DOT Looking To Fill 45 Positions In Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The state Department of Transportation said applications are being accepted for about 45 full-time positions in the DOT's fleet administration and transportation maintenance disciplines in the Hudson Valley.

According to a spokeswoman, additional positions above and beyond the 45 are anticipated to be filled in the coming months.

The department is teaming up with the Department of Labor to host virtual job fairs to help recruit qualified workers as part of a recurring process to hire and train staff on various types of technologically advanced heavy equipment.

Jobs include essential snow and ice operations in the DOT's Region Eight, which is responsible for 5,963 miles of state highways and 1,143 bridges in a 4,295 square mile area, including 13 cities, 75 villages and 107 towns in Westchester, Ulster, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Columbia counties.

DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said the department is seeking hard-working, career-oriented, dedicated professionals to join the team.

"Our unparalleled workforce is among the best trained at performing vitally essential services for the public, including responding to and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events such as flooding and snow and ice events," she said. "Their skills and dedication help keep New York's communities safe throughout the year."

Applications are currently being accepted for several job categories, including highway maintenance workers, fleet administration and mechanics. To be eligible, candidates must be at least 18 years old and pass a physical and drug test. Most positions also require a valid, clean Class A or B commercial drivers license and the ability to operate DOT heavy dump trucks within two weeks after start of employment.

Those individuals hired will be trained and evaluated on several pieces of essential equipment and are expected to perform productive work while gaining experience. Physical labor is required for most positions, as in work with backhoes, front-end loaders, stump grinders and other heavy equipment.

During the winter, maintenance workers primarily assist in snow and ice removal, but also are expected to perform general highway repairs and maintenance such as cold patching. Shifts vary depending on location, but run from early morning to early afternoon, and from early afternoon to late evening. During storms, those eight-hour shifts can be extended to form two, 12-hour shifts to ensure a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week response to snow and ice events.

Qualified candidates can find more information about the positions available and how to apply at the NYSDOT website or by visiting the Department of Transportation’s Facebook page for periodic updates.

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