AASHTO Journal - ITD Simulator Helps Prep County Snowplow Operators

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) recently helped prep snowplow operators working for the Ada County Highway District and Boise County Road and Bridge Department heading into their first winter via training sessions on the agency’s snowplow driver simulator.

[Above photo by ITD]

A handful of ITD District 3 employees spent two days using the simulator to provide those new county snowplow operators a sense of what clearing roadways during winter storms is really like, as the simulator creates “less than ideal” driving scenarios, helping them hone a variety of skills: navigating heavy traffic, dealing with cars not giving way, and facing white-out conditions.

[Editor’s note: The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently put together a “winter weather preparedness” video for motorists, offering tips to the public about how to navigate roadways safely during snowstorms.]

ITD added that the two-day training session didn’t just revolve around computers screens and simulations, as the county’s rookie snowplow drivers also got the chance to pick the brain of a few experienced ITD snowplow operators – the ones who have seen a few winters and lived to tell the tale, noted ITD District 3 Trainer Jared Gibson.

“Though we already coordinate closely with [county crews] every day, this was another chance to connect,” he said in a statement. “Our roads are an ecosystem and keeping them safe is a shared responsibility. We’re all better when we work together.”

Across the country, state departments of transportation engage in a variety of efforts to not only hone the skills of their snowplow crews but develop greater connections with the public where snowplowing operations are concerned.

For example, the North Carolina Department of Transportation recently wrapped up a “winter dry-run” training event for its crews in Iredell County.

Employees spent a full day reviewing snow removal routes, calibrating equipment, and testing plows in preparation for the winter season, noted Billy Carpenter, NCDOT’s Iredell County maintenance engineer.

“[This] was a dress rehearsal for what Iredell County crews will do when winter weather arrives,” he said in a statement. “We checked all of our equipment, reviewed snow removal routes and made sure each employee knows what they’ll be doing during winter storms.”

Meanwhile, many state DOTs hold snowplow “naming contests” as a way to heighten awareness of snowplow needs among the public – with the North Dakota Department of Transportation and South Dakota Department of Transportation just the latest ones to do so.

“[This] has become a fun winter tradition for the whole community,” explained Matt Linneman, North Dakota DOT deputy director for engineering. “This contest is a great way for the public to connect with the important work we do and show appreciation for the people behind the plows.”