Managing Snow & Ice

Editor's Note: The following excerpt is from Managing Snow & Ice by John A. Allin. Managing Snow & Ice is a 224-page, comprehensive guide to the business of snow and ice removal. This new book is available for the introductory price of $39.95 (regular price $49.95 after Aug. 31, 2002) by calling 800/456-0707, or click here for more information.

Managing Snow & Ice: A Practical Guide To Operating A Profitable Snow And Ice Removal Business

Chapter Twelve: Plowing Effectively

Experience shows that those who plow snow on a per-push basis inherently seek out the most efficient way to clear the snow off a particular site in order to move from one site to another as quickly as possible, so as to increase production times and profits. For purposes of this discussion, we shall assume the plowing contractor wishes to increase production times so as to increase the aforementioned revenues.

Matching Equipment To The Job

The mindset of how to best use that equipment becomes important when attempting to increase efficiency. Think outside the box when detailing how the crew should “attack” a site during a snow and ice storm.

Part of the problem is that, once a mindset is established, it becomes quite difficult to go to the next level. Be vigilant in always considering more efficient ways to clear snow from an account. For example, most contractors who finally use a snow pusher are amazed at the increased productivity. However, these same contractors will continue to plow smaller lots with pickup-mounted plows instead of trying to use the pushers to increase productivity across the board. Try to suggest that a 20-foot-wide, fold-up snow pusher be used in a typical fast-food restaurant, and the closed-minded person will think this is a crazy idea. In fact, this is being done now in several markets. Imagine plowing the fast-food restaurant in 10 minutes using a 20-foot pusher and a plow truck. Now imagine the profit that results if you are charging per push.

The plow truck pulls snow out of the tight corners into the main lot, and then leaves the site. The loader and 20-foot pusher come in and make two passes around the building, totally clearing the lot.

The use of a 10-foot pusher on a four-wheel-drive (4WD) backhoe will also do the same fast-food restaurant all by itself – assuming an open-minded and capable operator is at the helm. Pushers on 4WD backhoe loaders will backdrag, get close to curbs, tuck corners and pile snow, just like plow trucks, only much faster.

Clearing Snow

Let’s assume you are not utilizing snow pushers yet, and you are using plows on trucks. In parking lots where the lot completely surrounds the building, the old-fashioned method would dictate you plow each side of the building in turn. When diagramed, one can ascertain that this is an effective method of plowing.

One moves the snow from the lot on one side of the building, then clears the second side by backing up onto the already cleared corner of the lot. This is repeated around the building until the entire lot is cleared. Unfortunately, this method results in considerable backing up of the plow truck. Going forward as much as possible, with the plow down and pushing snow off the pavement, is preferable. However, the old school thinking won’t allow for any other ideas to come into play.

How else can you clear the lot if you don’t push the snow to the outside edges one side at a time? Envision, if you can, the lot is clear of vehicles. Also, envision the interior nooks and crannies are “pulled out” into the lot first. One pulls the snow out past any islands or other close-in obstructions prior to doing any forward plowing.

Once the backdragging is completed all around the building, you then begin running around the building in circles (counterclockwise in this example) angling the blade to the passenger side of the truck.

With each concentric circle around the building, you go in wider and wider circles, pushing the snow closer and closer to the perimeter of the parking lot. Eventually you may have to go around light poles in the lot, but by cutting away from the base of the pole, you’ll eventually get out past that pole and continue your concentric circles, further advancing the snow toward the perimeter of the lot.

Once the vast majority of the snow is at the exterior curb lines, you then push in the entrances to the lot (from the street), and tuck the corners to neatly finish off the plowing.

Experienced plowers will adamantly tell you that you’ll cut the plowing time by almost 50 percent in this fashion. Exact time reductions will depend on the number of obstructions in the lot as well as ongoing snowfall restrictions. However, dramatically reduced plowing times will result if the above example is followed closely.

The above example does not work in all circumstances and, often, one will find themselves doing the plowing in the most efficient manner anyway. But, if you can learn to think “outside the box” when approaching the commercial lot, you’ll be amazed at how you can increase production.

When Arriving On Site

Some examples of things you must be cognizant of when entering a lot to begin plowing operations are as follows, in no particular order:

One Very Important Cautionary Note: Always plow with the seat belt securely fastened. It is inevitable you will hit an obstruction of some sort. It may be a piece of pavement sticking up or a manhole cover that is up a half inch. The truck may come to a dead stop in such instances, but the physics of inertia will allow your body to continue its directional path. It usually takes one time of kissing the steering wheel to reinforce this edict.

Tips For A Quality Job

Some important tips for providing a quality job for the customer include:

Plowing Safety

Snowplow operators are asked to work in very hazardous conditions, often late at night and in difficult circumstances. As a result, injuries, vehicle accidents and damages to the customer’s property can occur if safety is not a top priority. Also, being unprepared for equipment breakdowns can create dangerous situations in which the plow operator is exposed to the elements or vehicle traffic while trying to fix the broken machinery. Some important safety/preparedness tips when plowing or getting ready to plow include:

Avoiding Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes plowers make when starting out. Unfortunately, some of the most experienced plowers can make some of these mistakes too.

TRAINING

Experience is the best educator when it comes to plowing snow. Being efficient and methodical can make life much easier during a snowstorm. Unfortunately, as your company grows, you will be less and less involved in the actual plowing of accounts, which means you will have to learn to rely on your employees. This means you will need to conduct adequate training, so that employees serve your customers to the level of quality you expect.

Equipment operators require training in order to properly use snow removal equipment. Instruction and training are key ingredients to success in the plowing business. For example, instructing the loader operators that their buckets need to be in the float position and not to attempt to apply down pressure to the rear of the pusher, is key to their ultimate success in operating these units. The tendency for any loader operator is to apply more down pressure in order to cut into the snow, however, these units are designed to slide over the surface to adequately remove the snow in front of the unit.

Plow truck operators also require training in order to adequately perform. Never assume that the new rookie plow driver instinctively knows how to plow snow. Start by showing a proper training film that details the proper pre-storm preparation, proper methods of plowing smaller properties, and what to watch out for when plowing on larger sites. You may also want to establish a formalized training program.