For well over three decades, Stafseth served the transportation industry at every level of government, ranging from engineer for the city of St. Joseph to executive director (1972-1980) of the American Association of State highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). He was deputy director, then director of the Michigan Department of State highways from 1965 to 1972, a period that saw major advances by the Department in technology, highway planning and public involvement. Stafseth was engineer-manager of the Lenawee County Road Commission (1952-1955) and the Ottawa County Road Commission (1955-1965) and was president of the County Road Association of Michigan in 1960. He was the 1983 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Transportation Research Board.