Although it’s still too early to tell what the winter will bring, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is preparing for the worst. MoDOT will hold its annual statewide winter operations drill this Thursday. With high turnover rates and many positions still open, officials say driver training on this day is more critical than ever.
Becky Allmeroth, MoDOT chief safety and operations officer says “We’re facing a critical shortage of qualified plow operators as we go into the winter season.” She says “This drill gives MoDOT the opportunity to train our new snowplow operators on their designated routes so they are aware of curbs and raised islands that might be hidden when the snow or ice starts to fall.”
Despite the department’s best efforts, it has not made progress filling the winter operations vacancies.
For the most up-to-date information on road conditions in any winter storm, motorists are urged to use the Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org or available as a smartphone app.
