Road Surface / Road Side Maintenance

Class code: 003685
Bargaining unit(s): 202
Classification title: Transportation Generalist
Function: Road Surface/Roadside Maintenance
Kind of work: Basic level technical and/or skilled maintenance work

Nature & purpose

Under general supervision, an employee in this class performs road surface maintenance activities to keep the roadways and roadsides safe and in good repair according to MnDOT standards; and performs related work as required.

This level is different from the Transportation Associate level in that it requires less direct supervision. At the Transportation Generalist level, daily work and projects are assigned by the supervisor and/or lead worker. Work/projects are completed with a higher level of discretion than at the lower level. An employee modifies simple established procedures to improve work processes.

An employee resolves semi-routine yet similar problems using defined approaches learned through work. An employee at this level is responsible for completing daily work assignments and may identify service needs not currently being met by either taking care of it or bringing it to the attention of the supervisor/lead worker. Some employees may provide work direction to others as part of a specific assignment.

Examples of work

A position may not include all the work examples given, nor does the list include all that may be assigned.

Maintains and reconstructs roadways, rights-of-way, roadway shoulders with gravel, bituminous, and concrete road surfaces; maintains traffic barriers; participates in bituminous road repair, culvert cleaning, and guardrail repair; maintains roadsides – installs catch basins, places and removes Adopt-A-Highway bags, performs drainage and shoulder repair.
Performs preventive maintenance on highway equipment and operates all tractor mowers and small rollers for the purpose of maintaining roadways.
Removes all objects from roadways, rights-of-way, and roadsides including encroachments, farming debris, for sale signs, vehicles for sale; performs all work associated with accidents (traffic control), spill cleanup, rut repair, dead deer, etc.
Performs traffic control set-ups in high volume traffic and ensures they are in accordance with the provisions of the Temporary Traffic Zone Layouts field manual, to ensure the safety of the employees and the traveling public.
Performs landscaping duties, including maintenance of trees, grass, shrubs, brush, etc. on roadside - planting, watering, seeding, sodding, trimming, and removal. Includes chipping of tree limbs, stump removal/grinding.
Performs mowing activities including media top cuts and sight corners, weed whipping and hand mowing around sign posts, etc; vegetation control – weed or brush control, biological control and control burns, spraying unwanted vegetation and insect control.
Performs rest area maintenance including all work done to rest areas, wayside rests and scale areas. Includes building and grounds maintenance, vegetation control, and parking surface repairs.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required to be proficient at the job

Knowledge of:

MnDOT policies and procedures and state and federal OSHA rules and regulations sufficient to safely operate all MnDOT equipment.
Road surface/roadside maintenance operations sufficient to operate loaders, etc.
Hazardous material/waste handling and disposal.
Working knowledge of English sufficient to read, write, speak and understand oral and written information; communicate with employees and the general public in-person or via two-way radio and other electronic devices; and to maintain routine written logs and simple records.

Skill in:

Using basic hand tools to handling materials (transporting, stockpiling, and mixing).

Ability to:

Equipment - Perform routine scheduled maintenance; calibrate, set up and adjust equipment; drive and operate mobile equipment; and operate control systems. For bituminous paving and milling surfaces, need ability to use specialized equipment to perform very precise, exacting operations where maintaining close tolerances are critical to the successful operation of the job.
Information Technology - Perform simple data entry; enter time into timesheet and database programs. Enter messages into equipment such as programmable message boards. Take readings from electronic equipment such as Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) on their vehicle, Force America and Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS), or similar unit.
Interpersonal - Work cooperatively with peers and receive verbal instruction and direction.
Leadership - Take responsibility for quality and timeliness of work; respond to unplanned requests; complete assigned tasks and report progress; and demonstrate behavior consistent with department direction.
Math - Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers; add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure, including fractions, decimals, and percentages; do pre-algebra problems; perform operations with monomials; and calculate ratios and proportions. For cleaning drainage structures, will need ability to do basic geometry such as calculate areas and volumes; know the properties of uniform shapes such as planes and solid figures.
Oral Communication - Articulate job-related questions and comprehend answers; and communicate in a team setting.
Problem Solving - Follow verbal instructions and can work under the direction of others; work independently and solve routine technical, process, or people-related problems.
Reading - Comprehend notes, letters, memos, and electronic mail (Outlook); comprehend white papers, proposals, departmental forms, and instructional manuals; and read construction plans, MnDOT manuals and spec books.
Written Communication - Generate notes, letters, memos, and departmental forms. Use Outlook.

Licenses, Certifications:

Some positions may require a driver’s license, as well as endorsements, specific to position demands and/or equipment required to perform the job within the work area posted.

Technical certifications may be required specific to position demands and will be documented on the posting as to the justification of why specific certifications are necessary.

Class A or B Commercial Drivers License without Air Brake restriction. In addition, some positions may require tanker and/or hazardous materials endorsement or tanker/loader certifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Includes years of experience, education, training, certifications, and licenses required at the time of application to be considered eligible for the vacancy. The level of experience to perform this job at the Transportation Generalist level can be achieved with:

Experience: One (1) year of experience performing activities in snow and ice, soils, road surface maintenance, roadside maintenance, bridge maintenance, signs, or related activities (roadway maintenance, driving commercial vehicles, commercial landscaping, operating heavy equipment, or farm experience).
Education: Successful completion of a Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance Program (of at least 60 semester credits; or 90 quarter credits) will substitute for one year of experience.
Working knowledge of English sufficient to read, write, speak and understand oral and written information; communicate with employees and the general public in-person or via two-way radio and other electronic devices; and to maintain routine written logs and simple records.

Physical capabilities and environmental work conditions:

The physical demands of this job will vary, but typically requires lifting 100 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects such as 50-pound bags. This job also may require walking or standing to a significant degree on rough terrain or may involve sitting most of the time with pushing and pulling of arm and/or leg controls. This job will require strenuous manual labor including but not limited to digging, shoveling, hauling, crawling, bending, pushing, pulling and climbing.

Weather elements:

May require frequent exposure to weather elements (both hot and cold) on a daily basis.

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