How to Prepare Your Plow Trucks for Winter

Learn how to keep your plow trucks in prime conditions for when you need them.

Hard to believe it’s that time already. Another Northeast Ohio winter is right around the corner! Are you prepared for it? Of course you are.

Review these common-sense provisions and you’ll be ready to accept every new customer begging for your services this winter.

Check Your Truck’s Vitals

Without your truck, you aren’t plowing or making any money. Performing these rudimentary steps ensures your vehicles are in their top-performing conditions.

• Ensure adequate tire pressure 

• Check Oil pressure 

• Necessary fluids are topped off (brake fluid, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)

• Windshield wipers should be replaced prior while the weather is still nice

• Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, etc. should be checked and confirmed to be in good working order prior to the start of the season

• Ensure the battery adequately holds a charge

• Check brake lines and other hoses for cracking and splitting

• Double check brakes pads, rotors, drums, etc. and have a wheel alignment performed on your trucks prior to winter

While we mentioned checking the fluids in your truck, maintain at least ½ tank of fuel in the vehicle at all times. If your plow truck has a diesel engine, supplement the fuel with winterizer as well to prevent any fuel line freeze-ups during any downtime you may experience.

Keep emergency kits in each vehicle 

How well do you remember the winter of 2021? You’ve probably been trying to forget it, haven’t you?

Far too many plow trucks ended up stuck in the snow unable to get assistance, because their rescuers were also stuck in the snow! 

While you know you’ll get out eventually, it’s not always obvious how long it might take.

Prepare by keeping an emergency kit within each of your vehicles. 

Your emergency kits should consist of a minimum of the following:

• Extra warm clothes

• Blankets

• Gloves

• Hats

• Backup fuel if possible

• First-aid kit

• Food

• Flashlight with extra batteries

• Cell phone power bank with charging cords

Plow and Pump Maintenance

You may be thinking this tip is a given, but have you given your plow a once-over yet this year? Is it still in working condition? You may have done so prior to putting it up for spring, but a lot can happen over the course of six months, and unexpected damage or wear can go unnoticed.

Have your hydraulic pumps been maintained throughout the offseason? 

If you haven’t yet performed your routine maintenance, now is a better time than when you’re on the road. In fact, it’s easy to implement a schedule so you routinely take these steps at regular intervals throughout the offseason.

A few other maintenance items to consider are as follows:

• Touch up any rust on the plow

• Inspect the plow blade for wear

• Ensure mounting bolts and other fasteners are tight and secure

• Continue doing this regularly throughout the plowing season

This item seems silly, I know! If you remember though, this is ALL common-sense, but those are generally the most overlooked items. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Ensure Your Business Is Protected

A significant number of contractors offering plowing services are either UNINSURED or UNDER-INSURED. Are you one of them?

Not having adequate coverage for your plowing exposure leaves you open to lawsuits from your plowing operation. 

Double check your insurance package to ensure your snow and ice management services are actually covered by your liability policy. If you’re unsure whether you have enough coverage, schedule a chat and we’ll review it together.

Bonus Tip: Plan your team’s routes ahead of time

Remember, you’re a business owner first. Maximize efficiency and revenue with the help of your team. Plan any routes ahead of time as much as you can. Things can and WILL come up. While you know you can’t plan for every possible scenario, through proper planning, you will be happy to have adequate contingencies in place, for those “just in case” moments.

Bonus Tip: Contract Your Clients for the Season

We never know what the future will hold. Will this year bring us a winter like 2021, or will it be mild like 2022? Why things are left to chance is beyond me when there can be some certainty in your revenue stream.

Rather than charging for your plowing services per push, consider locking into contract with your current clients for the winter for a guaranteed revenue source. Some years you’ll make money on the deal (2022), other years you’ll lose money (2021).

However, what this allows you to do is manage your business’ cash flow without being reliant on the weather. Provide your clients with peace of mind, and your business will be rewarded.

While not a comprehensive list of everything demanding your attention, spend a day or two while the weather is still nice enough reviewing these areas so you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you’re protected before it’s time to hit the road. What other factors do you consider before you get out there and start plowing? Reach out and let’s chat!