Compiled by Michael Merrill; Paul Vanderzon; Doug Freer, CSP; Doug Knott, CSP; and Rick Kier, CSP.
Life as a snow and ice contractor can be a wild ride, especially when you look at some of the wacky rules and regulations that make an already tough job even tougher:
Most ¾- and 1-ton plow truck/spreader combinations are overweight and illegal when loaded.
It is illegal to drop your plow on and/or plow across a municipal street if you are not contracted to work for the municipality.
Many snow plowing contractors wrongly believe that a “commercial” license plate means they have “commercial” auto insurance … and many also wrongly believe that having commercial auto insurance means they are insured to plow snow.
Most ¾- and 1-ton plow truck/spreader combinations, when loaded, require a Department of Transportation number and must adhere to DOT regulations (including stopping at weigh/inspection stations).
In Canada, it is illegal to transport snow other than to a registered snow dump. A transport company had 60 acres of property and always stored its snow on a section of this property. Two years ago, the municipality put a road through, dividing the property in two. The company can no longer relocate the snow across the new road—where it has been storing snow for the last 20 years—because it is illegal to transport the snow across the street. The company now has to pay to have its snow hauled to the nearest registered snow dump.
In Quebec, all spreaders, regardless of size, must be covered or face a $600 fine.
In some states, you can be ticketed and fined for not having an amber warning light permit.
You can be ticketed and fined for not having a “third” brake light on your spreader.
In many states, you can be ticketed and fined for having your amber warning light on while traveling on a highway if not in service.
You can be ticketed and fined for not displaying your DOT number or not displaying it properly.
19 hours without sleep equates to a blood alcohol content level of .05%; 24 hours without sleep equates to a BAC of .10%. (1)
Sand used as an aggregate is illegal or regulated in many areas. "Studies show that the effects of sanding are temporary, whether spread dry or pre-wetted. Abrasives do little to improve driving conditions on roads with high traffic volume. When dry sand is spread, 30% of it immediately scatters. Over time, cars usually displace most of the remaining sand. As few as 8 to 12 vehicles can sweep it from snow-covered highway surfaces. Even with light traffic, friction gained from dry sand is quickly diminished." (2)
Salt is the most commonly used de-icing chemical in the United States. It is spread at a rate of approximately 18.6 million tons per year. (3)
One teaspoon of salt contaminates five gallons of water.
You will no longer see manufacturing of rigid mount plows. They are illegal in many areas because of the number of fatalities that have occurred during motor vehicle accidents.
Some municipalities require that you are registered and licensed to clear snow. Each vehicle must have a permit displayed if they are clearing snow. Some municipalities require that you supply them with your complete client list, up to and including client name, address and phone number.
(1) Arizona Department of Public Safety.
(2) University of New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center.
(3) Salt production in 2006 mostly based on British Geological Survey.
Compiled by Michael Merrill; Paul Vanderzon; Doug Freer, CSP; Doug Knott, CSP; and Rick Kier, CSP.
