Highway Maintenance Specialist - Grand Junction/ I-70 Corridor (CDL Required)

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

About the role

If you have a Colorado Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License and are passionate about safety, travel, and hands-on repair and improvements, consider a career as a Highway Maintenance Specialist with CDOT. This position is based in Grand Junction, CO, with up to six months of the year spent working along the I-70 mountain corridor. During this period (typically October through April, depending on weather), you will work a rotating two-week schedule: 12-hour shifts for 6 days, 4-hour shifts for two days (for travel), and 6 days off. While working on the corridor, CDOT provides per diem and arranges hotel accommodations.

The remainder of the year, the position is located in Grand Junction, CO.

Pay

Total annual compensation for this position is $53,940 ($53,940 base pay). Base pay is $2,074.62 biweekly ($53,940–$54,000 annually), with 26 biweekly pay periods per year. The annualized hourly rate is $25.93/hour, with an overtime rate of $38.90/hour.

Benefits

The State of Colorado offers competitive benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• PERA retirement plans, including optional 401K
• Generous paid time off (annual, sick, holiday, and other leave)
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development
• Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling
• Wellness programs, credit union membership, and employee discounts

Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Responsibilities

• Plowing snow
• Operating heavy equipment (e.g., tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower)
• Mowing grass and weeds
• Removing debris from roadways (e.g., rock, mud, deceased animals)
• Clearing debris from culverts and tunnels
• Shoveling gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Digging ditches
• Installing and repairing guardrails, highway markers, signs, and lighting
• Filling potholes and roadway cracks
• Setting up signs and cones for traffic control
• Removing and covering graffiti
• Installing pavement markings/striping
• Stopping or slowing traffic in emergency situations
• Maintaining equipment and performing minor repairs
• Following safety guidance and wearing proper safety equipment

You will be on-call on a rotating basis and may be required to respond to weather or other emergencies. Work is typically performed in a team environment.

Impact

Your work is critical to keeping Colorado’s roadways open and safe, positively impacting the quality of life for residents and visitors while supporting economic growth.

What CDOT Provides

• Personal protective equipment (e.g., uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, tools)
• Full payment for your CDL physical after your first year with CDOT
• Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for CDL renewal after your first year
• CPR and first-aid training
• Variety of career training opportunities
• 40-hour work weeks, with overtime opportunities during weather emergencies
• 4-day work schedule (10-hour days, Monday–Thursday) during summer months (typically May–September)
• Opportunities to learn new equipment and advance in your career

Work Environment

• Exposure to loud noise, fumes, odors, gasses, and dusts
• Required use of personal protective equipment
• Work with chemicals and cleaning products (some requiring respirators)
• Work near traffic, including high-speed traffic
• Use of ladders and scissor lifts for heights of approximately 10’–20’
• Driving CDOT vehicles
• Frequent emergency response outside regular work hours, including weekends and holidays
• Work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold), variable weather, and elevations up to 12,000 feet for extended periods

Requirements

• At least two (2) years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience
• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A or B with no air brake restrictions, allowing operation within Colorado
• If relocating to Colorado, must transfer CDL to Colorado within 30 days of relocation
• Must pass pre-employment screenings (e.g., criminal records, driving records, educational records checks)
• May be required to pass a controlled substance test and DOT physical
• Must be willing to work on-call, respond to emergencies, and work overtime, including weekends and holidays
• Must provide a telephone number for emergency contact
• Must be willing and physically able to work in extreme conditions (e.g., temperatures, weather, elevations)
• New employees must complete two weeks of maintenance training; veteran employees complete one week annually (training may be computer-based or in Aurora, CO)
• May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year
• Must live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time of the workstation to respond to emergencies in normal weather conditions

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong commitment to safety
• Desire to learn and work outdoors
• Enjoys physically demanding work
• Takes pride in a job well done
• Adapts efficiently to changing conditions and priorities
• Works effectively in a team environment
• Communicates effectively, especially in safety-critical situations
• Strong commitment to customer service
• Problem-solving skills and ability to improve processes
• Experience operating equipment (e.g., dump trucks, loaders, bulldozers, backhoes)
• Experience using hand tools
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn new software/equipment
• State service experience related to the duties of this position