Who plows snow?

[mbella]

I hope the moderator's allow this thread to remain here. How many of you guys plow snow? I have to admit that I love it (maybe because it has been a third of my revenue in the past year). I enjoy the break from landscaping and embrace the opportunity to generate more revenue in two days of plowing snow than a month of landscaping.

[jreiff]

We plow snow. I also love to plow snow. Give you a break from landscaping. Has been one of the slowest years in a long time. We just have not been getting the snow here that we usually get. Which hurts the business alot, but that's what you get when you rely on the weather to make money.

[jreiff]

mbell- What do you run for snow removal equipment? Do you ahve alot of accounts? Residential/ Commericial?

[mbella]

I own 4 trucks: 2 F-250's, a 1-ton dump and a GMC w-7, all equipped with plows. Also, I own a Kubota L-35 with a cab and heater and I just bought a skid steer. The Kubota has a 7' power angle plow attached to the three point hitch.

I utilize five subcontractors. The subs supply a skid steer, backhoe, and five trucks. In addition, I have about 20 laborers for sidewalks.

I started on my own last year and I subbed from Omni Landscape Group. This year, they were acquired by Valley Crest Companies and now I am subbing for them. All of my equipment is on one site. It is a campus for one of the pharmaceutical giants. I service exactly half of the site. It is my second year on the site (with my business) and I really like it. I was actually on the site for about five years with a previous employer.

[cgland]

We also plow snow. The money is GREAT!, but the long hours and hardship on the equipment is hell! :cry: But in order to be a full service company it is a necessary evil.
We are not quite as big on snow as you are Mike. We have 2 2500hd's 1 w/ 8.5' straight blade, 1 w/ 8.5' V-Plow. We also have a 3500 dump w/ 8.5' straight blade. (all Western), 2 Fisher 1000 salt spreaders, 12 laborers, CAT 232 skid steer w/ snow bucket, and 2 additional dump trucks for removal.

Chris

[mbella]

Hey Chris, check this out. I was pissed at the guy that did this. I wanted to fire him, but guess what, I was driving! This happened last week during that little storm we had. Even though I have insurance, it ruined my day. Then came that weekend storm and it made it all better. That's one of my guys trying to get the bumper off.

[gene gls]

I plow,only 2 trucks, a Mitisi and a Chev 2500. Only 25 accounts, each route is about 4-6 hours long. Most all my plow accounts are also lawn accounts.

Gene

[Lux Lawn]

I plow snow as well in the winter we put out 3 trucks mostly residential,but I do have 3 small parking lots that I do with no salting.

[cgland]

Mike, We must be twins! I did the exact same thing to my truck only it was the rear. I backed into a concrete baluster(sp.) at a storage complex we do. $3,900 later........I was an inch away from taking out my new Fisher spreader :cry: I will try to post a pic later.

Chris

[greenngrow]

Got 2 plows and salt spreaders. BUT NO SNOW :angry:

[DUSTYCEDAR]

i push with this

[mbella]

Chris, we must be, because mine was $3900.00 also. I slid into a steel pole. The facility that we plow has security checkpoints throughout. One of them is right around a curve. I started siliding and couldn't stop. The steel pole that I hit has a speaker/intercom mounted to it. Also, I found out later that it has a small camera inside. Some of the guys I plow with had the pleasure of viewing the recording courtesy of the facility manager. I'm sure I'll never hear the end of it.

BTW, I got the truck back today and it looks great.

[LAWNPRO2]

I plow snow have 3 trucks ford f250 f350 f600 they all have plows & salt spreaders on them when i get a pic i will post it.
payup. snow me the money.

[D Felix]

I started siliding and couldn't stop.Dontcha know that you can't steer with the tires locked up??:) You gotta let off of the brakes in order to steer. Otherwise you just go in a straight line, apparently into the pole.:D

I don't miss pushing snow. At all. Didn't make me any money, and I'm sure it wasn't a high dollar item for my former employer. Of course, it was a bit harder to make the driveways clean when you were using rubber bottomed plows. If the snow was packed, you were screwed!


Dan

[AL Inc]

My brother pushing back some piles Monday 1/24

[AL Inc]

My Blazer cleaning up on 1/20/05. Trans blew Saturday 1/22 during heavy snow

[AL Inc]

My 2500HD ready to go

[rodfather]

3 pickups....it helps pay the rent :)

[AL Inc]

Finishing up last account on Sunday night. Sorry for the lousy pics, still trying to get the hang of paint shop

[AL Inc]

another of 2500HD I've been doing snow since about '95-'96, I still enjoy it

[mbella]

Dontcha know that you can't steer with the tires locked up??:) You gotta let off of the brakes in order to steer. Otherwise you just go in a straight line, apparently into the pole.:D

I don't miss pushing snow. At all. Didn't make me any money, and I'm sure it wasn't a high dollar item for my former employer. Of course, it was a bit harder to make the driveways clean when you were using rubber bottomed plows. If the snow was packed, you were screwed!


Dan

Dan, you should have told me that last week :). I don't do driveways, only commercial. It's pretty hard to not make money.

[cgland]

Hey Mike,

Here is a pic of the damage to my truck. I was only going 5 mph in reverse! If I was going 20mph I probably would be dead ;) LOL I guess I hit that crumple zone just right.

Chris

[Up North]

Just a one man show here. Here's my plow rig, she's been worked pretty hard this winter. Probably the most snow we've had since 1996 in northern MN. Funny, 200 miles south of here in the twin cities, they've had one snowfall worth 6" and that's it.

Buck

[Property Pro]

first year in the plowing business and i think old man winter went south. only one real storm in minneapolis so far. i purchased a new truck and plow and was expecting to make around 12 grand this year. so far i hve only made about 2 grand. oh well, hopefully i'm getting the bad year out of the way. next year has to be better.

[Shadetree Ltd]

We plow snow as well. We get so few plowable events here that the money isn't that great in the long term. Short term it is good but if you look at how much money is tied up in equipment and 4X4's the earning potential of that amount of money probably could be better utilized. We started in 1998 simply to keep other contractors away from our sites in the winter. This year was our first year offering salting, previous years we subbed it out. Currently have a 99 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 7.5' fisher straight blade, 2003 GMC 2500HD with a 8.6' Fisher V, a 1989 743 Bobcat and a stainless Henderson V-Box. Next years fleet will include a 2005 F450 (should be delivered by the end of February) with a 9.6' Fisher V (maybe a Blizzard?) and a stainless Henderson under tailgate spreader. The Dodge will be sold this spring. We do not do hand shoveling.

Scott

[BMFD92]

For some reason I cant post on plowsite so im finally able to post on snow plowing. Its my first year and I love it. I do 25 residentials and I do my firehouse for free and I go into a abandoned parking lot and plow that. I use my old F-250 with a western standard 7 1/2 plow. Next year I will be getting the fisher x-blade on my new chevy 2500hd.

[mbella]

I had the same problem with plowsite. I registered separately with them, signed in once and now I am able to post.

[D Felix]

Dan, you should have told me that last weekIf you'd asked, I would have told you.:D

Didja also know that shifting an auto trans into nuetral will help you stop? It's the same as hitting the clutch in a manual tranny; it releases the power from the engine, and the wheels will not want to continue driving, pushing against the brakes. Trust me, it works. I've used that trick in everything from a 1/2 ton pickup to an F450 to a firetruck. You just have to keep your hand on the shifter and remember to shift back into gear when you want to go.:) I don't use that trick every time there's snow on the road, just when I need to stop faster than I am!

As for making money, I'm sure my former employer made some money on it. It didn't make me any more money since I was salaried; I was there making the same amount at 3 in the morning as I would have at 3 in the afternoon. That's why I don't miss it at all!


Dan

[MarcusLndscp]

We push snow and make pretty good money at it. We have quite diverse accounts. Most our commercial are 3 year contracts and our residential (about 160 of them) are per storm accounts. On slow years we make great money on commercials and on heavy years we make a killing on residential and still make good money on the commercials. Most of our accounts are full service so we do everything from walks, decks, patios, sanding, salting, hauling snow, moving snow, etc etc.
We operate with:
10 F350's w/ 9' meyer (or diamond...which ever you prefer) straight blades (3 with sanders)
1 F550 w/ 9' straight blade and sander
1 Freightliner w/ 12' blade and tailgate sander
12 1/2 ton fords for shovelling crews w/ their snow blowers
2 Cat 924G loaders w/ 12' blades and snow baskets
1 Komatsu 120 backhoe w/ 11' blade
1 JCB 212 backhoe w/ 10' blade
1 CAT 262 skid steer
1 New Holland skid steer w/ snow blower
Like Dan said if you're salaried it sucks but if you stay hourly you get paid the whole way through the night w/ overtime. Up here it's not too fun all the time because sometimes winter starts as early as october and goes through april....THATS A LONG TIME TO PLOW SNOW :mad: :realmad: :angry:
Oh well, it comes w/ the territory I suppose...at this point I'm just looking forward to the New England Grows Convention tomorrow

[pcs]

We work out of the suburbs of Toronto Ontario, cities called Mississauga, Oakville and Brampton. We plow with 2 F-350's: 1 '05 Dually, an '03 Regular Cab and a '04 F-550. Also a '92 Case Skid Steer with a 10 ft pusher. Guys, just one question. I've heard that alot of snow removal contractors in the US get paid on a per plow basis. Is this true?

[rodfather]

Guys, just one question. I've heard that alot of snow removal contractors in the US get paid on a per plow basis. Is this true?

Yes, that is how we do it and rates scales up by the total of amount (inches) recorded.

[jblawns123]

In the picture of your crashed up ford there is a Chevy dump white and green in the background. How long have you had that? I think it is my old truck.

[Emerscape]

We (the other company that I work with) had a great season this winter. We typically push with the following equipment:
5+ - 988G Cat loaders
15+ - 980 or Equivalent Loaders
15+ -Backhoes
20+ - Skidsteers
50+ One Ton trucks
40+ 3/4 ton trucks

An assortment of odd equipment.. You might laugh but at one time or another we had a couple dozers and excavators working for us. For the most part we sub out all of our work but theres nothing cooler than driving down the backroads with a convoy of 5 988G Cat loaders in the middle of the night. Our rates are very reasonable for our area, anyone interested in plowing for the next season please feel free to contact me

[mbella]

In the picture of your crashed up ford there is a Chevy dump white and green in the background. How long have you had that? I think it is my old truck.

I've had it about two years. A former employer owned it before that and a residential home builder before him. The builder bought it new and used it as a site truck. So, unless your the builder, it's not your old truck. Originally, it was red.