected species with a leaf blower and a rake. Call your local wildlife control specialist, preferably someone who doesn’t flinch at the words “waist-deep in beaver mud.” Step 5: Educate the Board (and Maybe the Public) If you need to spend a few grand on a flow device or beaver-proof culvert cage, expect the town board to ask why. A photo slideshow labeled "Beaver Damage 'Til You Believe" might help. Bonus points if you include trail cam footage of a beaver hauling an entire tree into a pipe you replaced last week. Step 6: Accept That This Is Your Life Now Beavers don’t take vacation. They don’t retire. They don’t listen to reason. Once they’ve picked a spot, it’s personal. So, install your beaver deceivers, upgrade your culverts, and maybe, just maybe, leave one of their dams alone if it isn’t hurting anything. Pick your battles. You can’t win them all. Nature’s public works crew has a union, and their local is ruthless. Next time you find yourself muttering at a water-logged road shoulder at 6 a.m., remember: somewhere out there, a beaver is working harder than any intern you've ever had. And he never takes coffee breaks. Dam it.
Core Operations
Don’t Fill That Sinkhole!
There you are, sipping your coffee, thinking the day might actually be calm, when suddenly the phone rings. A resident reports that “a chunk of the road just collapsed under my Subaru.” You head out to investigate and sure enough, there it is: a small blacktop crater that looks like the earth’s just had enough and decided to give up. Now, before you grab a load of cold patch and pretend you never saw it, stop right there. This isn’t just a pothole with an attitude. This might be the beginning of something much, much deeper. Literally. Sinkholes: The Sneaky Saboteurs of Small-Town Streets Sinkholes in paved roads often start small. They lure you in with their innocent little dip, maybe just the size of a dinner plate. But what’s under that crumbling edge could be anything from a leaking water main to a forgotten tree stump that’s finally given up the ghost after 40 years underground. Ah, yes, the joys of municipal road repair. Fill-and-Forget? Not This Time. We know the temptation. You’ve got six other things on your plate, Larry’s out sick, and the crew is waiting on parts for the loader. Slapping some patch in there seems like a win. But if you don’t investigate, you might just be putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. One heavy rainstorm later and you’re fielding complaints from residents who swear the town’s trying to swallow their cars. What’s Lurking Beneath? Here are some usual suspects behind sudden pavement collapses: Cavitated culvert pipe: The pipe rusted out from the bottom, and the soil's been quietly escaping for years. It’s the infrastructure version of termites. Water or sewer main leak: Even a slow leak can eat away at the sub-base until -surprise! - it’s pancake time. Buried organic debris: That tree stump the developer buried under the road in 1986 finally rotted away, leaving a nice little underground void. Rodent activity or burrowing critters: Yep, groundhogs and muskrats have been known to help "remodel" roadside ditches from below. Poor compaction or forgotten trench work: Somebody didn’t tamp down that utility cut 15 years ago, and now it’s come home to roost. What You Should Do Poke around (safely): Use a probe or dig out around the edges. If it’s hollow underneath, you’ve got a bigger issue. Check drainage nearby: Is there a culvert in the area? Any signs of water undermining the road? Call in utilities: Before anyone breaks out a shovel in earnest, make sure there’s no active line that might turn your fix into a geyser. Document it: Take photos, mark it off, and note it in your maintenance records. It’s a lot easier to explain a delay when there’s proof you didn’t just ignore a potential road-swallowing monster. So next time the pavement collapses like a soufflé, don’t just fill it and forget it. Put on your detective hat and figure out what caused it. You might save your road, and your budget, from a much bigger mess down the line. Besides, there’s something oddly satisfying about solving the mystery of the disappearing asphalt. Just don’t expect a medal. A quiet “thanks” from the nearest resident and fewer angry voicemails will have to do.
Core Operations
Can You Say No to a Utility Road Cut? Kinda, Sorta, Maybe
Let’s say you’re a highway superintendent enjoying your morning coffee when BAM! - you get word that a utility crew is planning to slice up your freshly paved road like it’s a sheet cake at a church picnic. Can you stop them? Well… you can try. And if you play your cards right, you might even succeed, at least temporarily. Utilities: The Houseguests Who Never Leave Utility companies are kind of like your in-laws. They have a legal right to be there, and they’re not asking for your opinion. Whether it's water, gas, electric, or the fiber-optic wizardry no one really understands, these guys are invited by state law to work in the public right-of-way. But just because they’re allowed to be there doesn’t mean they get to do whatever they want, whenever they want, with no pants on. That’s where you come in. Your Secret Weapons: Permits, Policies, and Good Old Bureaucracy Most towns (or at least the smart ones) require a road opening permit. That’s your golden ticket. No permit? No diggy-diggy. You can also slow them down with: A nicely worded moratorium ("Thou shalt not cut any road paved in the last five years.") Restoration requirements ("If you cut it, you fix it, better than you found it.") Timing restrictions ("You're not trenching Main Street during the Fourth of July parade, fellas.") When Saying “No” Is a Bad Idea Let’s be real: you can’t flat-out forbid them from making a road cut forever. If they’ve got a franchise, easement, or state permission, you have to let them in eventually. (Remember, utilities don’t want to dig up your road. It’s expensive for them, too.) If you just say “Nope” with no reason, they’ll go over your head, probably to the Public Service Commission or your town board, and you’ll get a stern phone call, or worse, a room full of grumpy suits with clipboards. Pro Tips from the Road Keep your laws tight: If your town doesn’t already have a road cut permit law, ask your board to pass one. (Yes, it will take six months and twelve meetings. Yes, it’s still worth it.) Get cozy with the utilities: The more you communicate, the fewer surprise excavations you’ll deal with. Document everything: When you deny or delay, do it in writing. Bonus points if you can cite chapter and verse from your local code. Stopping a utility from making a road cut is like trying to stop a teenager from sneaking out, if you can’t completely prevent it, at least make it really inconvenient. You’re the guardian of the pavement. Be firm. Be fair. And remember: you may not always win the battle, but with the right rules in place, you’ll win the war on sloppy trench repairs.
Core Operations
What Belongs on a Work Order? (And Why It Matters)
Let’s be honest. No one dreams of paperwork when they sign up to run a highway crew. But a good, simple work order can save a road supervisor from all kinds of headaches later on. Whether it’s a routine pothole patch or a full-day ditching job, having the right info on a work order helps with planning, accountability, and recordkeeping. Here’s a breakdown of what you should include, and why it’s worth the extra few minutes to fill it out right. Date and Time Include the date the work is scheduled, the time it starts, and (if known) the estimated duration. This helps with crew assignments, overtime tracking, and looking back to see what happened on any given day. Job Location Be specific. Use road names, intersections, house numbers, or utility poles. Whatever helps someone unfamiliar with the area find the site. GPS coordinates are even better if you’ve got the tools for it. Type of Work Keep it short and clear. Examples: Pothole repair Shoulder mowing Culvert replacement Crack sealing Sign installation If you’re doing multiple tasks at one location, list them out so no steps get skipped. Materials Needed List materials the crew should bring or expect to use. That might include stone, asphalt, cold patch, seed, pipe, signage, or cones. This helps the garage prep loads ahead of time and avoids wasted trips back for forgotten items. Equipment Needed Same idea. Note what equipment is expected to be used. Loader? Roller? Brush hog? Flagging setup? If something needs to be moved between barns or borrowed from another department, this gives you time to coordinate. Crew Assigned Write down the names of the employees expected on the job. You can always adjust in the morning, but this helps with timekeeping and accountability. Supervisor or Contact If you’re not going to be on site, list the lead worker or foreman who’ll be in charge. Make sure they know it. Include a cell number if the crew might need to reach someone for decisions. Notes or Special Instructions Add anything out of the ordinary. Watch for low wires. Be mindful of a sensitive neighbor. Coordinate with the utility company. Avoid school bus times. These little details can make a big difference. Why Bother? Because memories fade. Because jobs get interrupted. Because you might get a call six months from now asking, “When did we dig up that pipe?” If you have a tidy little folder or digital record of work orders, you’ll look like a genius. It doesn’t need to be complicated. A clipboard with a fill-in-the-blank sheet works great. Better yet, if you’re using software, make sure it allows field crews to view and complete work orders easily. A good work order is like a pre-game plan. It sets your crew up for success, keeps the office in the loop, and covers your tail when questions pop up. It's five minutes well spent. Simple highway department asset management solutions, such as Roadwurx, allow you to easily create, update, and print work orders for your crews.
Core Operations
Call Before You Catastrophe: Why Digging Without a Locate Is a Terrible Idea
Let’s paint a picture: it’s a sunny Tuesday, your crew’s out on the shoulder with the backhoe, ready to dig. You’re swapping jokes, maybe arguing about where to get lunch, and then BOOM. You just turned a quiet ditch project into a fireworks show by hitting a gas line. Congratulations! You’ve now bought the town a new evacuation plan and yourself a mountain of paperwork. Moral of the story? Always call Dig Safe. "But We've Dug Here Before..." Oh, have you? That’s adorable. Utilities don’t file permission slips with you before they get installed. Just because you didn’t hit anything last time doesn’t mean the area isn’t now a spaghetti mess of wires, pipes, and things that go boom. Gas lines, fiber optics, electric cables, they’re all hiding just inches below your bucket. Don’t trust your memory. Trust the paint. What Is Dig Safe, Anyway? Think of Dig Safe like the traffic cop of the underground. You tell them where you’re digging, and they send out the folks who own the buried stuff to mark the danger zones, usually with spray paint and little flags. It’s free, it’s required, and it saves you from being “that guy” who took out 911 service to half the county while trying to fix a culvert. Safety First, Paperwork Never Sure, your backhoe operator thinks he’s got x-ray vision, but let’s not test that theory. Striking a power line or gas main is not only dangerous for your crew, it puts the whole community at risk. No one wants to be on the 6 o’clock news unless they’re holding a giant fish or winning the town chili cookoff. Bonus: Dig Safe gives you a ticket number. If something does go wrong, having that number can prove your crew followed the rules instead of freelancing with a steel bucket and good intentions. It's Not Just the Big Cities, Either Even your sleepy little town with one stoplight and two diners has buried infrastructure. You’d be surprised what’s running under that gravel shoulder. Water mains, phone cables, even fiber optics, aka “the stuff the town’s teenagers would riot over if it went down.” No Locate, No Dig Make it your department’s motto. Heck, put it on a t-shirt. Put it on a cake. Tattoo it on the rookie’s arm if you have to (just kidding, HR hates that). The point is: you don’t put a shovel in the ground until every utility is marked, every flag is spotted, and every crew member knows what those little neon squiggles mean. Wrap-Up: Save a Life. Save a Line. Call 811. In summary: Calling before you dig isn’t just about compliance, it’s about keeping your crew safe, keeping your budget intact, and not having to explain to the Town Board why the internet is down during playoff season. So next time someone says, “Let’s get digging,” hit the brakes and ask the important question: “Did we call Dig Safe yet?” For more no-nonsense advice (and the occasional nonsense), check out RoadSuper.com, where we talk real roads, real problems, and real solutions (with only slightly exaggerated sarcasm).
Environmental
Handling Roadkill: The Glamorous Side of Highway Maintenance
Ah, roadkill, the unsung mascot of every highway department. It doesn’t matter if you’re running a sleepy rural township or managing a busy county road crew, sooner or later, your phone will ring with that inevitable complaint: “There’s a dead something-or-other in the middle of Elm Street. Smells like next Tuesday.” Welcome to one of the more charming aspects of the job. Who Gets the Call? In theory, many state and local highway departments are tasked with removing roadkill from public roads. In practice, it’s often a game of hot potato: State highway? Call DOT. Town road? Highway department. Private driveway? Not your circus, not your raccoon. When in doubt, know your jurisdiction, and be ready to explain it to the resident who thinks you personally placed the deer there. The "Equipment List" Dealing with roadkill doesn’t take a PhD in wildlife biology, but it does require the right tools: Gloves. Thick ones. The thicker the better. Shovel or scoop. Preferably one not used later for ice cream socials. Heavy-duty garbage bags. You’ll want extras. Trust me. Safety vest & cones. You’ll need a work zone if you’re removing anything larger than a chipmunk. Strong stomach. Optional, but recommended. The Removal Process Assess the scene. Is it flat? Is it fresh? Is it, well… still moving? Make sure the animal is deceased. You don’t want to be remembered as that person who got chased by a half-stunned skunk. Suit up. PPE isn’t just for show here. And if the weather’s warm, consider applying a little menthol under your nose. (Veterans know this trick.) Bag it or tag it. If it fits in a bag, double-bag it and transport it per your town or state’s disposal protocols. If it doesn’t fit… call for backup or arrange for appropriate disposal (composting site, landfill, or authorized burial). Sanitize everything. That means your tools, your gloves, your truck bed, and probably your soul. A Few Pro Tips Document the removal if required by your department’s policies. Some towns track these incidents for public safety or wildlife monitoring. Be prepared for spectators. Nothing draws a crowd like a crew scooping a bloated raccoon at 8 AM. Develop a sense of humor. Without one, this part of the job will haunt you. The Unofficial Rules of Roadkill The bigger the animal, the smaller your crew. The worse the smell, the closer to lunchtime it will be. You’ll never hear “thank you” for roadkill removal, but you will hear about it if you don’t show up. In Closing While roadkill cleanup isn’t exactly the stuff of glamorous Instagram posts, it’s an important public service that keeps roads safe, sanitary, and navigable. And hey, at least it makes for great stories at the next safety meeting. Stay safe out there, and watch for the vultures (both feathered and political). 🦝🚧
Management & Administration
The Fine Art of Butting Heads With Your Town Board (And Surviving to Tell the Tale)
Let’s face it: if you’ve got a seat at the department head table, and there’s a Town Board in the room, sooner or later you’re going to butt heads. It’s not personal. It’s not even unusual. It’s practically a job requirement. Town Board members come from all walks of life - teachers, retired farmers, business owners, that one guy who ran unopposed and still acts surprised he won. They’re in charge of approving budgets, scrutinizing projects, and occasionally making wild suggestions that make you wonder if they think the highway department also manages NASA. Some bring a world of varied experience with them. Others, well, they bring nothing to the table - and you'll wonder who ties their shoes for them. As the Highway Superintendent, you’re the boots-on-the-ground, mud-on-the-boots expert. You know the difference between chip seal and chocolate chip. You know that one grader is worth a hundred PowerPoint slides. And sometimes that expertise puts you in direct conflict with those who last operated heavy equipment when they played with Tonka trucks. The Common Flashpoints 1. The Budget Dance Board Member: “Can’t you just make those 15-year-old trucks last another 10 years?” You: “Sure. I’ll just sprinkle some fairy dust on ‘em and hope for the best.” The budget is always a battle. You’re advocating for safety, efficiency, and keeping the town’s infrastructure from collapsing. They’re trying to hold the line on taxes while funding everything from dog parks to pickleball courts. A little humor and a lot of patience go a long way here. 2. Paving Politics Board Member: “Why are we paving that road? I got five calls about this other road.” You: “Because that road is about to become a gravel pit if we don’t, and this other road just needs a good sweeping.” Everyone thinks they know which roads are the worst. But you’ve got the pavement ratings and drainage reports to prove it. Stick to your data and your plan, but be ready to explain it in plain English (and occasionally in crayon). 3. The “Do More With Less” Syndrome Board Member: “Can’t your crew get this all done in half the time?” You: “Of course. We’ll just clone ourselves and work 36-hour days.” Efficiency is great, but there are limits. Sometimes a gentle reminder that potholes don’t fill themselves and culverts don’t magically appear in the ground helps bring expectations back to reality. Tips for Surviving the Head-Butts ✅ Pick your battles. Not every hill is worth dying on. Save your fire for the issues that truly matter. ✅ Use humor. A well-timed joke can defuse tension faster than a 10-ton roller. ✅ Respect their role. Board members are trying to serve the town too, even if they occasionally drive you up the salt shed wall. ✅ Educate. Take every opportunity to explain why your department does what it does. Bring photos. Invite them on a ride-along (bonus: they’ll see just how bumpy those roads really are). ✅ Stay professional. No matter how heated it gets, you’re the one wearing the superintendent’s hat. Model professionalism, because that earns trust. Final Word Butting heads is part of the job. It means you care, and it means they care. If everyone agreed all the time, you’d probably be living in Stepford. Remember: your job is to fight for what’s best for the roads and the community, and to keep showing up, year after year, with a smile (or at least a smirk). Because while Town Board members may come and go, the potholes, and the Highway Superintendent, are forever.
Management & Administration
Dealing with Big Mouths, Bigger Egos, and the Rest of the Crew
Dealing with the Loudmouths: Managing Difficult Personalities in Your Highway Department If you’ve been in this line of work long enough, you know the type. The loudmouth. The guy (or gal) who never misses an opportunity to make themselves the center of attention at the shop. Who constantly peppers meetings with “Well, that’s not how I would do it” comments. Who likes to drop little one-liners that imply they know more than the superintendent or foreman. Sometimes they’re trying to impress the new guy. Sometimes they’re trying to show off in front of board members or town officials. Sometimes they’re just wired that way. Whatever the reason - you still have to manage them. If not handled properly, these personalities can erode morale, sow division among the crew, and even undermine your leadership. Here are a few tips for dealing with the loudmouths in your highway department: 1️⃣ Don’t Take the Bait The first rule of dealing with attention-seekers is don’t feed the beast. If you react publicly to every comment, challenge, or sarcastic remark, you’re giving them exactly what they want: attention and a chance to stir the pot. Stay calm, stay professional, and pick your battles. 2️⃣ Talk One-on-One Public confrontation rarely works with these personalities. They tend to play to the audience. Instead, pull them aside when it’s just the two of you and explain clearly what behavior is unacceptable and why. Often they’re not fully aware of the effect they’re having, or they think no one notices. Let them know you do. 3️⃣ Keep Crew Meetings On Track Don’t let meetings turn into a soapbox for one person. Set ground rules: one person speaks at a time, stick to the agenda, and keep personal jabs out of the conversation. If necessary, politely but firmly cut off side comments and redirect the discussion. 4️⃣ Give Them Productive Responsibility Sometimes loudmouths act out because they’re bored or feel underutilized. If possible, give them a meaningful task or leadership role in an area where they can be successful (and where you can monitor the results). This can channel their energy more productively, and reduce the need to seek attention through disruption. 5️⃣ Document If Needed If the behavior crosses the line into insubordination, harassment, or is impacting safety and team function, start documenting incidents. Hopefully it won’t come to this, but if you ever need to take formal action, good documentation will protect you and the department. 6️⃣ Protect Crew Morale Most of your crew will see what’s happening. If they feel like the loudmouth is running the shop, or that leadership isn’t addressing it, they’ll get frustrated. Show them through your actions that professionalism matters and that respect for leadership is expected. Every crew has a few strong personalities, and that’s not a bad thing. You don’t want a team of silent robots. But when someone’s behavior crosses into disrespect or disruption, it’s your job as the leader to set boundaries. Handle it professionally, fairly, and consistently, and you’ll earn the respect of the whole crew, even the loudmouths.
Safety
Safety Training Binder Checklist
🗂 Safety Training Binder Checklist General Workplace Safety Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) selection and use Lockout/Tagout procedures Proper lifting and ergonomics Slips, trips, and falls prevention Housekeeping and garage safety Fire extinguisher use and fire safety Hazard Communication (HazCom) / Right-to-Know Heat stress prevention Cold weather safety and frostbite prevention Working safely in confined spaces Vehicle & Equipment Safety Pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections Safe operation of dump trucks, loaders, and other heavy equipment Backing up large vehicles (with spotters) Snowplow operation safety Mowing and roadside equipment safety Chainsaw safety and maintenance Chipper safety Portable generator safety Traffic & Roadside Work Work zone setup and flagger safety High-visibility apparel requirements Working safely near traffic Night work considerations Signage and barricade placement Environmental & Health Topics Tick and mosquito bite prevention Poisonous plants identification and prevention Bloodborne pathogens awareness Respiratory protection basics Noise exposure and hearing protection Spill response and environmental incident procedures Emergency Procedures First aid and CPR refresher AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use Emergency evacuation plans for the garage/shop Severe weather procedures Reporting injuries and incidents Culture & Situational Awareness Job safety analysis (JSA/JHA) / pre-task planning Lessons learned from recent near-misses or incidents Situational awareness drills Stress management and fatigue awareness Documentation Tools Toolbox talk sign-in sheets Near-miss report forms Tailgate talk outlines and discussion guides Visual aids (posters, photos of hazards, local examples) You can build this binder gradually. Start with a few core topics and add more over time. Many materials can be downloaded from: Your state’s DOT safety office Public works and highway associations Insurance company loss control resources OSHA, PESH, and NIOSH websites
Safety
Rainy Days Are Safety Days
Rainy Days Are Safety Days: Why Every Highway Superintendent Should Keep a Training Binder Handy As every highway superintendent knows, no two days in the motorpool are alike. Some days the crews are out patching potholes or clearing culverts; other days Mother Nature keeps them in the garage watching the rain come down. It’s those slow, wet days, or snow days, equipment breakdowns, or even mid-winter lulls - that offer a golden opportunity many towns overlook: safety training. Too often, safety training is squeezed in once or twice a year during formal sessions. But the reality is that safe work habits require constant reinforcement. Muscle memory matters. Crew members (especially new ones) benefit from hearing key messages multiple times and in different ways. That’s where a simple idea can make a big difference: keep a dedicated “Safety Training” binder (or shelf, or file folder) in the garage. Here’s why and how. Why Build a Safety Binder? Rainy days become productive days. When the crew can’t be out working, they can be reviewing and discussing key safety topics. Training gets repeated, and repetition saves lives. A single annual training isn’t enough. Short refreshers build habits and keep safety top of mind. You’ll cover more topics over time. Instead of trying to cram 20 subjects into an annual meeting, you can spread out the topics across the year. It builds a safety culture. Having a visible binder signals that safety is a continuous, shared responsibility, not a checkbox on a to-do list. What to Include in the Binder Start simple. You don’t need a 500-page manual on Day One. A good binder might include: Tailgate talk handouts on specific hazards (working near traffic, chainsaw safety, heat stress, etc.) Quick-reference guides (lockout/tagout procedures, proper lifting techniques) Toolbox meeting outlines that supervisors can use to lead 10-15 minute discussions Photos of past incidents (local or from industry sources) that spark discussion: “How could this have been prevented?” PPE guidelines and reminders Emergency procedures refresher sheets Seasonal hazards lists (snowplow safety in winter, mosquito/tick precautions in summer) Sign-in sheets to document participation (helpful for liability and compliance) How to Use It Pick a few go-to topics each month. Rotate through key subjects. Use slow days intentionally. If it’s raining or equipment is being repaired, pull out the binder and run a short session. Encourage crew participation. Ask for input: “What near-misses have we had this month? What could have gone wrong?” Keep it fresh. Add new materials regularly. Use state DOT and insurance company resources—many are free. Final Thought A binder won’t guarantee perfect safety. But a culture of regular conversation about safety will make your garage and job sites much safer over time. And there’s no better time to start than the next rainy day.