Traffic Technicians

Career Description: Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.

Industry: Transportation and Material Moving

Other Job Titles for Traffic Technicians:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints and requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment.
• Plan, design, and improve components of traffic control systems to accommodate current and projected traffic and to increase usability and efficiency.
• Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rate data, and proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow.
• Prepare work orders for repair, maintenance, and changes in traffic systems.
• Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting and sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness.
• Visit development and work sites to determine projects' effect on traffic and the adequacy of traffic control and safety plans, or to suggest traffic control measures.
• Lay out pavement markings for striping crews.
• Operate counters and record data to assess the volume, type, and movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at specified times.
• Provide technical supervision regarding traffic control devices to other traffic technicians and laborers.
• Gather and compile data from hand count sheets, machine count tapes, and radar speed checks, and code data for computer input.
• Place and secure automatic counters, using power tools, and retrieve counters after counting periods end.
• Measure and record the speed of vehicular traffic, using electrical timing devices or radar equipment.
• Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
• Review traffic control or barricade plans to issue permits for parades and other special events and for construction work that affects rights of way, providing assistance with plan preparation or revision as necessary.
• Prepare graphs, charts, diagrams, and other aids to illustrate observations and conclusions.
• Establish procedures for street closures and for repair or construction projects.
• Compute time settings for traffic signals and speed restrictions, using standard formulas.
• Monitor street and utility projects for compliance to traffic control permit conditions.
• Maintain and make minor adjustments and field repairs to equipment used in surveys, including the replacement of parts on traffic data gathering devices.
• Time stoplights or other delays, using stopwatches.
• Interview motorists about specific intersections or highways to gather road-condition information for use in planning.
• Develop plans and long-range strategies for providing adequate parking space.
• Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.
• Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices such as blinker lights and semaphores.
• Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.
• Participate in shore patrols.
• Clean and polish wood trim, brass, and other metal parts.
• Shovel material such as gravel, ice, or spilled concrete into containers or bins, or onto conveyors.
• Erect tents and canopies to protect crews and equipment from weather.
• Secure and release mooring lines of ships.
• Sew canvas and other materials to make and repair tents, tarps, scrims, and backings, using sewing machines.

Emerging Tasks

• Follow relevant safety regulations and state laws governing vehicle operation, and ensure that passengers follow safety regulations.
• Operate vehicles with specialized equipment, such as wheelchair lifts to transport and secure passengers with special needs.
• Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
• Perform cash handling tasks, such as making change, balancing and recording cash drawer, and distributing tips.
• Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and scheduling employees.
• Provide customer assistance and information, such as giving directions and handling wheelchairs.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• collect scientific or technical data
• collect statistical data
• communicate technical information
• compile numerical or statistical data
• confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
• create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts
• develop or maintain databases
• develop tables depicting data
• draw maps or charts
• draw prototypes, plans, or maps to scale
• explain complex mathematical information
• explain traffic or transportation situations concisely
• maintain records, reports, or files
• observe vehicular or pedestrian traffic
• obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
• perform safety inspections in transportation setting
• prepare reports
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• read maps
• receive instructions from traffic control personnel
• recognize public safety hazards
• use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
• use field notes in technical drawings
• use government regulations
• use graphs to explain results of statistical analyses
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use relational database software
• use spreadsheet software
• use weighing or measuring devices in transportation
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• use knowledge of seamanship or boat handling
• use knowledge of tides and currents
• use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• review schedules to obtain cargo loading information
• route freight shipments
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule employee work hours
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• use weighing or measuring devices in transportation

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$18.69
• Average annual wage (2007) - $38,880.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 9.91%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 686
• Employment (2006): 6,916

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