Two days before a major winter storm was set to impact Texas, two brine tanker trucks used by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) were taken out of service due to mechanical problems. The tankers are essential for spreading brine on Interstates 20 and 30, which helps prevent ice from forming on roads.
Scott Hendrix, Atlanta District Fleet Operations Supervisor, explained the importance of these vehicles: “The two tanker trailers we have are critical for winter weather because roughly half of our sections have interstate that run through them. Without those, we would not be able to pretreat like we need to and to treat during the event. Their large capacity allows crews to cover a lot of miles without having to stop and refill.”
On Thursday morning, the first issue appeared when the brakes malfunctioned on the I-30 tanker during operations. A mechanic attempted repairs onsite but was unsuccessful, requiring the vehicle to be brought back to the district shop for further work.
“We don’t normally have seven techs working on one piece of equipment,” Hendrix said.
While repairs were underway on that unit, another problem emerged with the I-20 tanker—a venting failure prevented it from spraying brine as needed.
“I was a little bit concerned because I knew the district was going to need this — bad. It was all hands on deck to get these things back up and going,” Hendrix said.
Technicians worked together throughout the day until both tankers were repaired by 7 p.m., allowing TxDOT crews to continue their preparations ahead of severe weather.
“I’d never seen that many people working on a single piece of equipment,” Hendrix noted about his team’s response.
After testing confirmed both vehicles were operational, relief was evident among staff members.
“The crew we have in the Atlanta shop is amazing. I can’t say enough good things about this group of mechanics working as a team to solve a serious problem,” Hendrix said. “The guys out here understood the gravity of what was going on and knew that these things needed to go.”
Mechanics play an important role in TxDOT’s winter weather response efforts across Texas by supporting road crews around-the-clock. These types of incidents highlight how agencies remain committed to keeping roads clear during hazardous conditions.
States nationwide are taking steps like these in response to new guidance and funding initiatives announced by federal authorities. For example, $7.3 billion in formula funding has been made available through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law via the Federal Highway Administration so states can better prepare for extreme weather events such as wildfires or flooding.
