ROCHESTER — Close to 250 Minnesota Department of Transportation snowplow operators in southeast Minnesota are gathering this week for their annual winter preparedness meetings as MnDOT prepares to shift its seasonal focus from construction to snow and ice.

The meetings in Rochester and Owatonna are part of the training each operator receives in MnDOT’s 11-county District 6 in southeast Minnesota. They are provided with updates and new information about technology, equipment, procedures and safety.

Snowplow operators will also hear from the State Patrol and its dispatchers, equipment mechanics and get a chance to ask questions about operations and procedures.

In MnDOT’s 11-county District 6 there are 101 snowplows on the roads for MnDOT. During heavy snow storms, the drivers are deployed in 12-hour shifts to give 24-hour coverage to maintain travel on the state highways.