STAFFING OF MAINTENANCE CREWS DURING WINTER MONTHS

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation wished to learn whether winter maintenance manpower was being used effectively and developed a research project for this purpose. The objectives of the study were to determine the cost-effectiveness of single- and dual-shift staffing during the winter months, identify maintenance activities that are not snow related and that can be performed during cold weather, estimate the amounts of work that can be accomplished with single and dual shifts, and ascertain optimum winter staffing patterns. Data from actual winters were obtained and computer models were developed to permit the calculation of regular time, premium time, and regular time when there was insufficient light to work and it was not snowing. Other states with weather similar to Pennsylvania's were contacted and furnished information about their use of maintenance manpower during the winter months. In-depth interviews were also conducted with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation personnel at various levels. A winter severity index based on total meteorological data rather than snowfall only was developed during this study to provide a means of approximating the relative severity of winters in terms of labor costs. The computer model permitted the cost-effectiveness of a wide variety of staffing patterns to be evaluated in each county in Pennsylvania. It was determined that dual-shift operation for at least part of the winter season can be more economical than single-shift operation in some districts and counties in Pennsylvania.