CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire's Department of Transportation announced a 15% increase in the hourly rate paid to private snowplow contractors Wednesday as officials attempt to blunt an acute driver shortage ahead of the winter season.
Pay bump intended to shore up winter readiness
The department said the hourly rate for private plow operators who hold a commercial driver’s license will rise from $26.45 to $30.42. The agency estimates the increase will cost the state an additional $2 million to $3 million for the 2026–2027 winter season.
Department of Transportation Commissioner David Rodrigue told members of the Executive Council the higher rate is intended to help address a persistent and “intractable” workforce shortfall that the department has struggled with for years.
"The department has always and — from what I see, for the foreseeable future — will continue to rely on engineering consultants and hired equipment to help us achieve our mission," Rodrigue said.
The council approved the plan last week. Officials said the funds to cover the increase could come from the New Hampshire Highway Fund, which is financed by motor vehicle registration fees and gas taxes, or from the Turnpike Fund, which is supported by toll revenue.
Vacancies and concerns about reliance on contractors
Rodrigue told councilors the department is facing an overall vacancy rate of 26%, one of the highest across state agencies, and that the vacancy rate among plow drivers is “significantly higher.” That shortfall has pushed the department to depend on private contractors to operate plows and maintain routes during storms.
Several councilors, including members of both parties, expressed concern that reliance on contractors could create long-term problems for the department’s workforce and morale.
"I am concerned that we are getting ourselves into a sort of downward spiral," said Councilor Karen Liot Hill, a Lebanon Democrat. "We're not investing adequately into our own personnel, and then we end up having to hire contractors, and we pay them more to do the same job that if we had personnel on staff that they would be able to do."
Councilor John Stephen, a Manchester Republican, also questioned the approach, noting the private contractor rate now exceeds the hourly pay for state-employed plow drivers. He urged the department to take additional steps to boost recruitment and retention of DOT staff rather than increase dependence on external contractors.
Where the money could come from
State officials did not commit to a single funding source, leaving open the option of using either the Highway Fund or the Turnpike Fund to cover the additional cost. Both funds have restricted purposes and are driven by different revenue streams — vehicle fees and gas taxes for the Highway Fund, toll revenue for the Turnpike Fund.
| Item | Previous | New |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate for private CDL plow operators | $26.45 | $30.42 |
| Estimated additional cost (2026–2027) | $2 million to $3 million | |
What this means for communities
For municipalities and drivers across New Hampshire, the change is designed to reduce the risk of gaps in service during storms by making contractor work more competitive in a tight labor market. But local officials worried about budget impacts could face increased costs depending on how the state allocates the added expenditure and whether municipalities contract independently for plowing services.
Department leaders acknowledged the pay adjustment is a near-term step. They told the Executive Council they intend to continue recruiting full-time DOT employees and to explore other measures to strengthen the agency’s permanent workforce.
- 15% increase in contractor hourly pay
- $26.45 previous hourly rate
- $30.42 new hourly rate
The move highlights the broader challenges facing state agencies in recruiting for specialized seasonal operations and the trade-offs officials must weigh between immediate operational readiness and longer-term workforce development.
