Traffic Marshall Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a traffic marshall. Feel free to use our traffic marshall job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a traffic marshall.
Who is a Traffic Marshall?
A traffic marshal is an official who plays an important role in ensuring safe movement on public and private sites. A variety of communication methods can be used by the marshal to communicate with drivers including hand signals or radio connections to provide detailed instructions.
It’s more than helping large vehicles move around the site. Traffic marshals are given a risk briefing and then use that information along with their training to perform their duties daily. Construction sites are constantly changing environments. A marshal’s job is to keep track of these changes and consider them when performing their duties.
Traffic marshals will need to be familiar with the movement patterns of large vehicles. Large vehicles may follow a certain pattern of movement, such as arriving at the site at a particular time each morning. A task might be assigned to a particular time each week. It is important to know when the vehicles are going to be moving.
Traffic marshals also ensure that the area surrounding the vehicle is safe and clear before the vehicle can move. The marshal will then go in front of the vehicle and clear any obstacles.
The marshal must also be alert to other people and vehicles while doing so. The marshal should be aware of all aspects of the environment to help prevent potential accidents or issues.
Drivers of large vehicles, especially cranes and heavy goods vehicles, need traffic marshalls for safe movement. These vehicles can be difficult to move and drivers might not have a clear view due to their position inside the vehicle. In this case, it’s the traffic marshall’s job to ensure that these heavy vehicles are moved safely from the site.
The marshals must continue to move to various positions on the site while the vehicle moves so that the driver can see them. They must be aware of their surroundings and watch out for anyone who may be in danger.
The industry you work in will determine the type of work environment. If you are in retail, for example, you will direct the vehicles into and out of the store and ensure steady traffic.
Employers conduct risk assessments to help traffic marshalls design roads that minimize obstructions. To avoid putting others in danger, it is important to maintain a safe distance from vehicles and be aware of what’s happening around you.
Traffic marshalls play an important role in the safety of construction workers on site. To assess and prevent heavy vehicle accidents, construction companies need traffic marshalls. You can specialize in heavy vehicle traffic marshall or look into other opportunities in retail and events. You could move up to the position of a traffic controller or even become a site manager on a construction site. You can also try public service positions like traffic police officer or road safety expert.
Traffic Marshall Job Description
Below are the traffic marshall job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a traffic marshall job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a traffic marshall include the following:
- Providing security and surveillance at the site.
- Recording deliveries and managing visitor logbooks.
- Assisting in the safe movement and entry of vehicles onto and off the construction site.
- Preserving pedestrian and traffic routes beyond the site entrance.
- Directing road traffic as vehicles enter and leave the site.
- Ensuring that workers and drivers adhere to safety and health regulations.
- Facilitating the movement on-site of cranes, dump trucks, or heavy vehicles.
- Communicating with site office personnel and heavy vehicle drivers.
- Keeping track of deliveries and managing the visitor logbook.
- Ensuring security and surveillance at all times.
- Conducting safety briefings with visitors and ensuring that proper PPE is used.
- Making sure that workers and drivers adhere to safety and health regulations.
- Keeping in touch with the site office, heavy vehicle drivers, and other personnel.
- Facilitating the movement of cranes, dump trucks, or heavy vehicles on-site
- Assuring safe movement of vehicles to and from the construction site.
- Keeping pedestrian and traffic routes open to the public besides the entrance.
- Responding to any applicable ad-hoc requests.
- Controlling traffic flow when deliveries arrive on the site
- Ensuring contractors park following the site safety policy
- Securing the site with barrier protection and ensuring that hoarding and fencing are secure.
- Assisting in the management and safe movement of traffic around the site.
Below are some of the most common positions and roles in traffic:
- Conducting check at the main entrance
To check tickets/passes and to direct traffic to designated areas, traffic marshalls may be needed. A variety of staff is located at the main entrance, including traffic marshals and security officers as well as traffic wardens.
- Ensuring that the right vehicles are parked at the day car park
Traffic marshalls can be located on-site or off-site. They also ensure that traffic moves freely and vehicles are parked appropriately. Each day the day car park fills up almost immediately and then empties at the end. Weekend vehicles should be kept out of the day parking lot. Weekend vehicles cannot be allowed to park in the day parking lot. It is difficult to manage the next day when weekend vehicles are scattered around the fields. You may need a specific day parking pass to gain access to the day car park.
- Ensuring that the right vehicles are parked at the weekend car park
There are a lot of weekend parking lots, on-site or off-site. The weekend car park’s main purpose is to allow traffic to move freely and to store vehicles as neatly as possible. Day vehicles should be kept out of the weekend parking lot. Day vehicles should not be allowed to enter the weekend car park. They may find it difficult to exit the parking lot as they might have to travel in the opposite direction of traffic. This can cause problems with fitting all cars in the space. You may need a weekend parking pass to gain access to the weekend car park. A variety of staff is located in or around the weekend parking lot, including traffic marshals, security officers, and police officers.
Other park areas where the traffic marshall can function include:
- Backstage parking
It is difficult to manage vehicle movements in and around production and backstage areas. This area is home to all manner of vehicles including press vehicles, tour buses, site and staging vehicles, production vehicles, and press vehicles. To obtain valid passes, all vehicles must be checked upon entry and directed to the appropriate areas. Vehicles that require parking must be kept out of reach of access points. Some vehicles will need to go to a backstage car park, while others like tour buses and TV broadcast trucks might have designated spaces. The backstage area is constantly occupied by staff, artists, and guests. This makes controlling vehicle movement even more difficult.
- Accessible car parks
The primary role of the accessible car park is to keep traffic moving and also ensure that vehicles are parked in an orderly manner, while also taking into consideration any accessibility requirements. Because these car parks are closer to the event venue, it is essential that all vehicles not authorized be kept out of the accessible/disabled parking lot.
- Trader entrances
Sites and arenas may have trader entrances. Sometimes, traders are restricted from moving vehicles during specific times. However, this can depend on the nature of the event. In this case, the traffic marshall allocates spaces and then escorts them to their respective destinations. It is difficult to manage a trader’s access gate or to escort traders around an event site. Most traders will want to sell their goods as soon as possible. Nevertheless, safety should always be the priority for traffic marshalls.
- Campervans
Traffic marshalls are also responsible for managing designated areas where guests can camp on-site. The traffic marshals are responsible for ensuring that campervans are parked in an orderly manner, while fire lanes are being maintained. They also have to perform stewarding duties to prevent campervans from moving around once they have been parked. It is essential to keep vehicles out of the campervan area. Also, it is vital to monitor the number of tents and extra space that they are using next to the campervan. Access to the campervan area is almost always restricted by specific campervan parking permits. A variety of staff is located in or around the weekend parking lot, including traffic marshals, security officers, and stewards.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid Marshall Ticket
- Valid CSCS Card
- Experience as a traffic marshall.
- Excellent verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of safety and state health regulations is a must.
- Excellent visual awareness.
- Physically fit and able to stand for long periods.
Essential Skills
- Visual and environmental awareness
Traffic marshaling is all about environmental awareness. Traffic control can be improved by ensuring that each obstruction between roads is visible.
It is important to be aware of your surroundings and to forecast traffic congestion.
There will always be natural obstacles in the way of traffic in a practical setting. These obstructions must be addressed accordingly.
- Attention to detail
A traffic marshall must be able to see the details when vehicles are moving from one place to another.
Vehicles are judged by their size, structure, state, and condition.
It is the task of the traffic marshall to assist drivers with issues controlling their cars, so that congestion does not occur.
- Communication skills
Traffic marshalls must be able to communicate clearly and effectively. To ensure that traffic flows are controlled, the expert must be both linnet and effective.
This skill can be expressed by explaining routes to pedestrians and drivers in a clear manner. This is known as directional communication.
If drivers encounter congestion, it is important to be able to guide them to control their cars without difficulty.
- Knowledge of hand-signal communication
Traffic marshalls need to be able to use hand signals to control traffic.
Hand signals make up around 90% of the traffic marshal’s job. Experts generally use standardized hand signals such as stop, stand by, and go.
- Physical Fitness
A job that requires you to be alert mentally and physically, means the person must maintain a high level of fitness.
The Body Mass Index should be balanced with the mental level. All of this is necessary for the safety and well-being of the marshall and the people he/she controls.
How to Become a Traffic Marshall
- Earn a high school diploma, or equivalent (GED)
The first step to becoming a traffic marshall is to get your high school diploma. This is because most police departments require a high school diploma or a GED. It is a good idea to participate in traffic marshall training while in high school. You might consider shadowing a traffic marshall on the job or visiting a police station to learn about their application process.
- Consider pursuing a college degree
It is not compulsory for traffic marshalls to have a college degree. Although you may be able to take the courses that you need to become a traffic marshall, some colleges will allow you to earn a degree that can help you with any future job duties.
- Contact a police station
Interested candidates in this field can apply to the department where they wish to work to become a traffic marshall. Candidates must have a minimum age of 21 years. In the United States, the candidate must be a bonafide U.S. citizen and hold a high school diploma, or equivalent, to apply for a job in this field. Police departments often check a candidate’s criminal history, including driving records, to ensure that they are not convicted.
After you have met all the requirements, you can submit a personal qualification essay and an application to the department you choose. If you are hired, you will need to undergo a background investigation and a physical fitness exam, psychological assessment, department interview, and polygraph test. You can be hired for a training program if you pass each of these tests.
- Take a course in police academy training
Training at a police academy can be one of the most crucial steps to becoming a traffic marshall. This is because you will learn the details and skills that are necessary for the job. Police academy training programs allow recruits to complete coursework on subjects such as law and human relations, driving police cars, and firearm use. The average length of most police academy training programs is between 22 and 32 weeks.
- Complete a probationary period
You can become a traffic marshall after you have completed the police academy training program. New hires must complete a probationary period, where they will work alongside training officers. This is a great way to improve your skills and expertise. You can do the same job as a traffic marshall, but you also have a resource you can consult if you have any questions. Traffic marshalls typically have a probation period of around six months.
Where to Work
To ensure the safe movement of large vehicles, traffic marshalls are required to be present on roads and construction sites.
Traffic Marshall Salary Scale
The average annual salary of a traffic marshall is $43,377 in the United States. Traffic marshalls can earn higher salaries depending upon where they live and their experience.