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.
And when the adults say that...
well, it's going to be a long day.
Share Answer: 
Hi Caitlin. Without knowing you personally or what your goals might be it's hard to say whether a part-time toll collector job would be right for you. Some general notes:
My part-time rate was one of the better rates you could get in my region without technical skills/experience.
If you do not enjoy working with the public, DO NOT apply for this job. Conversely, if you do like talking to people you will have the opportunity to do so. (Though they may not always have the nicest things to say to you.)
Part-time work on a toll road for me meant taking a lot of hours around full-timers and those part-timers that restricted their schedules into very specific hours. This meant that there was a lot of inconsistency in my schedule month-to-month. Since I was willing to work overnights I was able to get a quite a few eight-hour shifts, with the caveat being I had to work from 11p - 7a with some frequency. Remember that toll roads don't close so the hours can be difficult.
Money is dirty, and toll plazas can be loud places,
If you feel that large amounts of change might make your irrationally angry, this might be a job that you want to avoid.
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Good luck!
Share Answer: 
What can you say, really? Drivers agree to pay the toll the moment they enter the portion of highway that is designated 'toll road'. I was never given official strategies to deal with customers that didn't want to pay a toll. If they had specific questions about the system or why they were being charged a certain amount I was happy to answer them but if you just drive up and complain about the concept of a toll my general response was something along the lines of
¯\_(?)_/¯
Share Answer: 
My experience did not actually include an oral exam; more of a regular job interview. I could speculate as to the content but I wouldn't want to point you in the wrong direction. If you passed the written exam I'm sure you'll do fine. Good luck!
Share Answer: 
Subway Store Manager
Is Subway viewed as a healthy fast food option in Australia?
Toll Collector
What happens when a car blows past a tollbooth without paying?
Pharmacist
Why is an advanced degree required to dole out pills at a pharmacy?
Thankfully I was never the target of an attempted robbery. It's something you hear about occasionally, but I'm happy to say that it seems relatively rare.
Cursed out? Sure. Nobody likes waiting in line to pay a toll. Toll collectors don't love standing in metal boxes for hours on end taking dirty money from people that don't want to hand it over to begin with. It's a combustible situation. I tried my best to not take it personally. It's not easy.
Share Answer: 
The only thing I can really recall is having to make change on the spot without the use of a calculator. (We didn't have cash registers in the booth) so you need to be able to calculate change that drivers are owed on your own. There were some other scenario-based questions, I suppose, and general inquiries about customer service experience. There is often a civil service exam somewhere in the process and that often serves as the basis for the job. (If you can pass the test, you can probably do the job. I got the sense that the interview was primarily to confirm the results of the test. Again, I'm sure other collectors have different experiences.)
Share Answer: 
Restrooms are located in the small buildings off to the side of the plazas. During day shifts you generally don't go too many hours without a break so it isn't a huge issue. If you've got other lanes open next to you and it isn't busy you sometimes can put out a cone in your lane and run in quickly. If traffic doesn't allow that you can intercom to try and get someone on break to give you a spell. If you're covering a small station by yourself overnight, you do the best you can...
Share Answer: 
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
