ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - If you're driving around on the Missouri side of the river today, you'll likely see MoDOT's snow plows taking part in the department's annual winter weather drill. This year's winter prep is especially important.
The department is several hundred drivers short and 20% of those behind the wheel today have never been in a real, full winter season.
Deputy Director Ed Hassinger says drivers will have to double up today and in the near future.
"We don't put a new operator out on the road by themselves until they've operated a truck with a skilled operator for a couple of storms," Hassinger says.
MoDOT has been losing more than 70 employees a month for the past six months and is on pace to lose 800 workers this year. He says they currently don't have enough drivers to staff two full 12 hour shifts.
Hassinger says MoDOT usually loses 600 workers a year, but this year has been worse, in part, because of low pay – $15.25 an hour.
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