KANSAS CITY, Mo. — MoDOT has planned a job fair for Thursday as it looks to hire 40 full-time maintenance workers ahead of the winter season.
The fair will be held at the Morning Star Baptist Church Youth and Family Life Center, located at 2525 E. 27th St., Kansas City, MO from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Maintenance workers are responsible for working on the roads and operating the snow plows.
"They're half of our workforce," MoDOT Human Resources Manager Deborah Hogan said. "We need more to get ready for the winter operation.
There will be on-the-spot interviews and on-the-spot job offers at the fair, she said..
"You can walk out the door with a job offer in your hand," Hogan said. "It'll be a contingent job offer. You do the prerequisites, your drug screen, your background check and all of that and then we'll confirm the offer."
New hires would start at the end of October.
Hogan said the need is critical ahead of the winter season. If positions aren't filled, it could impact drivers' daily commute during the winter season.
"If we don't hire all those people, then we will have some trucks parked and some of our workers we currently have may have to work more hours in order for us to keep the highways clean, especially during winter operations," Hogan said. "In the summer time, it's the mowing and all of those things, so we really need more people."
MoDOT is looking now because new hires need enough time to get trained, obtain their CDL and make sure they're ready for winter operations so they can go out and plow.
Hogan said finding workers can be difficult at times because in the past, MoDOT has been able to rely on trade schools for workers. Now, more students are opting for college over trade schools.
"When I first started, we could get maintenance workers and it was no problem," Hogan said. "We have a lot of students going to college. And they're not doing any of the trades, or taking trades, and there's a need for those people."
MoDOT is looking to hire mechanics and electricians as well.
Hogan said the starting salary is $14.59 an hour. Benefits include medical, annual leave, sick leave and paid holidays.
Applicants have to 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license. MoDOT will provide commercial driver’s license (CDL) training. All applicants must successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screening.
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