Abstract: A highway work basket apparatus includes a vertically movable lift platform that can be selectively mounted on either side of the work basket. The frame of the work basket supports a pair of lift mechanisms mounted on opposing sides at the forward end of the work basket. A detachable lift platform is provided for selective attachment to one of the opposing lift mechanism to enable movement of highway markers between the levels of the truck bed and the surface of the highway. The floor of the lift platform has conveyors embedded therein and powered by the hydraulics of the highway truck on which the work basket is mounted to facilitate the movement of the highway markers onto or off of the surface of the highway. The frame of the work basket also supports a hitch receiver to permit a trailing attachment of a directional sign.