Columbia residents saw about two dozen snow plow trucks on the road Wednesday.
It was part of Columbia Public Works’ annual dry snow run training exercise. Public Works engineering operations manager Richard Stone tells 939 the Eagle it provided operators with a chance to see the routes they’ll drive with no snow and see if there are new speed bumps and medians:
“This gives us a chance to really acclimate newer drivers. Get them paired up with some veteran drivers. Check over the equipment, understand what’s going on with trucks,” says Stone.
Winter begins on Sunday December 21. Columbia Public Works officials are confident about their equipment and manpower as we approach winter. Mr. Stone tells 939 the Eagle that they’re currently short about five snow plow operators:
“Which is about ten percent of street division’s workforce which is 45 FTE (full-time equivalent) Unfortunately, we do have those vacancies but that’s better than we’ve had in the years past,” Stone says.
The event gave crews a chance to check the plows and equipment and be able to make repairs before winter starts. Operators also practiced their assigned snow routes. 939 the Eagle News rode Wednesday with operator Zach, who has been with the city for seven years. Zach encourages you to give the plow operators room during a storm.
As for Stone, he says that during snow events, crews generally will work 12-hour shifts from 7 am to 7 pm or from 7 pm to 7 am.