Just in time for the first major snowfall of the cold weather season, the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation has 45 trainees ready to get behind the wheel of one of their snowplows.
They’ll go out on Tuesday, but not to plow.
That’s because their two-week training session, taking place this year at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds’ Midway area, isn’t finished yet.
They started a week ago, and finish up Friday.
MNDOT’s Erik Schulstad said this batch of new drivers just aren’t ready yet.
“We’ll get those who’ve driven their own trucks for 20-30 years,” he said. “The minute they get into one of these truck, with a 12-foot plow on the front, it blows their mind.”
The view from behind the wheels of one of these monsters is different from any regular vehicle.
“Especially when you hang a wing out of the side, you’re taking up a lot more space,” Schulstad said. “It’s mainly getting your comfort factor before we turn them loose on an actual snow event.”
That doesn’t include learning the ins and outs of safety rules and regulations, which are covered in classroom training.
“Federal highway standards, different components on the truck, pre-trip inspections, break components, hydraulic components, snow and ice components,” said Schulstad. “Stuff like that.”
MinDOT snowplow training has been held in the past at Fort Ripley, north of St. Cloud.
Covid restrictions during the pandemic changed the venue for this year, and when the current group is deemed ready by the end of the week, another 45 trainees come in, and instructors begin the process again.
“So far, so good,” Schulstad said.