OHIO — The Ohio Department of Transportation has worked ahead in its preparations for the Ohio winter from staffing plows to checking equipment.

With some areas expecting to see some snowflakes this week, ODOT has plows, salt and equipment ready to go.

What You Need To Know

  • ODOT is aiming to staff up drivers and mechanics ahead of winter weather events

  • Currently, the state has 800,000 tons of salt ahead of winter

  • In 2023, crews drove nearly 4.8 million miles and used 371,785 tons of salt and 10.3 million gallons of liquid deicers

  • ODOT is continuing to push to hire drivers and mechanics

“Ohio’s transportation network is critical to keeping our state moving, especially during unpredictable winter storms,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in a news release. “Safe and passable roads ensure that businesses can continue operating, emergency services can reach those in need, and residents can travel to work and school without disruption.”

Crews also worked to top off the salt supplies to be prepared for that first nip of winter weather. Currently Ohio has more than 800,000 tons of salt on-hand. The state’s first day of measurable snow varies by location across Ohio from early November in the north to late November to the south.

In 2023, crews drove nearly 4.8 million miles and used 371,785 tons of salt and 10.3 million gallons of liquid deicers.

Drivers tend to work 12-hour shifts during winter weather events and ODOT has about 3,000 each season. There are about 500 seasonal drivers hired while most of the rest are full time, according to ODOT. Drivers maintain more than 43,000 lane miles of state and U.S. routes outside cities and all interstates in Ohio except the Ohio Turnpike.

ODOT also has auxiliary drivers, ODOT employees who only plow snow when necessary, and perform other tasks as part of their work otherwise.

“These safety checks are important to ensure crews are well trained, equipment is road-ready, and deicing materials are stocked,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn in a news release. “ODOT plow drivers take great pride and responsibility in keeping roads safe, and communities connected during the winter months. Motorists can also help by driving for the conditions and giving crews room to do their job.”  

Last winter, 22 plow trucks were struck by motorists, down 26 from the previous winter. ODOT reminds drivers to give crews plenty of room to work.

ODOT is continuing to push to hire drivers and mechanics, but as of October, about 250 mechanics are doing 150-point checks on nearly 1,700 trucks in the fleet. The goal is to make sure repairs can be completed before snow events to be sure trucks can head out quickly and efficiently.

The department’s goal is to ensure primary routes of drivers are cleared within two hours and secondary routes cleared within four hours of the end of a snow event. Crews hit that goal 98.3% of the time in 2023.