I’ve spent the last two years working as a highway maintenance worker. If you don’t know the job, it’s the crew that keeps public roads running — plowing snow, clearing streets, hauling down trees after storms, patching what needs patching. Not long hauls. One county, all kinds of weather, in and out of the truck all day.
After two years, I’ve figured out what actually earns its place in my truck. Here’s my real list.
Steel-toe boots — non-negotiable
This is the one piece of gear I can’t work without. Hauling trees and heavy debris, you need steel-toe boots — the kind that protect your feet when something drops. Get a good pair that’s also comfortable, because you’re on your feet all day. (link)
Gloves — and you need more than one kind
In summer, I use heavy work gloves for cutting and hauling trees. Branches, bark, and a chainsaw’s worth of work tears up bare hands fast. (link)
In winter, it’s insulated thermal gloves — warm enough for the cold but still able to grip and work. You can’t plow snow at 5am with frozen fingers. (link)
Two different jobs, two different gloves. Both live in my truck.
Sun protection for summer
People forget that outdoor work in summer is brutal too. I wear long-sleeve shirts that cover my arms from the sun — the lightweight kind made for working outside, so you’re covered but not overheating. Sunburn on the job is no joke when you’re out there all day. (link)
Staying warm in winter
Between runs, the cab is where you warm up. A good thermos that keeps coffee or soup hot for hours makes the cold mornings bearable. When you’re in and out of the truck all shift, hot coffee waiting for you is everything. (link)
The little things that matter
A high-visibility vest when I’m working streets with traffic — being seen keeps you safe. (link)
Heavy-duty wipes and an old towel, because hauling trees means sap, dirt, and mud everywhere, and I’d rather not track it all back into my seat.
What I’d tell someone starting highway maintenance work
Your body takes the hit in this job. After two years, my advice is simple: protect your feet, your hands, and your skin. Good steel-toe boots, the right gloves for the season, and sun cover in summer. Get those right and you can handle almost anything the weather and the work throw at you.
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