Pendleton High School to Highway Trainee

High School to Highway Trainee
Oregon Department of Transportation
Delivery & Operations Division – Region 5
Maintenance Crew
Pendleton

The role: 

We are hiring trainees for our High School to Highway (H2H) program!

This one year training program is for recent or soon to be high school graduates and alternative school graduates. Trainees learn about state government, highway maintenance and construction work.

You will work with a maintenance crew to repair and maintain roads, bridges, signs and facilities. Your work will help keep Oregon’s roads safe for the traveling public.

Fast facts:

• The program is expected to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

• Your salary will start at $3,952 per month. After six months in the program, the salary will increase to $4,124 per month.

• After completing the program, you may qualify for a Transportation Maintenance Specialist 2 position (currently $4,312 to $5,988 per month).

• Trainees are encouraged to apply for permanent ODOT jobs at any time.

This is a great opportunity to work and learn outdoors as part of a team while working closely with a mentor. Don’t delay, take the first step in making a lasting difference in your community by applying today!

Before applying, visit our applicant information website to learn more about our process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday profile.

A day in the life:

• Perform manual labor to repair roadway surfaces and shoulders.

• Complete weather-related operations including snow removal, deicing and sanding.

• Set up traffic control after crashes or other emergencies.

• Maintain drainage systems, clean ditches and repair culverts.

• Clear brush, mow grass and spray roadside vegetation.

• Repair guardrails, milepost markers and fences.

• Service and repair tools and motorized equipment.

• Work in other specialties such as bridge, sign or landscape maintenance, and striping and traffic line operations.

• Exposure to noise, extreme heights, heavy equipment, pesticides and hazardous waste materials is expected.

• Must be able to move around rough terrain, on uneven slopes, work in all weather conditions and may need to lift up to 100 pounds.

• May need to be available after hours, on weekends and holidays for emergency and weather related purposes.

• To request a copy of the position description, which includes all duties and working conditions, please email [email protected].

What you will learn

Trainees receive hands-on training in:

• Basic highway maintenance

• Safety rules and maintenance policies

• Job hazard assessments

• Radio communication

• Crash and incident response

• Work zone traffic control and flagging

• First aid and CPR

• Safe equipment use

• Maintenance and repair of highway structures

• Training to obtain a Class A commercial driver license (CDL)

What’s in it for you:

• As a full-time limited duration employee, you are eligible for health benefits, sick leave, 11 paid holidays a year and, after six months of employment, retirement benefits and enrollment in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan.

• The salary ranges listed are the non-PERS monthly salary ranges. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!

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Eligibility criteria:

We will only consider applicants who have or will receive their high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) between January 1, 2023, and July 1, 2026.

Note: Candidates who previously completed the ODOT High School to Highway program are not eligible to apply.

Special qualifications:

This position requires a maximum 60 minute response time to 1327 SE 3rd Street, Pendleton, OR 97801 for emergency call-outs.

Employee will be required to use a commercial motor vehicle to conduct business.

• You must have the ability to obtain a class A commercial learner permit within 60 days of hire.

  • To obtain a class A commercial learner permit, the DMV requires you to be at least 18 years old, have one year of driving experience (either with a learner’s permit or driver’s license) and a valid, unexpired Oregon driver license or commercial driver's license.

  • You must have one year of driving experience and be 18 years of age on or before September 1, 2026 in order to obtain a permit within 60 days of hire.

AND

• You must have the ability to obtain a commercial driver's license A (CDL-A) with a tanker endorsement and no air brake restrictions, no 5th wheel restrictions and no manual transmission restrictions within six months of hire (ODOT will cover training costs).

OR

• You must possess a current, valid commercial driver's license A (CDL-A) with a tanker endorsement, no air brake restrictions, no 5th wheel restrictions and no manual transmission restrictions to be considered eligible for this position.

Note: A valid driver’s license at the time of hire (June 2026) and an acceptable driving record are required for this position. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse registration and full query check for our final candidate(s) and annual query for current employees.

As of Sept. 29, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rescinded prior guidance that allowed state DMVs to issue limited term commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). As a result, individuals who hold a lawful employment authorization document (EAD) are no longer eligible to obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or commercial driver’s license (CDL). This federal policy change may impact candidates applying for positions that require a CDL. For more information, please refer to the FMCSA announcement and the accompanying FAQ. 

What we’d like to see:

If you have these skills, please include them in your application and/or resume. You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience and education to help us decide who will move forward.

• Experience using tools or equipment, such as farming or landscaping equipment

• Experience working on a team

• Experience following directions

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:

  • Fill out the application or attach a resume.  Please contact the recruiter under the ‘Need help?’ section if you have any questions about how to fill out the application or to attach a document.

  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.

• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.

• If you are a veteran or Oregon National Guard servicemember, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

Need help?

• For questions, call 503-930-6376 or email [email protected].

Additional information:

• This program uses 504(e) federal funding to develop career opportunities in surface transportation as specified by the Federal Highway Administration.

• We do not offer visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. We are not an E-Verify participating employer, and we are unable to proceed if E-Verify participation is required [e.g., STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension].

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.

• We may use this recruitment to fill multiple or future vacancies.

• We will conduct name-based criminal background checks on final candidates, not including current ODOT employees. All applicants may be subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as driver license, LEDS (Law Enforcement Data System), and/or education verification as required for the position.

•   You will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding EEO/AA/ADA, contact 1-877-336-6368 (1-877-EEO-ODOT). This information can be made available in an alternative format by contacting ODOT Recruitment at 503-986-3700. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

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