Herbicide Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary  

The Highway Maintenance Technician, Herbicide, is responsible for safe vegetation control on highway projects. This includes mixing, calibrating, and applying herbicides along roadsides and medians to maintain clear sightlines. Key tasks involve inspecting treatment areas, identifying target species, setting up traffic control, and documenting applications to comply with regulations. 

You will operate spray trucks and sprayers, perform daily inspections, and maintain equipment. Adhering to safety and environmental standards is crucial, including PPE use and proper chemical handling. When not applying herbicides, you'll assist with general maintenance tasks like litter removal, mowing, and drainage upkeep, supporting safe and reliable roadways.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Applies herbicides safely and accurately per product labels, Department of Agriculture rules, and Department of Transportation standards. Calibrates spray equipment, verifies mix rates, and documents all required details.
• Oversees herbicide applications performed by other employees, ensuring proper PPE use, correct application techniques, and compliance with label, state, and DOT requirements.
• Inspects treatment areas to identify target and non-target vegetation, selects appropriate products and rates, and plans timing to reduce drift and runoff risk. Follows integrated vegetation management practices.
• Sets up and maintains temporary traffic control as required for shoulder and right-of-way work. Follows MUTCD and company procedures for signs, cones, flagging, and vehicle positioning.
• Operates and maintains spray equipment, including truck-mounted, UTV-mounted, and backpack sprayers. Performs daily pre-use checks, cleans nozzles and filters, and keeps accurate calibration records.
• Handles, stores, mixes, and disposes of herbicides and containers per label instructions and environmental regulations. Completes triple-rinse procedures and manages spill response if needed.
• Uses hand and power tools such as trimmers, edgers, pole saws, and blowers to support vegetation control and maintain clear sightlines around signs, guardrails, and intersections.
• Supports general roadway maintenance by cleaning and grading ditches and drainage structures, maintaining shoulders and slopes, and removing litter and debris.
• Performs minor repairs to fences, signs, and other roadway assets as directed. Restores work sites to a clean, safe condition.
• Conducts pre-trip and post-trip inspections on vehicles and equipment. Reports defects promptly and coordinates with the shop for repairs.
• Logs time, locations, weather conditions, application rates, products used, equipment hours, and before-and-after photos using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Completes paper forms when required.
• Loads, secures, transports, and unloads equipment, tools, chemicals, and materials safely. Maintains organized vehicles, storage cabinets, and chemical inventories.
• Follows all safety procedures, including required PPE, heat stress prevention, and situational awareness near live traffic. Report hazards, near misses, and incidents immediately.
• Provides after-hours emergency response during scheduled on-call rotations, including storm cleanup and urgent vegetation or debris removal.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support project schedules and team goals.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:  

Knowledge

• Familiar with pesticide laws, label compliance, re-entry intervals, and recordkeeping standards; understanding of Department of Agriculture and DOT requirements.
• Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) principles, target vs. non-target species identification, and sightline clearance needs along rights-of-way.
• Herbicide chemistry basics, including product modes of action, tank-mix compatibility, adjuvants/surfactants, and weather impacts on efficacy and drift.
• Spray equipment components and functions for truck/UTV-mounted rigs and backpack sprayers, including nozzles, strainers, pumps, and pressure regulation.
• Work zone safety concepts per MUTCD and company SOPs, PPE requirements, spill prevention, and environmental protection near water bodies and drainage features.

Skills

• Calibrate and operate spray equipment accurately; verify pressure, speed, flow rates, and application volumes to meet label rates.
• Mix, handle, store, and dispose of herbicides safely, including triple-rinse procedures and spill response.
• Plan applications around wind, temperature inversions, rainfall, and buffer requirements to prevent drift and runoff.
• Set up and maintain temporary traffic control for shoulder and right-of-way work; communicate clearly with spotters and crew.
• Use smartphones/tablets to log applications, weather, locations, rates, chemicals, and photos; complete work orders and checklists on time.
• Operate standard roadside tools and small equipment (trimmers, edgers, blowers, pole saws) to complement chemical control.

Abilities

• Recognize hazards quickly, communicate them, and stop work when conditions are unsafe; maintain situational awareness near live traffic.
• Work outdoors in heat, humidity, rain, wind, and around dust and vegetation; lift up to 50 lbs., regularly carry up to 25 lbs., and work on uneven terrain.
• Work independently or with a crew, manage time effectively, and adapt to changing priorities, storm response, and after-hours call-outs.
• Read and follow label instructions, simple traffic control plans, maps, and field sketches.

Additional Requirements

• Must be at least 23 years old (per company insurance requirements).
• Must possess an active and valid United States driver’s license with no restrictions and be able to pass a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check and maintain insurability under company policy.
• Basic math, reading, and recordkeeping skills to complete work orders and material logs accurately.
• Ability to obtain Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) or Flagger certification within company timelines
• Willing and able to travel within the assigned district and report to different work sites; living within a reasonable response time to the yard is preferred.
• Compliance with the company's Drug and Alcohol Policy; able to pass pre-employment and random testing. A background check and job-related physical may be required.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE: 

Required Qualifications

• Familiarity with herbicide mixing, calibration, drift reduction techniques, recordkeeping requirements, safe handling/storage per label, and regulatory standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.