The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is accepting applications for summer jobs as manual traffic counter, traffic recorder operator, communication shop worker, continuous traffic count station calibrator, rail crossing inventory, transit facility assessment and Miovision video traffic data counter with the department’s Systems Planning Bureau.  Most applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of employment and available from May 22, 2023, until mid-August 2023.  Many of these positions require a valid driver’s license since they will travel statewide and stay overnight from Sunday afternoons through Friday mornings.  Note, some of the video traffic data counter positions work out of the office in Ames so this allows for a few positions to be filled with 16 and 17 year-old applicants as well as those that may not have a driver’s license. Several positions may start in early April.

Pay: These positions all pay $15.46 per hour with employees working out of the office being reimbursed for eligible incurred expenses for lodging and food, and vehicles being supplied by the Iowa DOT. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Most applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of employment with possibly a few workers being 16-17 years old.  Most applicants must possess a valid U.S. driver's license with possibly a few workers able to work out of the Ames office and not have a driver’s license. 

For additional information and to apply, please visit www.iowadot.gov/maps and select the link for summer job information toward the bottom of the page. Application deadline is June 30th, 2023. 

If you need further assistance, email Mark Hansen at mark.hansen@iowadot.us, or call 515-239-1990.

Position Descriptions: 

• MANUAL TRAFFIC COUNTER (FIELD):  Studies traffic at a different intersection each day, Monday through Thursday. The majority of the studies are conducted in three shifts: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Employees are required to draw a map of the intersection and surrounding area. Other traffic counts conducted throughout the summer are continuous 24 hour special studies where three people count traffic during their eight hour shift. Vehicles are provided during the work week. A significant portion of the work will be in the northwestern quadrant of Iowa. Statewide, overnight travel from Sunday afternoons through Friday mornings is required. 
• MANUAL TRAFFIC COUNTER (OFFICE): Similar to the field traffic counter position, but these non-travel office positions count traffic from Miovision traffic collection videos. These positions are Monday through Friday and are Ames based in-office positions. In addition to applicants 18 and above, these positions are open for 16 and 17 year-old applicants as well those that may not have a driver’s license.
• TRAFFIC RECORDER OPERATOR: Travels to defined locations to set the video traffic collectors or portable traffic recorders with rubber pneumatic tubes, draw recorder location site maps, and download the traffic data after the predetermined count time. This requires working in all areas within the road right-of-way, near traffic, and in all weather conditions. Vehicles are provided during the work week. A significant portion of the work will be in the northwestern quadrant of Iowa. Statewide, overnight travel from Sunday afternoons through Friday mornings is required.
• COMMUNICATION SHOP ASSISTANT: Assists the Iowa DOT’s communications section with installing and maintaining permanent automatic traffic recorder equipment in the right of way and embedded in the pavement at continuous count stations (CCS). These CCSs use electronic equipment to count, classify, gather speed data, and weigh vehicles. Applicant should have basic knowledge of construction tools and methods. Statewide, overnight travel required Monday through Thursday. Residence in Ames or local area is beneficial when weather limits the ability to work and travel.
• CONTINUOUS TRAFFIC COUNT STATION CALIBRATOR: Travels to continuous count station (CCS) locations to verify automatic traffic recorder data collection. The CCSs collect traffic and speed data 24 hours a day and are calibrated regularly to ensure integrity for this data. Vehicles are provided during the work week. Statewide, overnight travel required Monday through Friday.
• RAILROAD CROSSING DATA COLLECTOR : Travels to defined railroad crossings to inventory the characteristics of the crossing per Federal Railroad Administration mandates. This requires working in all areas within the road right-of-way, near railroads and traffic, and in all weather conditions. Vehicles are provided during the work week. Statewide, overnight travel required Monday through Friday.