Float Drivers Train for America’s Thanksgiving Parade Route in Detroit

The Parade Company started training volunteers who'll drive floats for America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit. Thanksgiving's less than three weeks away. The group prepares for the annual event that rolls down Woodward Avenue.

Volunteers complete several practice laps to learn the route. It looks straight. But it demands skill at certain points, like near the Little Caesars Arena, said Don Morris, senior director of operations for The Parade Company, according to ClickOnDetroit.

Safety tops the list for organizers.

"Safety is what it's all about and we don't want any problems," Tony Michaels, who runs The Parade Company, said.

The team practices in any weather. Rain or sunshine won't stop them from preparing.

Training got harder because most floats now are triples instead of single units, which forced organizers to ramp up their prep work.

Drivers and spotters work together using radios throughout the entire route, talking from start to finish.

Spotters keep operations running without a hitch. They watch the road ahead and to the sides while floats move through the streets.

"The spotter is the most important part of this whole thing in terms of to be able to look forward to the side and making sure we're doing everything we need to do," Morris said.

James Gruda captains the float drivers and spotters. He described what makes a good team member.

"It takes coordination. It takes common sense, and it takes a lot of fun out of people," Gruda said.

The parade has brought joy to spectators for decades.