To become a toll collector, you’ll need a basic high school education, proof of work eligibility, and a clean criminal record, which will vary depending on where you live. Interpersonal skills and the ability to resolve conflicts are useful, but they aren’t always required. Staffing tollbooths and terminals, making change, and reporting violators are the primary responsibilities of anyone in this position. Because the majority of these jobs are handled government agencies and local governments, you may be eligible for certain civil service benefits and job protections. After a few years of good performance, you may be eligible for promotion to supervisor, and your time on the job may also qualify you for seniority when it comes to choosing locations and shift times.
Requirements for Eligibility
Toll collectors are typically considered basic laborers, and they do not require any special skills or training to be hired. You will, however, need to meet a few basic requirements. To become a toll collector, for example, you must be at least 18 years old in most cases, though the minimum age may be higher in some jurisdictions. A high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, is usually required. In most cases, you must also be a citizen of the country where you wish to work or have a valid work permit issued the government.
You may also be required to pass a civil service exam. These tests differ city, state, province, or municipality, and their primary goal is to assess a candidate’s general qualifications for the job. Depending on your location, you may also be required to be bonded. In this context, being bonded means that your employer has the option of purchasing insurance to cover any loss of property or money that you may cause, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Employees who are bonded are not allowed to have a criminal record, so a prior record may be a disqualifying factor in these cases.
Basics of the Application
If you meet all of these criteria, the next step is to submit a formal application. When it comes to this process, there is a lot of variation. Postings and open positions are typically found on city, county, and municipality job boards, many of which are available online. Postings usually specify how to apply as well as any specific items that must be included in your application packet. It’s usually possible to submit all of your materials online, though hard copies may be required in some cases.
Some employers may require additional pre-screening exams after the application has been submitted and any required civil service testing has been completed. Applicants in the United States state of New Jersey, for example, must pass two such tests. The majority of these tests focus on an applicant’s basic math and English language abilities. Some may be more difficult, with difficult math and word problems designed to assess a candidate’s ability to manage money.
Many employers want to interview potential employees as well. The interview will give you the opportunity to meet some of the people you’ll be working with, as well as an opportunity to express your preferences for where you’ll be working and when you’d like to work. Toll collectors typically work shifts of several hours, though because tollbooths are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, not everyone works “standard” hours.
Primary Responsibilities
This job entails collecting tolls from people who use a toll road, bridge, tunnel, or ferry system. These fees are frequently used to fund the construction and upkeep of infrastructure, such as roads. The job usually entails spending hours in a booth, also known as a tollbooth, taking money from customers and, if necessary, making change. Toll collectors may also be responsible for clearing debris, stalled vehicles, snow, and anything else that could obstruct traffic flow.
Some toll collectors may also be responsible for calculating and policing “digital” tolls, which are tolls paid electronically with special tags that people can buy and keep in their cars. Toll collectors of this type usually work in offices near toll plazas, where they keep track of the vehicles passing through. They may be in charge of identifying toll violators’ license plate numbers and issuing citation letters to those who drove through “express” lanes without a special tag or with a tag that did not have enough money on it to pay the toll.
Potential for Advancement
When people first start out as toll collectors, they usually start out in a low-level position. However, in the vast majority of cases, advancement is possible. With enough seniority and good performance, you may be able to choose your own hours and locations, and you may even be promoted to manager or supervisor, positions with more responsibilities and higher pay.