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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
When it comes to road work, setting up cones and waving a flag might seem like the simplest part of the job, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. As a highway superintendent, you already know that your team’s safety and the traveling public’s safety depends on well-run work zones. And the person on … Read more
Let’s be honest, recruiting good people for highway department jobs isn’t getting any easier. You’re often competing with private contractors who can offer higher wages, especially when it comes to drivers with a Class B CDL in their pocket. Civil servant pay? It’s not exactly going to make the top of the Best Jobs in … Read more
As a highway superintendent, you know your crews are under constant pressure to “just get it done.” A pothole needs patching. A tree limb needs removing. A catch basin needs a quick cleanout. And someone inevitably says, “We’ll be in and out in five minutes… no need to set up the whole work zone.” Stop … Read more