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Maintenance Trainee Program

Pave Your Own Way at ODOT

Time to kick start your career? Check out the Maintenance Trainee Program at the Oregon Department of Transportation. We're a nationwide leader in innovative, sustainable transportation system solutions and these paid positions can help open doors to a rewarding career, advanced skills, lifelong relationships and more.

Why Join the Oregon Department of Transportation?

Because you can make a difference!

Maintaining Oregon's transportation infrastructure is important to our economy. No matter where you are in the state, people understand that what we do everyday plays a critical role in supporting the high quality of life we enjoy in Oregon. From the Willamette Valley to the high desert - or somewhere in between - you'll be part of an award-winning team working to serve the public with a safe, reliable transportation system that supports economic opportunity and livable communities.

That's ODOT. Come join us!

How the Maintenance Trainee Program Works

For up to 24 months, MTP participants complete on the job training to gain varied experience in highway maintenance. These positions can be demanding. For example, candidates may be required to lift heavy items, up to 60 pounds. It is also rewarding. Our maintenance specialists play a key role in our transportation system. Here is a general explanation, though individual experiences may be different.

To begin, participants work to gain valuable safety skills and hands-on experience. Participants also gain the training needed to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver's License permit and license.

These positions are regular, full-time positions with full benefit packages, including health insurance, retirement, sick leave and paid vacation.

Maintenance Skill Areas

Every day is different on ODOT's highways. Our maintenance specialists can be involved in any of these activities as well as others.

  • Striping, re-painting.
  • Bridge work (on or under).
  • Drawbridge maintenance.
  • Signing (Build, repair, install).
  • Landscaping.
  • General maintenance (guardrail, pavement patching, chip coating, sealing, snowplow driving and more).

The variety of our work keeps our crews interested and motivated!

The State of Opportunity

District Map

Successful applicants will become fulltime, permanent Transportation Maintenance Specialists with benefits. Opportunities are available throughout the state from the bustling Portland metropolitan area to the growing central Oregon region from eastern Oregon's agricultural cities and towns to locations all along the beautiful Oregon Coast.

Our ideal applicant has fewer than 16 months of experience doing maintenance work.

ODOT's maintenance offices, called "District Offices" are strategically located to help travelers get where they need to go safely and reliably.


Contact Information

Phone:503-979-5782

View available ODOT jobs

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Check out this overview video, which explains Maintenance Trainee Program and our expectations for the program.