Snowplow driver was fired for damaging 55-cars on the Ohio Turnpike

Ohio's Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission has fired a snowplow operator after the driver directed snow and ice over the highway median and into oncoming traffic in January. The incident spread across several miles, causing accidents involving about 55 vehicles and injuring 18 people.

"Stupid is as Stupid does" ..... Forrest Gump

VIDEO: Ohio Plow Driver Fired After Launching Slush Into Traffic (businessinsider.com)

 

That could of been a bit hairy driving into that.

 

He should have got more than fired for that.

 

He did some Serious damage to those cars. Sending a few out of control and off the highway.
What the h3ll was he thinking?!?

 

Certainly deserved to be fired!
I wouldn't be surprised to see people lawyer up and go after him personally

 

Good help truly is hard to find.

 

I'd imagine that could potentially go through a windshield at 70 and been very bad for someone. I saw the vid of one vehicle driving off the road afterwards and figured that's maybe what happened. He definitely deserves more that just a simple loss of job.

 

Ohio is a sue happy state anyway. Used to live outside Cleveland (Olmstead Falls) to be exact and one thing always impressed me about the local phone book and that was how thick the section was that listed lawyers phone numbers and all the ads proclaiming the 'sue and get rich' stuff.

Always appeared to me that Ohio in general was loaded with 'ambulance chasers' all chomping at the bit to sue for anything. That don't play here, glad of that too.

 

I'm sure the Ohio Turnpike Authority has liability insurance that covers that sort of incompetence on the part of their employers which can and should be addressed instead of a lawsuit. Remember the mouthpiece gets the lion share of the settlement anyway in a civil suit.

Better to deal directly with the Turnpike and forego the lawyers entirely.

 

I usually dom't read any link associated with a post like this.....but this time I did and when I got to the end of the article and read where "some towns in Massachusetts" are offering $310 per hour for snow plow drivers......

Is there any doubt in your mind that their taxes are way, way ,way too high?

 

Dint red yo englich speeling bouk eather

 

C'mon man! Gimmie a break! Just came in form shoveling/scooping for 2 hours!




Actually, I subscribe to the evelyn woods speed typing course.....

(Glad Eric VW is taking a break)

 

Does she teach at Helen Keller U?

Yeah...but he told me to take up the slack...

No scooping here...its 42*

 

You do realize this is for a private contractor using his/her own equipment, own fuel, own insurance, etc. Right?

The $310 per hour is for a rubber tired loader equal to a CAT 980 or bigger with a 10 foot or bigger plow.

https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/473e6061-7a40-45f3-a2f3-dcb67367912d

What do you suppose a 66,000 lb machine costs to buy?

How about insurance to plow on city streets with it?

How much fuel do you reckon the 386 hp diesel engine burns an hour?

How much would an operator who is skilled enough, trustworthy enough, and willing to run such a machine be worth an hour?

How much do you suppose a breakdown on a machine like this costs on average?

How many guys with this type of machine are in the local area and are willing to do this work at all hours of the day and night, sometimes 40 plus hours in a row?

How much of that $310/hr. goes straight back to Uncle Sam?

Just some food for thought my friend.

I plowed for the state in all kinds of vehicles for a long time. Its a suck job. There's nothing wrong with the amounts they are paying. Its not for a 3/4 ton pickup with a 8' plow

 

Wow!

I'll try to answer all 8 of those questions one at a time, in the order they were asked, OK? But remember.....the info you provided wasn't at all set forth by the link in the OP's post.

1. It didn't say anywhere in the link provided that this position was for a private contractor with his own equipment etc. etc. So the first question answer is "I didn't know that....but how could I?"

2. I don't know

3. I don't know.

4. I don't know.

5. I don't know.

6. I don't know.

7. I don't know.

8. I don't know.







Sorry to hear that you didn't like your job as a plow driver. You should've come here....less traffic, nicer people, more appreciation for your services!

 

We were almost neighbors!

 

Lol. I wouldn't mind moving trust me. Just pointing things out the average pizzed off tax payer probably doesn't consider.

I know the 980 has a 127 gallon tank and burns about 6-8 gallons per hour. Up to 10 if you're pushing them hard. At about $4/gallon that's around $30-$40/hour for fuel. A good operator who has their hoisting engineer license will be at least $40/hr. Uncle Sammie takes at least 30%, so say about $100 an hour. Lets not forget wear and tear, maintenance, cutting edges, etc. All told the owner of the machine is lucky if he/she sees a quarter-a third of the $310/hr.

You also have to do a crapload of paperwork and get your equipment inspected pre-season. We usually spent a solid week, sometimes two getting stuff ready. Welding, new parts, paint, cutting edges, correct reflective tape, etc, etc.

On top of all this there were many years we had to wait til AUGUST to get paid from the state. So lets say you get a 200 hour winter. You could easily be 25k+ invested of your own money for one piece of equipment like the big loader. Many guys have multiple pieces with multiple operators.

Next time you see a plow driver, buy the poor bastard a coffee. He's probably been up for 30 hours keeping the roads clear and safe so citizens can get where they need to go.

 

Monthly lease through Milton Cat is way less than purchasing. You don’t really get bigger than a 980 around New England so I’m guessing 928 cat or 644 Deere sized is plenty to push a 10 foot plow. We ran a 24 foot pusher on a 980 and a 744. $20-$25 an hour for an operator non union BS. Machine burns 5-6 GPH , 112 gallons at $3.30 bulk off-road fuel prices. That’s a lot of plowing on a tank. Insurance for a contractor has to be paid weather the machine is plowing snow or parked covered in snow so the plowing actually makes it worth paying. Maintenance isn’t that expensive in the big picture as long as you’re not wrecking stuff. Couple hundred hours on an oil change, fuel filters if need be in between with some bad fuel, air filters if they suck in some snow and freeze but you can thaw and dry and reuse. $310 isn’t bad money.

 

I'd like to emphasize this event happened in north east Ohio and not South east Ohio.