Two days before a winter storm shut down government offices in Northern Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo asked if certain licensure requirements could be waived by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to address a shortage of highway maintenance workers who keep roadways clear.
The storm that swept through northern Nevada earlier this month and left between 4 and 13 inches of snow in the greater Reno-Carson-Tahoe area, led to dangerous road conditions and caused Lombardo to reissue the office closures Friday morning, though no measurable new snow had fallen the previous night.
Officials with NDOT said speed and driver behavior contribute to a majority of crashes statewide, and highway maintenance staff started prepping for the storm last week, alternating between 12-hour shifts for 24-hour coverage (one day shift and one night shift). They said workers will continue to do so until the storm's effects are fully addressed. They added that because the storm had a unique travel pattern, coming from the north instead of through the mountains, it had unique effects.
“Reduced workforce does continue to have an effect on maintenance operations,” NDOT spokeswoman Meg Ragonese said in a phone interview. She added that administrative staff are augmenting coverage, and the department does everything it can to ensure the safest road conditions possible.
NDOT maintains roughly 5,000 miles of highway statewide, including roughly 1,000 miles in northwestern Nevada.
Department officials highlighted the need for highway maintenance officials during Tuesday’s Board of Examiners meeting, noting that the department has a 37 percent vacancy rate in the greater Reno-Sparks-Tahoe area (approximately 91 positions) as part of a request to approve a critical labor shortage designation for highway maintenance workers. Highway maintenance workers maintain the integrity of roadway surfaces and operate everything from a snowplow to a motor grader or tractor, among other machinery.
Felicia Denny, assistant director of administration at the Nevada Department of Transportation, said that though the department is trying to be proactive by conducting job fairs and outreach to recruit employees, it takes time and training, and the requirement for a commercial driver’s license significantly hinders recruitment.
Commercial driver’s licenses in Nevada include requirements for passing vision, written and skills tests, along with vehicle inspections and on-the-road driving tests. Those seeking a commercial driver’s license must first obtain and hold a learner’s permit for at least two weeks prior to taking their tests.