Bob- thanks for recognizing these hardworking guys - my son is one of them! Something most people don't think about: When it's time to move that snow/ice/sand, the road guys have to leave home in the dark, get in their OWN vehicle, and drive on those unplowed city or country roads to wherever their machine is garaged. I'm surprised that more of them aren't injured going to work!
Last I knew, here in Marion County, many drivers drove their maintainer or plow home with them the night before. That makes a lot of sense. Thank your son for us!
Bob, nice catch. Plowing snow or fighting ice on country roads can be exciting as you test your personal skill and stamina and that of your machine. It also can be exhausting because you are by yourself for hours, sometimes cold, and, by the third day, tired. Your neck and shoulders are tight from the constant pivoting to see tree stumps or signs of kids playing in the adjacent snowbanks. These drivers feel responsible for their work—they know many of the people on their routes as friends, relatives, and, occasionally, lifelong rivals. They often don’t have all the resources that they need and have to make consequential decisions quickly and independently. Good drivers make it look easy and too often it’s the bad ones who stand out…for obvious reasons. I managed a county road agency for almost 40 years and your post captured what these people do. As I finish this comment, I heard the sound of a steel blade on my road and saw the dancing amber and green strobes of my local patrol driver who was treating ice in our climate change winter.
Bob, thank you for reminding us that we are surrounded by heroes and we should always pay attention to what all of them to take care of us and our neighbors.
Thanks a bunch Bob. My dad worked for the Waterloo Street Department his last several years before retirement in 1973 and he spent a lot of time plowing snow. It's tough, tedious work, especially when you pull a double shift during a really bad storm. He told me one night he caught his plow on a storm drain and they had to send another truck out to help him
His boss, the street superintendent, went on KWWL-TV during one of the bad storms in the 1960s and said. "Well, let's face it. We're professional snow fighters." Dad nodded in agreement.
He took us younger kids to the Street Department Christmas parties, which were a big deal back in 1968-69; you dressed up nice for them and they had quite a spread. I don't know who paid for them but I know the mayor showed up and they had a big turnout.
The workers were appreciated. And they made the most of it because,, well, it was December and everyone knew the next snowstorm could be just around the corner.
When Dad died in 1990 a delegation of fellas he worked with, including his union steward, attended the funeral, in Dad's hometown of Winthrop an hour and half away. Dad had been retired 17 years. They didn't have to do that. They did.
When I took Dad to the doctor when he was older and they asked his occupation, he always said, unflinchingly, "Manual laborer." To paraphrase Merle Haggard, The Poet of the Common Man, Dad took a lot of pride in what he was, and, back then, folks appreciated the simple dignity of human labor.
I always appreciate the people who work hard to keep our roads safe. One time I rode along with a friend who cleared snow from parking lots. Between getting up in the middle of the night and all the driving forward and backwards...until I was about sick!... these folks have my gratitude and respect. Thanks for this, Bob, and I hope to see you in the spring.
Bob- thanks for recognizing these hardworking guys - my son is one of them! Something most people don't think about: When it's time to move that snow/ice/sand, the road guys have to leave home in the dark, get in their OWN vehicle, and drive on those unplowed city or country roads to wherever their machine is garaged. I'm surprised that more of them aren't injured going to work!
Last I knew, here in Marion County, many drivers drove their maintainer or plow home with them the night before. That makes a lot of sense. Thank your son for us!
Bob- he lives on a small lot in a small town outside his work jurisdiction- that might be why he can’t-
Bob, nice catch. Plowing snow or fighting ice on country roads can be exciting as you test your personal skill and stamina and that of your machine. It also can be exhausting because you are by yourself for hours, sometimes cold, and, by the third day, tired. Your neck and shoulders are tight from the constant pivoting to see tree stumps or signs of kids playing in the adjacent snowbanks. These drivers feel responsible for their work—they know many of the people on their routes as friends, relatives, and, occasionally, lifelong rivals. They often don’t have all the resources that they need and have to make consequential decisions quickly and independently. Good drivers make it look easy and too often it’s the bad ones who stand out…for obvious reasons. I managed a county road agency for almost 40 years and your post captured what these people do. As I finish this comment, I heard the sound of a steel blade on my road and saw the dancing amber and green strobes of my local patrol driver who was treating ice in our climate change winter.
A brave man!
Bob, thank you for reminding us that we are surrounded by heroes and we should always pay attention to what all of them to take care of us and our neighbors.
Thanks a bunch Bob. My dad worked for the Waterloo Street Department his last several years before retirement in 1973 and he spent a lot of time plowing snow. It's tough, tedious work, especially when you pull a double shift during a really bad storm. He told me one night he caught his plow on a storm drain and they had to send another truck out to help him
His boss, the street superintendent, went on KWWL-TV during one of the bad storms in the 1960s and said. "Well, let's face it. We're professional snow fighters." Dad nodded in agreement.
He took us younger kids to the Street Department Christmas parties, which were a big deal back in 1968-69; you dressed up nice for them and they had quite a spread. I don't know who paid for them but I know the mayor showed up and they had a big turnout.
The workers were appreciated. And they made the most of it because,, well, it was December and everyone knew the next snowstorm could be just around the corner.
When Dad died in 1990 a delegation of fellas he worked with, including his union steward, attended the funeral, in Dad's hometown of Winthrop an hour and half away. Dad had been retired 17 years. They didn't have to do that. They did.
When I took Dad to the doctor when he was older and they asked his occupation, he always said, unflinchingly, "Manual laborer." To paraphrase Merle Haggard, The Poet of the Common Man, Dad took a lot of pride in what he was, and, back then, folks appreciated the simple dignity of human labor.
Wow. Thanks, Pat. What a great story! I hope you work it up for your column. Thanks for sharing.
These people are among the real heroes of society.
I always appreciate the people who work hard to keep our roads safe. One time I rode along with a friend who cleared snow from parking lots. Between getting up in the middle of the night and all the driving forward and backwards...until I was about sick!... these folks have my gratitude and respect. Thanks for this, Bob, and I hope to see you in the spring.
And it's amazing how you feel every little bump.
👍a great reminder when the weather is going south!