Last winter, PennDOT District 9 got stuck 23 short of its full complement of permanent operators, risking a slip in plowing efficiency, as it attempted to keep its 4,000 miles of highway clean.
This year, due to accelerated recruiting, the district has reached its full complement of 381 permanent operators -- although it's still 40 short of hiring its target of 100 seasonal operators.
The district was able to get all the permanent operators it needs this year with the assistance of a staff recruiter, representation at career fairs and hiring events, helping applicants through the hiring process and a state-ordered bump in pay, according to department officials at the annual District 9 pre-winter news conference Wednesday.
"We've spent a lot of time over the last year re-establishing our brand," said District Executive Vince Greenland. "I'm a big believer in getting people out to talk to folks."
Such recruiting efforts occurred statewide, but were a special focus in District 9, which comprises Blair, Cambria, Bedford, Huntingdon, Fulton and Somerset counties, Greenland said.
The recruiting has targeted not only operators, but mechanics and engineers, he said.
The main requirement for operators is a commercial driver's license, according to Assistant District Executive for Maintenance Dave Kammerer.
Permanent operators work year-round.
In the summer, they apply seal coat and do drain work.
Operators also run excavators and backhoes.
Seasonal operators can sometimes transition to permanent operators, based on seniority, Kammerer said.
Permanent operators earn between $43,000 and $52,000 a year, according to District 9 spokesman Jay Knarr.
Seasonal operators earn $22.50 an hour.
The district has 220 plow trucks, so for maximum efficiency, it takes 440 drivers to handle two 12-hour shifts during storms, according to Greenland.
If there are not enough drivers at any particular time, the district resorts to overtime -- or trucks don't go out, Kammerer said.
The district begins preparing for winter immediately after the last one ends, he said.
During the past few months, that work included installing and calibrating spreaders and checking hydraulic hoses that enable drivers to control the plows, he said.
Interested applicants can go to https://pa.gov/en/agencies/employment/
penndot.
During the news conference, Kammerer provided some travel tips to help drivers and their passengers stay safe this winter.
Motorists should keep an emergency kit in their vehicles, he said, and before winter, they should be sure their wipers work, their tires have plenty of tread and their fluids are topped off.
During bad weather, drivers should stay off the roads when possible. For those who must drive, he urged them to check out travel advisories, which are available online at 511pa or by calling 511.
Kammerer also offered reminders on clearing ice and snow off vehicles before heading out on the road. Drivers should also turn on their headlights, go slow, maintain plenty of distance between their vehicle and the one in front and give plow trucks plenty of space, he said.
Drivers should also watch out for black ice, which can appear as merely wet pavement, he warned.
PennDOT strives to keep the roads "safe and passable," not necessarily "bare and wet" -- as that isn't practical or fiscally responsible, Kammerer said.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.