KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — You’ll now be able to follow the progress of Michigan Department of Transportation plows in real-time online as they clear Interstates, the state highways and trunk lines this winter.
They have equipped every truck with GPS, and there will be a spot on their website to track them. Not only that, but you will be able to tell from the readouts which trucks have their plows down and which are spreading salt.
In addition, there are dash cams in some of the rigs that you can tap into to get views of what the drivers are looking at.
The program includes MDOT plow trucks in Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties.
Spokesman Nick Schrippa said it could be useful for people who are traveling on major state routes and would like to know where the plow trucks are and have been.
The technology is getting a try out in southwest Michigan because the snow season runs longer here. We can thank the lake effect for that. If the tracking system is popular, it could be expanded statewide.
– John McNeill
