MoDOT to hold statewide winter weather drill amid staff shortages
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
MoDOT plans to prepare staff and drivers Thursday with a statewide winter weather drill.
The exercise comes amid a shortage of plow drivers, according to the department. MoDOT officials say the winter weather drill is expected to help with training drivers.
"With years of high turnover, we are nearly 30% below the staffing we need in order to cover more than one shift in a statewide storm," said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. "If a widespread winter storm lasts more than one 12-hour shift, we will not have enough employees to fill all the trucks on the second shift and therefore it will take longer to clear roads. Delays could be significant and will impact all regions of the state."
MoDOT spent more than $53 million on winter weather operations last year. Crews used more than 151,000 tons of salt, 2.4 million gallons of salt brine, and 454,000 gallons of beet juice.
During Thursday's drill, MoDOT crews plan to drive their winter weather routes. Employees will react to a simulated forecast of significant snowfall across Missouri.
MoDOT emergency operation centers will activate and workers will deploy to their trucks. Emergency communications will also get tested during the drill.
MoDOT leaders say safety is the most important part of the exercise.
"Safety is the cornerstone of everything we do at MoDOT," said MoDOT Chief Safety and Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth. "The drill ensures that proper equipment, plowing techniques, and safety measures are used by every MoDOT employee."
The department expects every piece of equipment, every truck, motor grader, snow blower, and tractor to be inspected and calibrated to conserve materials and operate efficiently and safely.
Drivers may notice more MoDOT vehicles on state roads during the winter weather exercise.
In rural areas, crews plan to deploy after 8 a.m. Plow truck drivers in urban areas will start after 9 a.m. MoDOT expects the winter weather drill to wrap up by 3 p.m.
During winter weather, the department encourages drivers to check the MoDOT Traveler Information Map website or app for the latest road conditions across the state.
Anyone interested in working for MoDOT can find a list of openings on its website.
