NEW ORLEANS - Parade day preps start early, with floats moving from dens to yard or street line-ups, and then, tractor drivers take the wheel.
"We definitely are a huge part of behind the scenes to make things happen. We have to be trained on instructions and to work like an army of ants behind the scenes," said driver Dave Bonar.
Barry Kern with Kern Studios said, "They get up real early in the morning. A lot of them work late into the nights. It's kind of a thankless job, but for a lot of these guys, they really enjoy it."
But the job also has a dangerous side, which was highlighted over the weekend when a tractor driver was killed by a drunk driver during a post-parade convoy, according to police. Those convoys are where most problems pop up.
"What ends up happening is people want to jump in between floats, and that's the most dangerous thing you can do," said Kern. "Because as we saw last week, it could turn into a tragic accident. And every year there's motorcycle policeman, they get injured because people pull between the float, and it's just something we want everybody to be aware of."
Drivers are hopeful the public being pushed to be more appreciative, more courteous and more safe toward them will help.
"I think that most of the world's problems come from man's inhumanity to man," said Bonar.
Even the krewes that can't roll without these tractors are also backing the message to be more courteous and safe when going near the tractors.
"They're very important," said Krewe of Iris Officer Pam Pickett, "They're just as important as the riders, as anyone that's out on the parade route."
So since most of Mardi Gras starts with the tractor, many hope that's where safety efforts will start too.
And as always, officials are asking families to keep an eye on children getting too close to tractors or floats.
