COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Transportation is still looking for a few good men and women to drive and maintain the snowplows that clear the state’s highway during the winter.
ODOT is responsible for maintaining more than 43,000 lane miles of state and U.S. routes, outside of municipalities, and all interstates except the Ohio Turnpike, spokesman Matt Bruning said.
“The men and women who drive and support ODOT’s fleet of nearly 1,700 plow trucks play a vital role in making sure our roads remain passible for those who need them during and after a storm,” Gov. Mike DeWine.
However, much like trucking companies, school districts and other industries, the agency has had trouble keeping and recruiting enough qualified drivers to meet its staffing requirements.
Faced with those challenges, ODOT is making an effort to find new workers and hang onto the ones it has.
The agency is taking applications for seasonal and full-time jobs.
Qualified applicants must have a valid Class A or Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), with and no air brake restriction, and three months training or experience in operating the basic equipment.
They also must pass a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screening and be able to lift 50 to 100 pounds, Bruning said.
Applicants must also have an email address to apply.
ODOT also has a new Highway Maintenance Worker opportunity where the agency will train and pay for a CDL.
Bruning says the full-time positions comes with benefits and leads to career advancement.
Some current employees of the agency are being offered $2,500 retention incentives, Bruning said.