Snow plow drivers putting more overtime compared to previous winters

Snow plow drivers around the state have been working a lot of overtime, as the snow just does not seem to stop.

For the city of Blackfoot, there have been a lot of complaints about the work drivers have been doing.

Local News 8’s/KIDK’s Pheben Kassahun joined one of the snow plow drivers out in Blackfoot to show people the work that is being put in.

Old Man Winter is not catching a break, especially for those in Eastern Idaho.

The region has not had this much snow for a while and what some people are forgetting is that it is hard work clearing the streets.

Brandon Whitworth has been working as a snow plow driver for Blackfoot for about five to six years.

“We usually come in at one o’clock in the morning and we plow the streets of Blackfoot until we’re done, which is usually 10 (p.m.), sometimes one o’ clock. Usually, our day starts at seven o’clock in the morning, but when we gotta plow, it starts at midnight or one o’clock in the morning,” Whitworth said.

With only a handful of people working as a snow plow driver, Whitworth said it is an extensive job.

“There’s seven of us that work for the street department. We have our own routes that we do. They’re pretty big routes, so we just go and get it done,” Whitworth explained.

Their protocol to plow is three to four inches of snow and rising.

When it snows more than that, just like it did Monday, they work 12-hour shifts; non-stop and no breaks.

“We’re tag-teaming it today to get our main routes done. We won’t do a residential around houses because we won’t have time for that,” Whitworth added.

Even with the tag-team, Whitworth said the task still makes it a 12-hour shift.

Recently, the city of Blackfoot has had numerous complaints about the snow plows.

Whitworth said it is mostly with people who have parked along the streets that are being snowed in.

“You know, we’re just doing our job. Our plows are only directional; everything goes to the right and that’s the best we can do. We just open up the roads,” he said.

Whitworth joked that he loves his job but hates that all the snow is keeping him at work and away from having fun on his snowmobile!

The mayor of Blackfoot issued a snow proclamation Tuesday for cars to be moved off the streets so snow plow drivers can do their jobs.

The proclamation will go into effect next week. Details here.