Joe "Peppi" Gehrig, toll collector, Pinellas Bayway.
By JAN WESNER CHILDS
Published January 11, 2004
How did you come to be a toll collector?
Well, I was looking for work and I'd been with (a company that builds parking lots) a number of years. I tried several different sales jobs and things like that, and I didn't do too well. A friend of mine told me that they were looking for help out here so I checked into it and just thought I'd take it as a temporary job until I found something. And I've been out here ever since. It's a pleasant place to work. You have consistency in the hours, and everything's set up pretty much on a time schedule. They work hard to make sure you get lunch and breaks and everything. The main people that we work with are the people going through the lanes, and they're all friendly.
They're all friendly?
Occasionally you get some people that are annoyed by something. It's usually not you, it's usually something that happened to them before they got to you. You never know what's happened to them before they pull up. They might have had an accident down the road, or somebody cut them off, and they're very upset when they pull up, they snarl.
What are your hours like?
I work 40 hours a week. I generally like the morning shift (from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) It's early. It gets you off to an early start and, of course, if you start early you get off early, at 2. There's usually time left in the day to get the things done that need to be done. But I've also found that working some different shifts to help out when they have shortages is good for me because it keeps me from getting into a rut.
Do you see the same people coming through the toll booth every day?
Frequently, yes, after a while. We have a lot of commuters.
Does the weather bother you much?
Well when it's raining and storming we've got rain gear. I notice when it's hot I drink a lot more water and when it's cold I wear a lot more clothing. I carry extra clothing with me because sometimes it does get cold unexpectedly.
Do you ever get bored?
No. You just have to be accurate and courteous and keep traffic moving.
Do you consider being friendly an important part of your job?
Yes, our management stresses that because they say of all the Department of Transportation we're the only ones that the public actually has daily contact with, so they want to certainly make sure that we create a good image if possible. They want you to be nice, so it makes the job more enjoyable. It's your job to be nice.
What's your idea of the worst day on the job?
Oh, hmmm, I'm really stumped. I can't think of - I guess the bad weather creates a bad day.
Like when people forget to turn off their windshield wipers as they're going past your booth?
Oh, yes. Oh well, you just have to dodge it.
What about the best day?
I guess a sunny day with lots of people but not long lines, because after waiting in a long line sometimes the people are not as happy as they could be when the line's shorter. So when the line's just a couple of cars, and when the sun's out.
Are you a state employee?
Actually I work for a private company called Barton Protective Services. They provide contract employees to the state of Florida.
How much do you make?
I always keep that to myself. Oh, I think when I started I made $5 an hour. I think I make a couple of dollars more now.
