TollBoothGuy
5 Years Experience
Brooklyn, NY
Male, 33
I spent just short of five years as a toll collector on the western end of New York State. Ask me anything, but please don't pay me in pennies.
As far as jobs go, you could certainly do worse. I did not particularly enjoy the work, so that will color my list of upsides and downsides. Ulitmately, I stayed as long as I did because for the area, the pay was right, and it afforded me enough flexibility to attend school full-time.
Upsides
- Pay is typically higher than minimum wage
- Opportunity to meet all kinds of people. (I consider this both an upside and a downside)
Downsides:
- Tangible face of state/authority that is taking money directly out of drivers' pockets.
- Noisy and exhaust-filled work environment.
- Toll roads don't close. They are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some holidays are typically required. You will likely work difficult hours. You may have to report during and work through difficult weather conditions.
- Money is disgusting. When you get your first handful of dust-covered, greasy, motor oil-covered pennies, you'll understand just how dirty I'm talking.
- You will answer the same set of questions hundreds of times every day.
- Congratulations, in addition to being a toll collector, you have also become a tour guide.
- People in cars are IMPATIENT!
- A lot of people travel without cash
- A lot of people like to argue the merits of toll roads with collectors as cars pile up behind them.
Some people I worked with were very good at taking all of this in stride. Some people walk out after the first day. I was somewhere in the middle. Good luck!
Share Answer: 
Our booths have both heat and air coniditioning. Due to the fact that we work with a window open for most of the day, it is impossible to regulate the temperature. Coats, gloves, short sleeves, and tears are the best tools we have some days.
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Congrats on the job! I didn't find the training at headquarters particularly difficult. The instructors are thorough but a lot of the information won't sink until you get out on the road. It's been almost nine years since I went though it, so things may have changed, but from what i recall it's a lot of sitting in conference rooms and listening, paperwork, fingerprinting, and OSHA videos. It's a good forum for questions and for running through hypothetical questions with instructors that have been through it all.
At headquarters the onus is on the instructors. Once you get on the road, the onus will be on you. Good luck!
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Nah, sunburn on one side is plenty.
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Casino Marketer
What's the most unethical thing you've seen casinos do to "part you from your dollars?"
Freelance Writer
How do you go about getting your first clients?
Claims Adjuster
What happens when NEITHER driver is at fault?
I tried not to think about it, honestly. I know some coworkers have had money thrown at them in the past but nothing much beyond that. I think the only time I actually felt unsafe at a station was when I was working solo and the power went out in the middle of the night. When you lose all the lights and the hum of the electronic ticket machines, all these fun scenarios start running through your head.
I took no extra safety precautions on the job. State police units were never particularly far away, and the vast majority of conflicts with drivers are verbal and last a few seconds at most.
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I don't really know anything about operations at the Triborough Bridge but this might shed some light on your experience:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triborough_Bridge_and_Tunnel_Authority_Police
It looks like these officers may collect tolls from time to time, which might explain the potential ticket. Pure speculation from my perspective, though.
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If you don't catch it before the car drives away, note it on your log for the day. Collectors are responsible for all money at the end of the day, and if a discrepancy exists above a certain threshold disciplinary action can ensue. You get pretty quick at counting change so unless it's off by a coin you'll be able to feel that it's not quite right and hopefully stop the car before it takes off. Some drivers are great about waiting a second and others could care less.
I have often found myself hanging out of my booth waving my arms wildly trying to flag down a driver as he starts to move away.
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