🔧 NYS Thruway Authority✓ OT at Time & a HalfCDL-B Required
Agency: NYS Thruway AuthorityUnit: Teamsters Negotiating UnitPay: $19.23–$26.96/hrLocations: Statewide — Hudson Valley to Buffalo
🔧 Hiring Now — Statewide Openings for Diesel & Heavy Equipment Mechanics.
The New York State Thruway Authority is actively recruiting Service & Repair Mechanics (Motor Equipment) at locations from the lower Hudson Valley to Buffalo. Pay runs $19.23–$26.96/hr depending on location and experience, with extensive overtime opportunities at time and a half — especially during the winter maintenance season. CDL-B license required (permit within 30 days of hire accepted). Full state benefits including pension eligibility from day one. Apply at statejobsny.com ↗
Starting Pay
$19.23/hr
varies by location
Top Rate
$26.96/hr
commensurate with experience
Overtime Rate
1.5×
time and a half
Union
Teamsters
negotiating unit
License
CDL-B
permit OK at hire
Min. Age
18+
at appointment
Locations
Statewide
Hudson Valley to Buffalo
Pension
Tier 6
vested in 5 years
The New York State Thruway Authority maintains one of the nation’s busiest toll roads — 570 miles of highway from the New York City metro area to the Pennsylvania border — and keeps a fleet of heavy-duty maintenance and construction vehicles running year-round. Service & Repair Mechanics are the backbone of that operation, performing diagnostics and repairs on diesel trucks, hydraulic systems, cranes, excavators, spreader systems, and a wide range of other heavy equipment.
This is a Teamsters union position with strong hourly rates, significant overtime earnings particularly during winter maintenance season, and the full New York State benefits package including a pension you’re vested in after just 5 years. Openings are available at multiple maintenance facilities from the lower Hudson Valley to the Buffalo area.
Apply Now — View All Thruway Authority Openings on StateJobsNY
$19.23–$26.96/hr. Extensive overtime at 1.5×. Teamsters unit. State pension vested in 5 years. CDL-B required (permit accepted within 30 days of hire). Statewide locations. Complete an Employment Application at StateJobsNY.
NYS Thruway Authority | thruway.ny.gov | Teamsters Negotiating Unit | All pay rates subject to change
Pay, Overtime & Union Benefits
Service & Repair Mechanics belong to the Teamsters Negotiating Unit. Hourly rates and overtime opportunity make this one of the higher-earning skilled trades positions available in the NYS civil service system.
Hourly Pay Range
$19.23 – $26.96/hr
varies by location & experience
Overtime Rate
Time & a Half (1.5×)
especially heavy in winter season
Union
Teamsters
negotiated wages & protections
✓ Winter overtime earnings are substantial. The Thruway operates 24/7/365 and winter maintenance — salting, plowing, and emergency repairs on vehicles and equipment — generates significant overtime hours at time-and-a-half rates. Mechanics with a $26.96/hr base rate earn over $40/hr on overtime. For mechanics at Thruway facilities in snowbelt regions (Upstate and Western NY in particular), winter overtime can meaningfully boost annual earnings.
What the Job Involves
Service & Repair Mechanics perform skilled diagnostic and repair work on motor vehicles and heavy equipment used in Thruway operations. You will bring a basic tool set at appointment. Key responsibilities include:
Core Repair & Diagnostic Duties
✓Diagnose and correct faulty vehicle and equipment operation — the primary daily function of the role
✓Overhaul, adjust, and repair gaseous fuel engines, clutches, transmissions, and differentials
✓Repair ignition, wiring, lighting, fuel, cooling, braking, and complex hydraulic systems
✓Repair steering, wheel, and suspension mechanisms; body, cab, and frame components
✓Conduct NYS vehicle inspections
Additional Assignments (May Be Required)
✓Overhaul and rebuild starters, generators, compressors, pumps (fuel, water, air, hydraulic), spreaders, small engines, and mowers
✓Work on track vehicles, front-end and belt loaders, cranes, shovels, lifts, and hydraulic excavators
✓Diagnose and repair electronic engine control systems, anti-lock brake systems, and air conditioning
✓Cutting and welding as required
✓In smaller shops: supervise Service and Repair Assistants (Motor Equipment), Facility Operations Assistants 1, and others
✓Make road calls, test drive equipment, complete reports, use parts catalogs, and perform other related duties
🔧 Preferred experience: The Thruway Authority especially values candidates with experience maintaining and repairing medium or heavy duty diesel powered trucks equipped with air brakes and hydraulic equipment — including dump body hydraulic circuits, garbage truck roll-offs, garbage compactors, wood chippers, front plows, or hydraulically operated spreader systems. This background reflects the types of vehicles and equipment used daily in highway maintenance operations.
Minimum Qualifications — Who Can Apply
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age at appointment and meet one of the qualification options below. Education may substitute for up to two years of the experience requirement.
A
Four Years of Mechanic Experience
Four years of experience as an automotive or diesel mechanic responsible for diagnosing faulty vehicle and/or equipment operation and performing mechanical repairs across several aspects of automotive and/or diesel systems. This is the most direct path for working mechanics with hands-on shop experience.
B
Associate’s Degree in Auto/Diesel Technology
An associate’s degree in automotive or diesel repair technology. A two-year degree from an accredited program fully satisfies the experience requirement with no additional work experience needed.
Education Substitutions (Up to 2 Years of Experience)
✓1 year substitution: Graduation from a technical or vocational program (such as BOCES) in automotive or diesel technology / automotive or diesel repair technology.
✓Up to 2 years substitution: Graduation from a one-year post-high-school certificate program in automotive or diesel repair technology.
✓Transfer (Section 70.1): One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service as a Service and Repair Mechanic Motor Equipment (formerly Motor Equipment Mechanic).
⚠ The following experience does NOT qualify: Aviation mechanic work (except ground equipment); gas station attendant; repair of motorcycles, motor boats, or small engines; installation or repair of transmissions, mufflers, brakes, or tires only; new car preparation; auto body repair; or management activities as the owner or supervisor of a repair shop or service station.
CDL-B License Requirement
ℹ️ A CDL-B (Commercial Driver License) is required for this position. Candidates who apply without a CDL-B must obtain a Commercial Driver License permit within 30 days of appointment and a full CDL-B by the end of the probationary period — or they will be terminated. If you already have a CDL-B, you’re ready to go. If you have a standard NYS driver license and are considering this position, begin the CDL permit process as soon as possible after applying.
Benefits Package
Thruway Authority employees receive the full New York State benefits package in addition to Teamsters union protections and overtime opportunities. Key benefits include:
🏥 Health Insurance
💊 Prescription Coverage
🦷 Dental & Vision Plans
🗓 Paid Holidays, Sick & Vacation Leave
🏠 Remote Work Options (where eligible)
💰 Pension (Tier 6 — vested in 5 years)
📈 Deferred Compensation
🎓 Tuition Assistance Program
🎓 College Savings Program
🔧 On-The-Job Training
💳 Pre-Tax: Medical, Child Care & Elder Care
📚 Training & Professional Development
✓ Pension highlight — Tier 6, vested in 5 years. If this is your first position contributing to a public pension, as a Tier 6 member you need only 5 years of service to be vested and eligible for a pension benefit once you meet the minimum age requirements. This is a meaningful retirement guarantee that most private sector mechanics don’t have access to. Combined with the Teamsters contract, state health insurance, and overtime earnings, the total compensation package is significantly higher than the hourly rate alone suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have a CDL-B yet — can I still apply?
Yes. You can apply without a CDL-B, but if hired, you must obtain a CDL permit within 30 days of your appointment and a full CDL-B license before your probationary period ends. Failing to do so results in termination. If you’re planning to apply, starting the CDL permit process immediately after applying is strongly recommended — it gives you more time to complete the written tests and any required endorsements before your probation deadline.
How much can I realistically earn with overtime?
Base pay ranges from $19.23 to $26.96/hr depending on your location and experience level. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half — so a mechanic at $26.96/hr earns over $40/hr on OT. The Thruway Authority notes that overtime opportunities are particularly significant during winter maintenance season, when 24/7 highway operations and emergency repairs generate substantial additional hours. Actual OT earnings vary by location, seniority, and seasonal conditions.
Is my BOCES or vocational school training enough to qualify?
It can substitute for up to one year of the required experience. BOCES graduation in automotive or diesel technology counts as one year of experience. You would still need the remaining three years from actual mechanic work experience unless you also have a post-high-school certificate program that covers the other year. A two-year associate’s degree in auto/diesel repair fully qualifies on its own.
Does my auto body or tire shop experience count?
No. The following are explicitly listed as non-qualifying: auto body repair work, installation or repair of tires, mufflers, brakes, or transmissions only, new car preparation, gas station attendant work, and management of a repair shop or service station. The qualification requires broad diagnostic and repair experience across multiple automotive or diesel systems — not specialty work on a single component.
Where are the positions located?
Openings are available at multiple Thruway Authority maintenance facilities across New York State, from the lower Hudson Valley to Buffalo. Specific open locations are listed on the StateJobsNY posting — visit statejobsny.com to see current openings by facility location.
What is the pension and when am I vested?
New hires joining the NYS retirement system are enrolled as Tier 6 members. As a Tier 6 member, you are vested after 5 years of service and eligible to collect a pension benefit once you meet the minimum age requirements. This is a defined benefit pension — meaning a guaranteed monthly payment in retirement based on years of service and final average salary — not a 401(k)-style account subject to market fluctuations.
Apply at StateJobsNY — Thruway Authority Openings Statewide
$19.23–$26.96/hr. Time-and-a-half overtime. Teamsters unit. State pension vested in 5 years. Health, dental, vision, tuition assistance. CDL-B required (permit within 30 days). Min. age 18. Hudson Valley to Buffalo locations. Bring a basic tool set at appointment.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
