Road traffic control

Traffic control is an occupation related to construction. It consists of directing vehicle traffic around a construction zone, accident, or other road disruption, thus ensuring the safety of both workers and the general public. The most common tool used is a double-sided sign marked STOP on one side, and SLOW on the other. These signs are colloquially known as paddles, and traffic controllers are known as flaggers.

While construction traffic control used to be a widely unionized profession with a starting wage of 13-14 dollars per hour, it is now dominated by private business and wages have decreased to 7-9 dollars per hour. Because of the sheer tedium of the job and the lack of opportunity for advancement, most traffic control companies hire indiscriminately. There are no drug tests, background checks, or references required. Certification is necessary, but it takes 2-3 hours to obtain and consists of watching a training video and taking a basic test that reviews the material covered in the video.

A construction traffic control company operates in the same basic way as any other construction company. Companies submit a bid for a job, the lowest bid is accepted (except in the case of disadvantaged companies), and the labor is provided to the contractor or agency in charge. Typically speaking, flaggers work in groups of 5 to 10 under a TCS, or Traffic Control Supervisor. The TCS is responsible for placing the flaggers correctly, ensuring that they receive the proper breaks and supervision, and placing the cautionary signs (such as Road Work Ahead, One Lane Road Ahead, Uneven Lanes, etc.).

Traffic control is not generally considered to be a very desirable career. Often it serves as a summer job for people who, for one reason or another, are incapable of normal social interation, or have a criminal record which prevents them from a more fulfilling occupation.