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

Keep Your Chainsaws Sharp and Your Backups Sharper: A Road Super’s Guide to Backup Saws

You know what’s worse than a beaver dam blocking your culvert? A beaver dam blocking your culvert and your only chainsaw refusing to start like a teenager on Monday morning. Highway superintendents, listen up: If you’re only relying on one chainsaw to keep your roads clear of fallen tree…continue

Call Before You Catastrophe: Why Digging Without a Locate Is a Terrible Idea

Let’s paint a picture: it’s a sunny Tuesday, your crew’s out on the shoulder with the backhoe, ready to dig. You’re swapping jokes, maybe arguing about where to get lunch, and then BOOM. You just turned a quiet ditch project into a fireworks show by hitting a gas line. Congra…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 to Keep Fleet Maintenance Costs Under Control

For any highway department, one thing that can eat through your budget faster than a dump truck burns diesel is fleet maintenance costs. Between wear and tear, unexpected breakdowns, and rising parts prices, it can feel like you’re always chasing repairs. The good news? With a little planning …continue