MoDOT is preparing for winter weather season on Thursday

While we are weeks away from seeing any snow falling from the sky, the Missouri Department of Transportation wants to prepare early. On Thursday, October 10, MoDOT will hold its annual winter operations drill.

On Thursday, you may notice more MoDOT trucks on state routes as drivers get trained on winter weather operations. Driver training will begin at 8 a.m. in rural areas and 9 a.m. in urban areas. The drill will wrap-up around 3 p.m.

With high turnover rates, and many positions still open for the season, MoDOT says driver’s training is more critical than ever.

“Nearly 19% of our snowplow operators have less than one year of experience and more than one-third will have less than three years’ experience,” explains MoDOT State Maintenance Director Darin Hamelink.

In additions to rookie drivers, the past few years have been fairly calm when it comes to winter weather events, “The past three years did not include many significant storms, making this training more critical than ever. All snowplow operators will drive their routes to get familiar with the details of the road without any snow and ice,” says Hamelink.

MoDOT employs around 3,000 seasonal employees from across the state. During Wednesday’s drill, employees will react to a simulated forecast of significant winter weather for the state. Drivers will deploy to their trucks and emergency systems will also be tested.

In 2023, MoDOT spent over $38 million on winter operations, using 81,000 tons of salt brine and 134,000 gallons of beet juice.

MoDOT is still several hundred employees short of having full staff to plow two 12-hour shifts. Applications are being accepted now for full-time maintenance works and for emergency equipment operators.

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