MAN snow ploughs clean up

They have long deserved their reputation as “guardian angels” – the motorway maintenance authority employees. People like Thomas Körbel work all year round to keep the traffic going, whatever the weather.

How would our motorways look if they were not hard at work for us, day after day? We’re talking, of course, about the motorway maintenance authority teams. One of the people who works tirelessly for our benefit, in summer and winter alike, is Thomas Körbel. For the last three years, he has worked for the Sulzberg motorway maintenance authority.

In the summer, the number one priority is maintenance along the motorway, so “whatever needs doing,” says Thomas – whether that means mowing grass or repairing guidance equipment. In the winter months, when the snow really starts falling, the team at the motorway maintenance authority has one main task – “clearing snow in three shifts”. So those on the early shift start at four a.m. – and hand over to their colleagues on the late shift eight hours later, who then hand over to the next team on the night shift at eight p.m. The big challenge when clearing the snow is not losing your bearings “when everything you can see is white,” says Thomas. Apart from that, working in the snow has now become routine for him, and he drives the big MAN 4×6 snow-clearing vehicle, equipped with a five-meter plough at the front, another plough to the side, and the gritting attachment at the rear, as a matter of course. It is important to keep an eye on both plough and gritter at the same time, says the young driver. “And not have any collisions,” he adds, which is something of an art form as far as laypeople like us are concerned, considering that visibility can be significantly reduced.

More consideration from other road users would be nice

Thomas’ first winter job three years ago was a real baptism of fire. “One of my older colleagues showed me everything and briefed me on the vehicle. He came with me on the first round. Then I was on my own.” The 24-year-old remembers how it felt using the enormous snow-clearing vehicle at 35 km/h in the passing lane of the motorway in the deep snow.

But that’s all old news now. These days, he has mastered driving the vehicle, and has even got used to the less considerate road users, who often overtake him erratically, or flash their headlights. “Although a bit more patience and understanding would be nice,” he says.

Otherwise, he is completely content with his job at the motorway maintenance authority. Ever since he completed his truck driver’s licence at the age of 19 and started working in civil engineering and road construction, and for a haulage firm, he had been looking for a job where he could regularly work outdoors and drive trucks. In this job, he has found both.

We are glad that Thomas and his colleagues go out to do their work, and would like to take this chance to offer a heart-felt thank you to all of them.