Shown below is one of our front-end Loaders with a 12ft wide, high-capacity, snow pusher at work in the recent Toronto snowstorms. Some snow plowing contractors may wonder whether they should invest in snow pushers, also known as box plows, or stick with the straight blade or v-blade pick up truck plows that most snow-removal companies start out with. Until the mid-nineties almost all snow-removal was performed using pick up trucks with straight blades which could be angled left or right. This meant that the operator was essentially limited to wind-rowing snow away from the building, making multiple passes until the snow had been moved off the lot completely. Around the middle of the 1990s box plows or snow pushers began appearing. This type of containment plow allowed an operator in a heavy machine to push large volumes of snow for much longer distances than would be possible with a straight blade or a V-plow. By some estimates a box plow of this type can make snow-removal operations three times faster than a pick up truck could manage.
Which Plow Type To Choose –
So, should you always go with a box plow rather than a truck plow? Like so much in life, it’s not that simple. While a box plow will be much faster at clearing snow than a straight blade, the fact is that a containment plow like this requires a piece of heavy equipment to push it and the economics of that will generally limit use to larger sites where you are able to charge enough to pay for a dedicated piece of machinery. The exception would be if you have multiple sites within driving distance for a loader or skidsteer, in which case the cost of the machine can be split amongst those properties. The costs to consider include the machine, the operator, the fuel and wear and tear.
Apart from this economic consideration, a straight blade or V-plow will still be more effective at fine-detailing work, clearing snow around islands or along curbs etc. Although we train our sidewalk crews to clear snow away from curb lines so that the snow pusher can take it away. This is a solution that gives the best of both worlds. Especially when the crews are equipped with mechanized sidewalk snowplows (as ours are!). Typically, this might be done by the pickup truck that comes to salt.
Are There Other Options?
At higher levels of investment there are advanced plow options that combine some of the benefits of both snow plow types. These are plows with hydraulically articulating wings which can act as both a box plow and a straight blade. Again, the economics will dictate that this solution is only used on larger sites which pay enough to justify dedicating a machine. Of course, a snow-removal professional will also want to balance the potential cost of repair and maintenance on a complex piece of equipment compared with the rugged construction of a well-made box plow. On this point it should be noted that not all box plows are made equal. Our fleet exclusively uses the Avalanche line of pushers which, over 25 years of service, have proven to be virtually bomb-proof.
How Does This Equipment Contribute To My Bottom Line?
At Avalanche Pro Services we believe investing in the best equipment and the best people contributes to the gold-star level of winter service that we provide our clients. All of the box plows in our fleet use spring-loaded steel blades that offer significantly improved scraping and reduce the amount of salt required after plowing. The 500 model shown below also has a floating receiver that allows the box to move up and down as the gradient of the ground changes, making snow clearing even more effective. We know that it’s not just about plowing snow, it is about making our owner’s sites safe and accessible for their customers and staff and doing it in a timely manner with the minimum of disruption to the operation of the site. Snow removal is an emergency service and that’s the way we treat it. By committing an above-average amount of snow-removal equipment and manpower to every site we are able to offer quicker and more efficient snow clearing, even during the heaviest storms. That translates into satisfied customers, repeat business and word of mouth referrals.
What’s the Answer?
In conclusion, a snow pusher will significantly increase productivity and should generally be used whenever the site is large enough to justify dedicated equipment. In our opinion, there is a lot to be said for running very well-made equipment that can give completely worry-free operation during each successive storm. However, whatever equipment you invest in, the key to great service is in making sure that every property has enough man power and material committed to it to allow an excellent level of service every time.
