MoDOT plans for winter as it tries to address labor shortage

COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ)

The upcoming winter for the Missouri Department of Transportation will be different as they are still facing some labor shortages. Thursday morning, MoDOT discussed their 2021 winter operations drill and upcoming winter weather operations plans.

Michelle Watkins, a district engineer for MoDot central district, said MoDot is not short just a few employees and it's uncommon.

"We are several hundred employees short of where we typically are going into a winter weather event. So, we know that there will be challenges with large-scale type operations," said Watkins.

Watkins says If a winter storm comes that covers a wide area, over a period longer than 12 hours, then clearing the roads may take longer.

Curtis Ralston is a college student who's living off-campus for the first time this year. He said his travels back home to St. Louis weren't the best last year.

"Business loop, I defiantly spun out at least once last year, there was defiantly some ice," said Ralston.

He also said, hearing that now it's a shortage, doesn't help. "It doesn't give me any hope. I mean I hope a lot of people do pick up those jobs and do help us out cause I mean it would do a lot for the community," said Ralston.

MoDOT employees will work 12-hour shifts however there are requirements to be hired. "Well good drivers require training and certifications so certainly we need employees who have a commercial driver license or have the ability to do that," said Watkins.

MoDOT also requires that:

• Applicants need to be at least 18 years old, successfully complete a criminal background check (a misdemeanor or felony conviction is not an automatic restriction to employment).
• Have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). If you don’t already have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), MoDOT will provide training to help you obtain one.
• A passing grade on the written portion of the commercial driver's license (CDL) exam is required before the hire date.
•  Must pass the driving portion of the CDL exam with tanker endorsement, no air brake restrictions (Class B). 

Interested individuals can apply here.