MoDOT preparing for snow with annual winter weather drill
By Jenna Wilson
Drivers may have noticed an increase in Missouri Department of Transportation trucks on the road Thursday as crews conducted an annual statewide winter weather drill ahead of the winter.
“Annually we try to do these drills in October and November to kind of get peoples mindset thinking about the winter,” said Greg Bolon, MoDOT district maintenance and traffic engineer. “It’s our job to train and retrain everybody on how to mount a plow, how to mount a spreader, how to put salt in and make sure we’ve got all the backing movements ready to go.”
During the drill, MoDOT employees reacted to a simulated forecast of significant snow for the entire state and were required to drive specific routes to get familiar with the details of the road without any snow and ice.
“This year, we’ve had probably 40 to 41 new hires since April,” said Bolon. “Those folks, when they go out for the first time, we want them to do what’s called a ride-along drive along so they will ride with someone for four hours, plow for four hours or until we feel they’re comfortable with the route because we don’t want to turn somebody out there on the road who’s uncomfortable with what they’re doing.”
MoDOT Northwest district has hired nearly 40 new drivers since April and with turnover rates and many positions still open, officials say driver training on this day is more critical than ever.
“The past three years did not include many significant winter storms, making this training a priority,” Bolon said. “That always concerns us that Mother Nature’s going to one day decide it’s our turn, so we’ve got to make sure our staff is prepared.”
Thursday was the first winter weather drill performed by crews this year, but drivers will be doing winter tests periodically throughout October and November. Motorists are advised to drive cautiously around crews and have patience.
“When we’re out there, we’re not driving the speed limit and we’re usually going a lot slower,” Bolon said. “So, if you come upon us, we don’t mind you passing if you want to and we don’t care if you follow behind us, but just keep it a distance in case something happens or we have to react because we are in a big truck and it takes a while to slow it down.”
