There are plenty of places to cut, but heavy equipment operators isn't one of them.  Commissioner Luiken's proposal at one point last years was to cut 38 positions in DOT, and 30 of them were equipment operators.  Regardless, there was very little room to cut as far as equipment operators and they did it anyway.  The public has to feel the sting is the motto for the DOT brass.  That is why they came up with the priority 1,2, and 3 road clearing debacle.  The foreman and crew leaders know how to maintain their sections of road but are not allowed.  The public has to feel the cut, and cutting in other areas won't accomplish that.  
Let me know when some of the mostly useless bureaucracy and positions are starting to get cut in Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
If you in the public want to know the truth, you have to make the effort to try and talk to a foreman or staff of the DOT station in your area privately off the record.  They are not allowed to speak publicly.