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Winter is coming but MoDOT is prepared. Maintenance crews use this time each year to ensure they're ready for the first winter weather event by holding a winter operations drill. This year's exercise began the morning of Oct. 16 and lasted throughout the day, with MoDOT maintenance vehicles driving state routes following a simulated winter weather forecast of significant snow for the entire state.
With turnover rates and many positions still open, driver training on this day is more critical than ever. Of MoDOT's snowplow operators across the state involved in clearing the roads and bridges when winter weather hits, roughly 40% have less than three years of experience.
The snow drill involves MoDOT employees reacting to a simulated statewide winter weather event. The department activates emergency operations centers, tests emergency communications systems and deploys all employees involved in winter operations to their trucks. Maintenance employees also take the time to inspect every truck, motor grader, snow blower and tractor for safe operation and calibrate them to conserve materials.
The annual winter weather drill isn't just about training employees and testing equipment, it's also important to ensure the efficient use of resources. During the last winter season, MoDOT spent more than $64 million on winter operations and used 160,000 tons of salt, 2.1 million gallons of salt brine and 229,000 gallons of beet juice.
To learn more about MoDOT's winter maintenance operations or apply for open full-time and seasonal positions, visit modot.org. To prepare for upcoming weather events, use the Traveler Information Map for up-to-date information on road conditions during storms, construction season and more. This map is also available on the Apple Store and Google Play.
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