Fun Facts

Interesting Facts for Winter Operations

By the numbers: 
  • 1 set of windshield wipers every 8-10 hours during a snow event
  • 1 set of tires per truck every two seasons
  • 2 facilities....one in Kingsley and one in Traverse City
  • 2-3 loads of salt and sand per day, per truck during a snow event
  • 5 full time employees who repair and maintain the trucks
  • 10 trucks currently with green and amber lights installed
  •  10.5' is the width of a truck with the wing up
  • 10-15 MPH is the speed at which the operators drive while maintaining subdivision roads
  • 14' is the width of a truck with the wing down
  • 15 - 20 tons of sand and salt used per day, per truck during a snow event
  • 20 tons is the weight of an empty plow truck
  • 30 tons is the weight of a fully loaded plow truck
  • 30-35 MPH is the speed at which the operators drive while maintaining the main roads
  • 31 truck routes for snow plowing
  • 35-40 trucks available during a winter snow event
  • 80-160 gallons of gas used per day, per truck while maintaining the roads
  • 110 gallons each truck can hold
  • 150 gallons of "pre-wet" used per day in conjunction with salt to maximize it's effectiveness. 
  • 250 - 300 miles driven per day, per operator during a snow event
  • 1,200 miles of roads maintained during the winter months
  • $75,000 is the cost to maintain the roads for 10-12 hours during a snow storm

More interesting facts:

  • Lug nuts have to be tightened up daily when running the front plows and every three or so days when not.
  • In addition to driving the truck, operators have to operate separate sander controls (flight chain, auger spinner and pre-wet functions), plus scraper up/down, scraper left/right, wing up/down, plow up/down and plow left/right on some trucks
  •  It is very dangerous to pass a plow truck on the right.  The wing, which extends 3.5' out from the truck, will be difficult, if not impossible to see.
  • Plow trucks have the right of way at intersections.  They will stop, and even back up unexpectedly.
  • Roads are prioritized during winter months.  State Highways are given first priority, with Primary, Secondary, Local, Sub-division and gravel roads receiving attention in that order.