For the sixth year in a row, NDDOT is calling on North Dakotans to put on their creative thinking caps and submit their cleverest, punniest, and most imaginative snowplow name ideas! 

The last day to submit name ideas is Monday, Nov. 23. Visit dot.nd.gov/name-a-plow for more information and to submit an idea. 

While we’re preparing to name our plows, let’s not forget to prepare for winter driving. Here are a few tips to keep you safe on North Dakota’s winter roads: 

• Slow down: Reduce your speed on snowy or icy roads. It gives you more control and more time to react if the unexpected happens. 

• Leave room: Keep a safe following distance from other vehicles, especially snowplows. They’re often driving slower and kicking up snow that limits visibility. 

• Stay informed: Check road conditions before heading out. The ND Roads app offers real-time information on road conditions, closures, and incidents making it easier to plan your route safely. Download it from your app store today! 

So put on your winter thinking caps, North Dakota! Stay safe on the roads and may the best names “plow” through the competition!

The NDDOT and its partners are wrapping up the 2026 construction season. Crews are putting the finishing touches on projects across the state, but there’s still plenty of work to get done before winter arrives.

Safety remains a top priority for our crews and everyone traveling through work zones. Remember to slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions and give workers plenty of space. A little extra patience goes a long way in helping everyone get home safely.

This year’s construction program included 199 projects and about $809 million in investment to keep North Dakota’s roads and bridges in great shape. Thanks to the hard work and long hours from crews across the state, we’re making important improvements to our transportation system.

Before heading out, check for the latest road conditions and construction updates. Call 511, visit the ND Travel map or download the ND Roads app. 

NDDOT has launched a new online scheduling and in-office queuing system to make driver and vehicle service visits easier and more efficient. 

The new system lets customers receive text and email reminders about upcoming appointments, helping reduce missed appointments and wait times.  

Some offices will also have new kiosks where customers can check in, join a digital queue and see real-time updates. Customers can even receive text messages with updates on their place in line while they wait. 

“We are excited to roll out the new scheduling system,” said NDDOT Director of Driver and Vehicle Services Brad Schaffer. “This upgrade will allow our offices to run more efficiently and enable us to better serve our customers.” 

North Dakotans can schedule driver and vehicle services online anytime, day or night.

Remember playing video games such as Pole Position or Super Mario Kart so you could pretend to be “king of the road” even before you had a permit to drive? The technology has improved, and that play-to-win desire still runs strong in kids and teens. 

In that spirit, Vision Zero ND and the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association (NDMCA) teamed up to develop the Teen Driving Center, a website with multiple interactive games that teach young drivers to safely share the road with trucks. 

Activities include navigating blind spots, stopping distances, wide turns and other situations they’ll encounter behind the wheel. Successful attempts are rewarded with points. Too many unsuccessful attempts means game over. 

“Whether you’re driving in a rural area or through a city, sharing the road with large trucks is part of everyday driving in North Dakota. But we may not always think about what the truck driver can see or how much room they need,” said Leah Kelm, Regional Outreach Coordinator for Vision Zero. “The Teen Driving Center uses engaging, interactive scenarios to make those challenges easier to understand. It’s a valuable resource for new drivers, with important reminders we can all benefit from, no matter how long we’ve been behind the wheel.” 

The site debuted during October’s National Teen Driver Safety Week. It also has an instructor toolkit for teachers to use in the classroom. 

NDMCA, which led the project with Highway Safety Division funds, worked with truck drivers, law enforcement and driver ed instructors. The tool they developed is not only fun, but challenging and memorable.