DUNMORE — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials touted the benefits of securing seasonal employment with the state agency — including the opportunity to potentially land a permanent job — during a media event Monday morning.
PennDOT Engineering District 4 — which covers Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties — seeks applicants for various positions through its Winter Maintenance Program from September through April including transportation equipment operators with commercial driver’s licenses, diesel and construction equipment mechanics, auto mechanics, laborers and radio dispatchers in all counties, said Lonell Tomaine, assistant district executive for maintenance.
“If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, team environment on a seasonal basis, or with the potential for promotion into a permanent position, this is a job for you,” Tomaine said. “PennDOT anticipates numerous retirements over the next several years, so it’s extremely important for us to actively recruit and develop our employees. Working for PennDOT is not just a job, it’s a career.”
District 4 needs to hire nearly 100 CDL operators to maintain nearly 4,000 toll or road miles, 8,500 civilian miles and more than 2,000 bridges, she said.
A front-loader works at PennDOT’s Breck Street facility in Scranton on Monday. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is promoting employment opportunities within District 4.The department is seeking hardworking individuals to work in the winter maintenance program from Sept. through April 2026. Shown is the Breck Street salt storage shed. CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is promoting employment opportunities within District 4.The department is seeking hardworking individuals to work in the winter maintenance program from Sept. through April 2026. Shown is the Breck Street salt storage shed in Scranton. CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is promoting employment opportunities within District 4.The department is seeking hardworking individuals to work in the winter maintenance program from Sept. through April 2026. Shown is the Breck Street salt storage shed in Scranton. CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is promoting employment opportunities within District 4.The department is seeking hardworking individuals to work in the winter maintenance program from Sept. through April 2026. CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO
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A front-loader works at PennDOT’s Breck Street facility in Scranton on Monday. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is promoting employment opportunities within District 4.The department is seeking hardworking individuals to work in the winter maintenance program from Sept. through April 2026. Shown is the Breck Street salt storage shed. CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO
Tomaine added District 4, on average, uses 100,000 tons of salt and more than one million gallons of brine to treat its roads.
While it may seem early to be thinking about winter storms, Carl Kmiec, a PennDOT field human resource officer for District 4, stressed its vital to fill the roles quickly.
“It’s very important that we have the operators waiting and ready to go when they’re needed,” Kmiec said. “They will start the first week of September. Whether there is snow on the ground or not, there is work available for them.”
Some of the hourly rates for the upcoming winter season are $28.37 for diesel and construction equipment mechanics, $24.97 for auto mechanics, $23 for Transportation Equipment/CDL, and $17.38 for dispatchers, PennDOT officials said.
To apply for open positions, visit governmentjobs.com/careers.
Each PennDOT county office, along with the district office, will host an information session Tuesday from noon to 5 p.m. to answer questions and assist potential employees with completing online applications, Kmiec said.
Kmiec noted PennDOT offers employees a benefits package which includes health coverage, vision, dental and wellness programs.
Additionally, seasonal employees are eligible for shift differential, overtime and to bid on permanent vacancies for full-time work, he said.
Originally Published: August 11, 2025 at 9:40 AM EDT