Buying Big Toys: A Casual Guide to Getting Equipment the Right Way

Let’s be honest – one of the best parts of working in a highway department is the equipment. New trucks. Bigger plows. Shiny new mowers. Who wouldn’t want to bring home some new toys for the crew? But here’s the thing: before you go adding that $250,000 grader to your wish li…continue

Simple Methods of Erosion Control in Stormwater Management

If your crew is responsible for any drainage work, or if you’re managing roads or ditches, you’re also in the erosion control business, whether you realize it or not. Left unchecked, erosion can turn small problems into big ones: clogged culverts, failing shoulders, sediment-laden stream…continue

Dam Beavers! A Road Superintendent’s Guide to Dealing with Nature’s Little Engineers

So you’re a highway superintendent just minding your business, sipping your burnt gas station coffee, when the phone rings: “There’s a pond forming on Maple Hollow Road and the water’s coming over the top!” That’s right. The beavers are back. Again. Welcome to the…continue

Don’t Fill That Sinkhole!

There you are, sipping your coffee, thinking the day might actually be calm, when suddenly the phone rings. A resident reports that “a chunk of the road just collapsed under my Subaru.” You head out to investigate and sure enough, there it is: a small blacktop crater that looks like the …continue

Can You Say No to a Utility Road Cut? Kinda, Sorta, Maybe

Let’s say you’re a highway superintendent enjoying your morning coffee when BAM! – you get word that a utility crew is planning to slice up your freshly paved road like it’s a sheet cake at a church picnic. Can you stop them? Well… you can try. And if you play your car…continue

What Belongs on a Work Order? (And Why It Matters)

Let’s be honest. No one dreams of paperwork when they sign up to run a highway crew. But a good, simple work order can save a road supervisor from all kinds of headaches later on. Whether it’s a routine pothole patch or a full-day ditching job, having the right info on a work order helps…continue

The Heavy Equipment Every Small Highway Department Should Have

Running a small highway department? You don’t need a million-dollar fleet, but you do need the right tools to keep your roads safe and your crew productive. The good news is, with a solid core set of equipment, even the smallest towns can punch well above their weight when it comes to road mai…continue

How Cold Is Too Cold for Rock Salt?

When the snow starts falling, rock salt (sodium chloride) is the go-to weapon for most highway departments trying to keep roads safe and passable. But like any tool, rock salt has its limits, and knowing when it stops being effective can save you time, money, and a lot of wasted effort. Let’s …continue

Crack Sealing Can Help You Stretch Road Life

You don’t need to be a pavement engineer to know that cracks are bad news for your roads. But here’s the good news: you can fight back, and one of the simplest, most cost-effective tools in your arsenal is crack sealing. Let’s take a quick drive through the why, when, and how of cr…continue

Why Mowing Road Shoulders Matters

If you run a highway department, mowing the shoulders of your roads isn’t just about keeping things looking tidy, though that’s a nice side benefit. Regular shoulder mowing plays a critical role in both road safety and environmental responsibility. Let’s break it down. 1. Sight Dis…continue

Using Inter-Municipal Agreements to Stretch Your Equipment Budget

Let’s be honest. Highway departments aren’t exactly swimming in cash. Budgets are ALWAYS tight, equipment is expensive, and the wish list always seems longer than the purchase list. But here’s a smart move more and more towns are using: inter-municipal agreements (IMAs). In plain t…continue

Never Skip Setting Up a Work Zone

As a highway superintendent, you know your crews are under constant pressure to “just get it done.” A pothole needs patching. A tree limb needs removing. A catch basin needs a quick cleanout. And someone inevitably says, “We’ll be in and out in five minutes… no need to…continue