After months of various shortages of supplies and workers, those who keep us safe on snowy highways are the latest shortage those in the U.S. will have to contend with.
Washington, Pennsylvania, Montana and Wyoming are some of the states that don’t have enough plow truck drivers who are willing to put in odd hours in dangerous driving conditions, The Associated Press reported.
The lack of plow operators could impact winter travel plans.
“We want the traveling public to understand why it could take longer this season to clear highways during winter storms,” Jon Swartz told the AP. “Knowing this helps motorists to plan ahead and adjust or even delay travel plans.”
Swartz is the maintenance administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation. He said the agency is short 90 drivers this year.
State officials all over the country are saying the issues are caused by a record low unemployment rate, an older workforce and the need for drivers with Commerical Drivers Licenses in other industries.
State agencies also have to compete with higher wages provided by private companies that they can’t meet, the AP reported. Private companies have been paying more to help offset their staffing problems and recruit new employees.
The American Trucking Association said there is a shortage of about 80,000 CDL drivers this year, not including people behind the wheel on public transportation, school buses and snowplows.
In Pennsylvania, there is a shortage of 270 permanent drivers and 560 temporary ones, but those working will be out clearing paths as soon as the snow stops, the AP reported.
Ohio had 190 open jobs in November, according to USA Today.
To make up for the driver shortfall, maintenance workers with CDL licenses in some states are being moved to jobs on the road, clearing snow from highways, the AP reported.
Transportation departments are also trying to hire people with specialized licenses, but they still need to be trained on the equipment they’ll be running and the routes they’ll be covering.
Last month, Mark Geib, administrator of the Transportation Systems Management Operations division at the Michigan Department of Transportation, told USA Today that he had not seen a shortage of snowplow drivers during his 30 years working for Michigan.
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