Ohio - The Ohio Department of Transportation is feeling the effects of the worker shortage that has been plaguing the country. 

ODOT is struggling to ensure its fleet of seasonal drivers is ready for when the winter weather arrives. 

ODOT claims that this year has been an incredibly tough year for attracting seasonal drivers and that the lack of applicants can impact how quickly roads will get cleared this winter. 

They are looking for hundreds of drivers for the winter season and claim that applications are down quite a bit. ODOT is looking to hire 14 seasonal drivers in Mahoning County and 15 in Trumbull. So far, they've had ten applicants for Mahoning and six for Trumbull. 

"Between Mahoning and Trumbull counties, we have about 30 openings," says Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson Justin Chesnic. 

ODOT currently has a roster of full-time drivers, but it's the seasonal drivers that it needs to get everyone through the long-term snow and ice events. 

"We have a goal at the Ohio Department of Transportation to plow and clear the roads and get them running close to the posted speed limit two hours after a snow or ice event concludes. So what's going to happen if we're shorthanded a little bit? It's just going to take a bit longer to get to that time," says Chesnic. 

Interested parties can apply here.