Due to the national driver shortage, the St. Joseph County Highway Division is currently operating with a 20% reduction in staff. The county currently has 9 full-time positions and 13 seasonal part-time positions open.
The St. Joseph County Highway Division is committed to maintaining safe roads this winter season. In response to the driver shortage within the Highway Division, St. Joseph County has revised the plow routes as necessary to respond quickly and efficiently to snowstorm events. However, fewer Highway staff means fewer plow trucks on the road. It may take longer for us to get to your road and/or subdivision. Please keep in mind that we will still be plowing all the roads that were previously plowed; however, it may take us a little longer to reach your area than in the past.
We are hopeful that the County will receive applications from interested snowplow drivers before the heavy part of the season begins. We have plans in place so that these new drivers can be inserted into our Winter Program and the routes easily adjusted to accommodate the addition of new staff.
County Engineer Sky Medors stated, “When mapping out the snowplow routes, we have to prioritize the highest travelled roads first. This worker shortage is frustrating for everyone, and I hope that our residents understand we will get to their roads as quickly as we possibly can without sacrificing the safety of our drivers, or the travelling public at large.”
The County Highway Division is holding open interviews for both full-time and part-time snowplow driver positions on Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 10:00 AM (Eastern) to 2:00 PM (Eastern) at the Riverside Garage, 3301 Riverside Dr., South Bend, IN 46628. Anyone who is interested in helping the County’s snow plowing efforts is encouraged to attend and to learn more about working for St. Joseph County. Applications can also be completed and submitted on the County’s website.
4 comments
No wonder! $ 15.95 an hour for all these skills sets, and the danger of working with heavy equipment? And the need for licenses? When you can work inside at an easy job with no danger or fear of injury for 15???
The National “driver” shortage is false. It’s a national LABOR shortage, as people are getting more and more freebies so they are less and less inclined to work, combined with vaccine mandates gutting the existing workforce. Pure idiocy!
There is a driver shortage in CALIFORNIA, but that’s because of emission and labor laws specific to that state that took over 50% of the truck drivers off the road.
Everyone is hiring how can anyone be collecting unemployment?
I have to wonder if the 20% percent reduction in staff is due to employees leaving since the County requires employees to have the Covid Vaccine.