Duane E. "Dewey" Amsler
Salt Institute
Salt and Highway Deicing newsletter
Summer 2008
Inexperienced snowfighting managers are tempted by the mirage of "savings" by scrimping on training as they stretch diminishing resources for personnel, equipment and materials. Agency operations benefit from effective snow and ice training, but many managers don't recognize that customers, as well, benefit through better service (including fewer mailboxes being destroyed!). Hard benefit-cost calculations of training are difficult, but efforts by the NYS DOT, Utah DOT, AZ DOT and Fortin Consulting are worth reviewing. When considering who should be trained, take off the blinders; think broadly. Training can be on on the job, on the computer, in the parking lot or in classrooms; outcomes are what matters. LTAP Centers can be a good source of training workshops.