Because the city says people, cars and animals jump out all the time during plowing, they always have to be prepared.

While it's been nice and sunny in Washoe County as of late, the City of Reno is preparing for winter time. 

The city is putting new drivers through a virtual snow plow training before they get out in real life situations.

The simulator is all about giving new operators a feel for the vehicle.

Typical snow plows are a 65,000 to 70,000-pound piece of machinery that are being driven in the snow and icy conditions.

The big focal point of the training is to be aware of your surroundings because you never know what could jump out at you.

"We have animals run out in front of us constantly," said Tim Hendricks, Maintenance and Operations Manager, City of Reno Street Division. "We have cars run out in front of us constantly. We have individuals will walk in the middle of street as we're plowing the roads. They will literally come out in front of us."

The city has used this virtual training for four years and they believe it has made a huge difference.

"You know it's been huge because we are investing in their training to make them safer and so anytime you can invest training and get these guys exposure before being thrust out into a life situation," Hendricks said. "It's invaluable."

There are currently nine new operators training and some newer guys on the staff will run through the simulator again.

This virtual training is just the tip of the iceberg.

Trainees go through a six to eight-week process in the wintertime with a seasoned operator.

The training includes a lot of work, and it's up to the seasoned operator to determine if they are able to go out by themselves.

The City of Reno also announced they will have a new cul-de-sac program for this winter.

The goal is to have six vehicles clearing cul-de-sacs during storms.