Two days before a major winter storm was expected to impact Texas, two critical tanker trucks used for spreading brine on Interstates 20 and 30 were taken out of service due to mechanical problems. Mechanics from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) worked quickly to return them to operation, ensuring that crews could continue preparations for icy conditions on key highways.
Scott Hendrix, Atlanta District Fleet Operations Supervisor, emphasized 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,” he said. “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.”
The first issue arose Thursday morning when the tanker assigned to I-30 experienced brake malfunctions during brine application. Despite an initial repair attempt by a TxDOT mechanic, the problem persisted and required towing the vehicle back to the district shop.
“We don’t normally have seven techs working on one piece of equipment,” Hendrix noted.
While repairs were underway on the I-30 tanker, another problem surfaced with the second tanker designated for I-20—a venting failure stopped 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.
Mechanics collaborated closely in troubleshooting both issues, with an unusually large team focusing their efforts until repairs concluded at 7 p.m. The successful test run brought relief 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 stated. “The guys out here understood the gravity of what was going on and knew that these things needed to go.”
TxDOT mechanics play an essential role in winter weather response across Texas, supporting road crews around-the-clock during severe events. Such efforts reflect TxDOT’s ongoing commitment statewide to keeping roads clear and safe during hazardous conditions.
In related developments aimed at strengthening transportation infrastructure nationwide, more than $2.2 billion has been awarded through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding supports projects designed to modernize roads, bridges, transit systems, railways, ports, and intermodal facilities across urban and rural communities (read more).
Additionally, new guidance along with $7.3 billion in formula funding has been announced by the Federal Highway Administration as part of federal efforts helping states prepare for extreme weather events such as wildfires or flooding (details here).
To learn more about how TxDOT responded during recent storms in January 2026, visit their Newsroom story online.
