PennDOT Warren County equipment operators (from left) Randi Tilford, Thad Steuart, and Tyler Redick affix a spreader assembly to a truck Tuesday at the Warren County Maintenance shed.

PennDOT has targets for getting its fleet ready for winter.

Sometimes, the weather forecast means the local needs arrive sooner than the state-wide goal.

According to Warren and Forest Counties Maintenance Manager Adam Elms, “the state policy is 100 percent of trucks need to be done by the end of October.”

The deadline is not a problem locally. Elms is targeting Oct. 22 for 100 percent of the county’s trucks to be ready. Many will be ready sooner.

Snow is in the forecast for Warren County as early as Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Some of the PennDOT trucks in Warren County have their plows, wings, and spreaders on and are ready for winter.

Crews have been shifting over to winter operations this week. That includes attaching plows and wings and spreader assemblies to the 28 trucks that will be ready to roll when the snow flies.

There are 23 plow routes in the county, Elms said. And there are trucks ready to take over for those that need maintenance. Tanks are ready for brine mix. There is salt and anti-skid ready to keep roads maintained.

Once the heavy lifting is done, the crews will do some studying in the week-long “winter school,” Elms said. “They’ll be learning plow routes and checking equipment. People should see some trucks out in their areas with plows and wings.”

PennDOT announced last week that the summer maintenance schedule was coming to an end. Crews in Warren County will continue to work on those projects.

“We’re trying to finish up some crack sealing and some patching,” Elms said.

There are a few areas – near Route 59, Hatch Run, and Route 62 from Valentine Run to the New York line – where the department has fill dirt to move. Residents in those areas interested in fill dirt may fill out an M-666 form. The forms are available online and may be picked up or dropped off 24/7 at a box in front of the maintenance office in Starbrick

During a Tuesday press conference, PennDOT Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser said, “Safety is our top priority, and motorists are our partners in making this season a safe one. We also have temporary and longer-term employment opportunities and welcome people to join the team in the many types of positions available.”