Pennsylvania Turnpike - FREE TODAY!

[jfnz24]

Originally posted by: bleuless
the whole point of having ez-pass is that it doesn't hurt to get it. atleast it didn't hurt until they didn't sell as well as they expected, then they imposed the $1 monthly fee. basically, if you think $1 per month is too much to pay for the convenience, then don't get it. in most cases I think the its better to get it than not. hopefully with more customers they'll eventually lift the $1 fee.

$18.25 an hour with full benefits may sound alot, but would YOU do it? would you want someone you love to do that kind of job? but I also agree they are over paid, but yet no one should work under such harsh condition regardless of the pay. so EVERYONE should be given a EZpass like tag and have toll collection automated. its the way of the future, it optimizes the total cost and value for all.

I got an EZ-Pass brochure in front of me right now...and it does cost something to get it, $40 to be exact, for the transmitter. Plus, the added monthly surcharges (which ranges from $1-3 depending on usage.) That doesn't sound like a good deal to anybody that doesn't have to use the turnpike on a regular basis.

Yes, for that money, I would do that job. I don't see any problem with doing that job. It is a heck of a lot more dangerous to work as a cashier at a gas station, fast food restaurant, etc., but you don't see them getting paid that type of money WITH benefits. Harsh conditions?! I don't know what you are referring to, especially since most sit on their butt all day and just collect money. I still say have automated cash machines (similar to a vending machine), that accepts money. For those that are saying what if you don't have change...the machines that I have used on the turnpike extensions all give change, so that is no longer a valid argument.

 

[Collije]

Man, I abused taking that yesterday

 

[bleuless]

Originally posted by: jfnz24

I got an EZ-Pass brochure in front of me right now...and it does cost something to get it, $40 to be exact, for the transmitter. Plus, the added monthly surcharges (which ranges from $1-3 depending on usage.) That doesn't sound like a good deal to anybody that doesn't have to use the turnpike on a regular basis.

Yes, for that money, I would do that job. I don't see any problem with doing that job. It is a heck of a lot more dangerous to work as a cashier at a gas station, fast food restaurant, etc., but you don't see them getting paid that type of money WITH benefits. Harsh conditions?! I don't know what you are referring to, especially since most sit on their butt all day and just collect money. I still say have automated cash machines (similar to a vending machine), that accepts money. For those that are saying what if you don't have change...the machines that I have used on the turnpike extensions all give change, so that is no longer a valid argument.

it cost $40 if you want to use the pre-paid type acct. if you give em your credit card, they waive the $40 for the tag. I have 3 tags, actually 4 (1 was lost and replaced). and they only charged me $40 once because i reported the lost tag. you can have up to 3 tags per acct.

if you want to work as a toll collector, its easy. just talk to one of them, they'll let you in on the deal. that's how my friend got in. he worked and was making enough $ to be happy with it for about 2 month until he got sick of the exhaust fume, and the schedule they had. if you can do it, more power to you, and go do it. that's all i am saying.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: CPA
Most of that goes to pay for the bonds that were issued to build the bridge, the toll authority management and maintenance and upkeep. I'm not siding with striking union employees, but the toll collectors probably make a couple of bucks above minimum.

That's probably pretty unusual then. I've heard that here in MA, those tollbooth collector jobs make 50K/year easily and full benefits, and are generally doled out to people as a "political favor". You don't get those juicy state jobs on merit alone, in most cases.

Then again, the MA turnpike was supposed to be made free, after it was all paid off, but they need the funds to pay off/make up for the losses from their political crony contractors that were embezzling from the Big Dig project.

So now our turnpike fees, and basically anything to do with cars and transportation in this state, got hiked way up the last few years.

Then again, the MA turnpike is maintained pretty-well too.

When I drove through OH on the TP this last summer, I swear, it looked like a place that time had forgotten. Road surface chewed up, toll booths that looked like an apparition from the past, like they were just going to fade away in a bad dream after taking my money, somewhat ala the 'Phantom Tollbooth', sort of.

Edit: Oh yeah, EZ-PASS can bag you pretty easy too, if you speed. Most people do, on the turnpike. In fact, if you don't do 70-75MPH+, you'll get run over. Even though the limit is 65MPH, and 55 in spots. They'll send you a speeding ticket in the mail. I've even heard of people getting tickets mailed to them, for cars that they don't even own. Gotta love MA state agencies.

I live in MA also and have heard about the cushy jobs that these toll booth manufacturers have, some making 70k+ a year.

And yes, the high tolls in this state are to pay for that disaster they call the big dig.

These two things are popular topics of discussion on Howie Carr's show, if you listen to him at all.

 

[bleuless]

oh, about the speeding via mail, that's not true.

most ppl get a ticket in the mail for speeding through the toll booth too fast. not for speeding on the road.

they DON'T AND CAN NOT use the time you enter and exit based on when the tags were read to issue a summon to you. i have heard this directly from the ez-pass spokes person on TV.

 

[tcsenter]

$18.25 an hour with full benefits may sound alot, but would YOU do it? would you want someone you love to do that kind of job? but I also agree they are over paid, but yet no one should work under such harsh condition regardless of the pay.

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!

I never made more than $18.00 an hour as a surgical assistant at a bustling urban (i.e. ghetto) Level One trauma center with two years of training + two years of experience, getting stuck with bloody needles and trocars, being puked on, sh-t on, blood splashed in my face, standing under hot lights for hours without a break wearing [supposedly] liquid-proof gowns that also provide no ventilation.

There are at least 1000 worse jobs than standing with one's thumb up one's butt all day yapping on cell phones with z-e-r-o responsibility but don't get paid that much money. Unbelievable!

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

$18.25 an hour with full benefits may sound alot, but would YOU do it? would you want someone you love to do that kind of job? but I also agree they are over paid, but yet no one should work under such harsh condition regardless of the pay.

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!

I never made more than $18.00 an hour as a surgical assistant at a bustling urban (i.e. ghetto) Level One trauma center with two years of training + two years of experience, getting stuck with bloody needles and trocars, being puked on, sh-t on, blood splashed in my face, standing under hot lights for hours without a break wearing [supposedly] liquid-proof gowns that also provide no ventilation.

There are at least 1000 worse jobs than standing with one's thumb up one's butt all day yapping on cell phones with z-e-r-o responsibility but don't get paid that much money. Unbelievable!

The main difference being that you were at the bottom of the rung while the PA Turnpike folks making that money are top managers, usually working 12hr. shifts.

I worked for the PA Turnpike one summer while in college. My starting rate was $7.25 per hour. It was a fair paying job considering how poor the rural areas of PA can be but it wasn't anything to brag about.

 

[tcsenter]

The main difference being that you were at the bottom of the rung while the PA Turnpike folks making that money are top managers, usually working 12hr. shifts.

I would've had to work 10 years to break $18.00 an hour doing that job in the second best wage market in Michigan (next only to Detroit).

Only 12 hour shifts? Pfft!

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: BentValve
Some of those tollbriges rake in HUGE amounts of cash every year...what sort of cash does this toll bridge pull in?

How much an hour are those toll collectors making if they are "on strike"?

Most of that goes to pay for the bonds that were issued to build the bridge, the toll authority management and maintenance and upkeep. I'm not siding with striking union employees, but the toll collectors probably make a couple of bucks above minimum.

Dude, those toll takers make close to $20 an hour for absolutely mindless work. The union really needs to get its head out of its *** and realize they're overpaid for what they do already. I think everyone deserves a fair, liveable wage, but this isn't even skilled work! On top of it, they rejected a plan that would've given them a raise each year over 3 years AND fully paid medical benefits. How many private sector companies out there are fully paying medical benefits? I sure know mine isnt!

This is a hot deal, though. Free PA turnpike was great!

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: jfnz24

Originally posted by: Tazanator
Well I drove semi for 3 years .. PA cost me $78 for the ~300 miles ohio cost $90 for 210 miles. I hated both systems, and even tho I drove to NY from chicago area 1 time a week boss didn't want EZpass on trucks... IRS said no reciept no toll was paid so we had to get receipts for it all ...

You can get itemized bills now to see all charges that were put onto the EZ-Pass, however, I don't know if that is something new or not.

Yep. My EZ-Pass bill comes itemized by default. Also, hot deal:

http://www.drjtbc.com/

Fee-free EZ-Pass for those in NY/NJ and probably even PA. Credit goes to mAdMaLuDaWg and SendIt over at FW!

 

[tcsenter]

How many private sector companies out there are fully paying medical benefits? I sure know mine isnt!

But..but...the unions say that public employee wages and benefits must keep pace with the private sector even though government jobs have been the most sought after and coveted jobs for 30+ years now. They must be using engineers and CEOs as their basis of comparison because nobody but nobody in the private sector enjoys these kinds of wages and benefits for what amounts to monkey work.

 

[PagannagaP]

I can't believe people can make that much money for doing so little. I'd gladly take that money any day.

 

[gsethi]

over here in SF Bay Area, we got like 7 bridges and have to pay toll to cross each bridge (toll is collected only one way though - other way is free). The dept just started automatic transponders about 2-3 years ago and it is becoming a big success here.

They started with only 1 dedicated lanes in all bridges, and have now expanded to 2-3 lanes on some bridges. Also, no monthly fees. It used to be cheaper using the transponder earlier but starting Oct 1, paying cash on toll and transponders are both the same price. But with the transponder, it still saves a ton of time during busy commute hours. (I save ~20 min easily each time i go to SF City).

Also, i think that those toll cashiers get ~$25/hr + benefits over here in the bay area which is pretty good/decent paying but they have to stand whole day here. btw, no tickets here if you drive past the toll booth faster...it just doesnt reads the transponder, so the camera takes a pic of your license plate, and automatically deducts the toll from your account if that license number is registerted with the department. This is because we do get high winds many times on the bridges and sometimes these transponders dont work even when driving very slow cause of all those winds.