Driven to serve

Snow and ice. It may be fun to play in, but it’s no fun to travel in. Winter storms can create perilous conditions for pedestrians or people driving or biking. A couple inches of snow or the merest glaze of freezing rain can turn an intersection into a demolition derby.  

That’s where Eligeah Hodges comes in. He drives one of the 56 snowplows that Portland Bureau of Transportation operates around the clock to respond to winter weather. (Check out the snowplow names reveal.)  

We caught up with Eligeah last week as the first fleeting flakes came tumbling from the sky.  

How long have you been driving a snowplow? 

I’ve been with the City for about five years. My job title is automotive equipment operator. I drive a truck for the street paving crew, hauling hot asphalt or rocks to a street that’s being repaved, or pulling a trailer with an excavator on it. But when there’s potential for snow or freezing rain, we take the trucks we drive every day and put a snowplow on the front and a spreader on the back that puts down sand and salt. 

What does your day look like when you’re driving a snowplow? 

We leave the PBOT Maintenance Yard on N. Kerby Avenue at 6 a.m. for a 12-hour shift. Then we get back, fuel up the truck, and make sure it’s ready for the next crew to take over for the nighttime shift. The snowplows are out there 24/7 in a snow and ice situation. (Check out this interactive map of Portland snow and ice routes.) 

What are some of the problems you encounter? 

The most common situation is other vehicles attempting to speed by us, get around us instead of just sitting safely behind us and letting us lead the way.  

That happens a lot? 

All day, every day. Sometimes they run into the snow that we’re pushing towards the curb. That’s a hazard. Other times, we might have to stop abruptly or swerve to miss an obstacle. And if they’re trying to go around us, that’s another hazard for them.  

How’d you get into this line of work? 

Well, my Dad worked at PBOT, so I grew up coming to visit on Take Your Kid To Work Days. I saw the work they did and it always appealed to me. Eventually I got hired and I fell in love with the work.  

What’s the best part of your job? 

Myself, I really enjoy the snow and ice. Without us, a lot of people would not be able to get to where they need to go. Including our police officers or fire trucks or paramedics. So to see how the streets are before we get here, and then when we leave, I really enjoy that. 

What do you like to do when you’re not working? 

Well, I have four kids. We like to go on hikes and road trips and take little family vacations. And my kids play sports, so I spend a lot of time at sporting events. 

What’s a pro tip for driving in snow and ice? 

Do not pass snowplows!