Snow Pro May/June 2020

Snow PRO NO. 1 2020

How Snow Contractors Can Find the Right New Clients What Is the Best Way to Keep Sidewalks Clear of Snow?

MAKING EFFICIENCY

YOUR BUSINESS An AC Business Media Supplement

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

It’s Your Business

Number 1 - May/June 2020

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ost business owners know that efficiency is a key to running a successful business. To be profitable in snow removal, contractors must be able to finish the jobs quickly and move on to the next site.

In the current economic climate caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the question becomes how do to move forward, efficiently, or otherwise?

While health and safety from the disease itself remains at the forefront for most, there remains the discussion about the economic impacts and future consequences.

There is no question that small businesses are fundamental in the overall economic recovery process.

Small businesses can manage their way through this crisis if the stress doesn’t eat them up.

Focusing on the positive is the first step. Your customers and employees are still out there. It’s important to communicate with your customers and your employees during this time. Explaining your own current situation and how you are addressing the issues surrounding COVID-19 to ensure the ongoing safety of your employees and customers in the future.

From a business standpoint, it serves as a perfect opportunity to upsell services your company provides and offer unique promotions or specials to existing and new customers.

As you continue to market your services, take a positive tone, and ensure that you will provide premium services even during these difficult times. By offering those unique deals and outlining your variety of services, you have a chance to expand your customer base even during this economic downturn.

Displaying some level of normalcy while people are still adjusting to the impacts of the pandemic helps ease your customers’ minds and gives them some assurances.

Remember, keep your focus on your business, because the demand for all those snow removal services will be there with or without COVID-19.

Ryan Whisner (920) 542-1238 rwhisner@acbusinessmedia.com

04 IN THIS ISSUE

04 Making Efficiency Your Business Snow removal experts give their take on the benefits of snow pushers.

10 Honesty, Communication

Important When Leading a Business Through Crisis Maintaining morale during the COVID-19 pandemic.

12 How Snow Contractors Can Find The Right New Clients

Prospecting and finding the right new snow removal clients.

14 Man vs. Machine What is the best way to keep sidewalks clear of snow?

18 Snow Melter Newest Tools to Clear Parking Lots

Lyons Landscaping relies on portable melter.

21 Do Online Reviews Really Matter?

93 percent of customers say online reviews are important in selecting service providers.

24 Snow & Ice Removal Products 27 Advertisers Index SNOW PRO | MAY/JUNE 2020

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By Gigi Wood

MAKING EFFICIENCY YOUR

BUSINESS

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or snow removal contractors, the longer it takes to complete a job, the less profitable it will be.

Most business owners understand how important efficiency is key to running a successful snow removal business. To be profitable and take on more jobs, contractors must be able to finish jobs quickly and move on to the next. But that is not always as easy as it sounds.

SnowPRO decided to talk to two of the leading snow pusher manufacturers, HLA Snow and Arctic Snow and Ice, to get insight into the challenges of the snow business, and the keys to efficiency, particularly as it pertains to the choice of pushers.

“When you consider the nature of winter storms, there is no predicting what you will get,” says Dave

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Peters is the Marketing Director of Arctic Snow and Ice Products and its sister company, Arctic Snow and Ice Control. “It doesn’t just come down, stop, and allow you to plow, salt and go home. It is never quite that easy, and people without hands on experience can never fully appreciate what is being asked of the tools that are available on the market.”

Better Tools Allow for More Contracts With the right tools, your ability to clear commercial parking lots efficiently and effectively can go a long way toward keeping customers happy and grow your business.

The best way to improve the speed of the job is by upgrading equipment. For many, that means stepping up from a pickup truck with a snowplow to a skid steer or wheel loader with a snow pusher.

“A snow pusher allows contractors to plow more snow at a faster rate,” says Eli Martin, inside sales representative for HLA Snow. “As opposed to a bucket, it can carry more snow and you don’t have to stop and dump the bucket at the end of it. It can carry more snow over long distances, in large amounts. One of the benefits of using a snow pusher is efficiently carry-

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○ The best way to improve the speed of the job is by upgrading equipment. For many this means stepping up from a pickup truck with a snowplow to a skid steer or wheel loader with a snow pusher.

ing more snow in one pass than a bucket and carrying more snow than a traditional angle blade.”

“In the past,” says Peters, “time and material contracts were commonplace whereby contractors were actually rewarded for being inefficient. Simply put, the longer they worked, the more they made.

Now, fixed-price seasonal contracts have become the norm and efficiency is king. When the industry first introduced off-road equipment and snow pushers, there was a huge improvement over plow trucks.”

Pushers – Versatile Workhorses HLA Snow

When it gets down to business, the pusher serves a variety of purposes, unique to the commercial contractor.

“I’m thinking specifically about shopping malls or even smaller parking lots, where you’re in a situation where the snow has to go all one direction to one end of the lot, as opposed to a typical snowplow, you might end up windowing the snow off to the side,” Martin says. “But a lot of spots where you, as a removal contractor, you’re pretty much bound to put all that snow on one single side in one corner off the lot. So, the box pushers are going to be useful to get the snow there with the least amount of time, as opposed to going back multiple times.”

“Pushers are the workhorses of the commercial snow industry,” says Peters. “Not only can you clear more snow, but they are excellent at back dragging and stacking. In fact, unless you are carting the snow away, you should never see a bucket on site again.”

Since being introduced, pushers have become even more efficient as manufacturers have continued to listen to the marketplace.

According to Peters, “With the new generation pushers, efficiency has reached a whole new level.

Using the latest in sectional technology, for example, two to three customers can be serviced in the same time that it would normally take to service one, and with potentially 50% in salt savings. With that type of efficiency and savings, you just went a long way toward paying off your equipment in one season and positioning yourself for remarkable growth.”

But There Are Shortcomings One of the challenges of clearing commercial parking lots is the imperfections in the concrete, which affect the performance of large pushers.

“While a large pusher can clear a lot of snow quickly, it also leaves a lot behind,” say Peters. “Most lots will have natural depressions or pitted areas where the asphalt has worn away, as well as high spots where the ground has been lifted or a repair was made. A large one-piece horizontal moldboard will teeter on the high points and miss the depressions completely, requiring you to re-plow with a truck or lay down a lot of salt. The same is true of ice and hardpacked snow.

The typical pusher is unable to do anything but ride over it.”

He notes that Arctic Snow and Ice Control uses nothing but their own Arctic Sectional Sno-Pushers, which he says are unique in their ability to get under ice and hardpacked snow, while also contouring to surfaces anomalies, including depressions, giving what he deems is a quality scrape that means operators never have to go back over the same area twice.

“We designed and built these pushers because of our frustrations with conventional pushers that required us to re-plow,” Peters says. “Based on the incredible efficiency we attained, we were able to grow our self-performing service business to be the largest in North America, with a fleet of over 450 wheel loaders, skid steers and track machines. It is that simple.”

Finding the Right Snow Pusher The first thing contractors should look for in a snow pusher is sizing, to ensure there is a good match between their equipment and the pusher itself.

“Every snow pusher manufacturer can provide rec-

Arctic Snow and Ice Control

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 Sectional pushers are designed to trip over obstacles and contour to uneven pavement, cleaning more snow and requiring less salt.

Arctic Snow and Ice Control

ommendations for what equipment matches with each snow pusher they sell,” Martin says.

“One of the most important things is matching your pusher to your power unit,” he says. “And it’s very important not to buy a skid-steer-weight pusher when your loader is, you know, three times as heavy as a skid steer. If they do that, the skid steer pusher is probably going to disintegrate by the second snowstorm because they cheaped out and didn’t get the proper size pusher to match the power and the weight of the loader.”

To avoid damaging equipment when encoungering obstacles, Martin suggests a snow pusher should also have a spring trip, or similar mechanism. “A spring trip cutting edge on the pusher protects the machine, the pusher and the power unit from damage,” he says.

Martin also recommends HLA’s slim brace design or using a snow pusher without an external brace.

“One thing that I like to draw attention to on the pushers is what we refer to as a slim brace design,” he says. “The pusher’s got a wall and that eliminates the need for an external brace cluttering up the corner inside the pusher, which retains snow and keeps the pusher box clean.”

One thing about today’s manufacturers is that they are all becoming more feature-oriented as everyone seeks to design the better piece of equipment “Being a snow contractor ourselves, we have tried out nearly every type of plow to hit the market,.”

Peters says of Arctic Snow and Ice Control. “What we have found is that in daylight, in light fluffy snow, over a smooth surface, contrary to what you might assume, there are very few differences in results. The differences start to come when the snow turns heavy or icy, the visibility is reduced, the lot is uneven, or the operator gets into cowboy mode. Those are the times when just about every aspect of the design comes into question.”

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Understanding Cutting Edges Cutting edges, whether rubber, hardened steel, or carbide, are a topic that attracts a lot of attention, with some manufacturers attempting to differentiate themselves based on their edges, even though they may not be particularly unique.

“To some degree, need to select their pusher edge based on their geographical area and climate,” Martin says.

Typically, he prefers a steel edge.

“I don’t often recommend rubber,” Martin says.

“Basically, rubber is very good for residential work where there’s cobblestone or sand concrete or something like that. For almost all other applications I prefer steel, just because it’s more durable, it’s going to last longer and do a better job of peeling off packed snow.”

But in some climates, rubber does a better job, he says.

“In geographical areas where the majority of the snow falls, where it’s mild and sticky and wet, a rubber edge can work really well because it’s almost like a squeegee,” Martin says. “You can slide that wet snow off the pavement almost like a squeegee and it works really well in that type of climate. But where it’s consistently quite cold and the snow is lighter, the steel edge will be desirable because it handles higher impacts and lasts longer. Rubber is more prone to getting brittle and breaking.”

Different plowing surfaces and operator training also make a difference.

“Some individuals have gotten used to rubber cutting edges because they have been around longer, but overall, they should only be used on surfaces that require it, or in specific areas like parking decks where rubber edges are required,” says Peters. “For those that want extra durability, carbide might fit the bill and most leading manufacturers offer it as an upgrade.

Concrete will certainly wear down a blade much faster

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than asphalt, and carbide might be appropriate if you are plowing mostly concrete. However, under normal conditions on an asphalt surface, AR400 steel generally works the best and provides the best value. If we find an operator is going through cutting edges at an accelerated pace, some additional operator training may be in order.”

A Variety of Features to Consider When researching the various manufacturers, we noticed no shortage of features designed to add some measure of efficiency to the life of the contractor. One example for HLA concerns the use of movable side wings.

“There are multiple manufacturers that build plows these days with hydraulic rotating side wings,” says Martin. “That gives you the versatility of a traditional angle blade and a box pusher all in one unit. And you can change the configuration on the fly. The whole plow angles left and right, the end wings rotate, so you can form a box screen ahead. You can plow it straight out with your angle plow, and you can also use it as a back dragging feature where the end wings rotate straight back, where you now have a reverse box for putting snow away from loading docks and so on. That type of hydraulic wing plow is really the go-to for efficiency for a lot of the contractors today.”

In Arctic’s case, their patented Arctic Sectional Sno-Pusher was the product that, when introduced in 2006, captured the attention of the industry and became the original catalyst for much of what is now seen on the market.

One additoinal feature operators have marveled at since the debut of the Sectional technology was the Slip Hitch mounting system.

“They could now fit their pusher to different machines, connect and disconnect from inside the warm cab with no chains, keep all four tires on the Arctic Snow and Ice Control

ground for better traction, and the self-leveling drop and go capability allowed beginning operators to plow like a pro,” Peters says. “ I think everyone can agree that if your product solves the most problems, you probably have the better product.”

However, Arctic’s approach toward product enhancement has always been to stress practicality over form and feature, and points to its use of nuts and bolts to replace welds and rivets.

“Everything about our pusher is modular,” says Peters. “As a snow contractor, we know how often metal dents, bends, and breaks in the field. For us, the ability to swap out components makes maintenance a piece of cake. What contractor cannot relate to that?”

Innovation – The Key to Efficiency Looking at the variety of pushers currently available, we wanted to get a sense of how manufacturers approached innovation when it came to pusher design and whether there were key features that should stand out for the contractor, and whether it is possible to take all the best ideas and roll them into one.

HLA has taken technology seriously in their designs to aggressively address the innovation boom.

“Like many other firms” Martin says, “we are trying to keep up with the changing technology landscape with innovative features of our own, including something as simple as a small change to a support brace so it collects less snow.”

Arctic took the concept of up and down movement and tried something far removed from the use of springs.

“Our polyurethane mounting blocks were an innovation with multiple benefits, some of them unexpected,” Peters says. “We had to deal with the limitations of springs in a revolutionary way to get the results we needed most. But then we discovered a host of performance and safety enhancements that came along for the ride. This is an example of where innovation is not just an end but a means to another set of ends.”

Seeing a variety of features would seem to suggest that manufacturers by want to borrow the best of the best and combine them into a new design, but that may not be as simple as it sounds.

“You have to be careful when looking at a snow pusher and thinking of it as a collection of features rather than as an integrated system,” Peters says. “For example, we were able to give our moldboards a more aggressive attack angle to roll the snow so that you are able to move a much larger quantity.”

He says that was made possible for two reasons.

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“Because of the slip hitch, none of the machine’s horsepower was spent on lifting but strictly on pushing.

Additionally, we had traction we never had before. Not only did we always have all four tires on the ground, but the quality of our scrape meant the tires would not spin. If we tried that on a different design, the machine

would come to a halt with the extra weight of the snow.”

Relating Detail to Overall Value

We wondered how contractors could possibly decide about purchasing the right pusher for their business given all the varied designs on the market. How do they know what works and what doesn’t, and does it speak to the needs of their business?

According to Martin, “Our customers know that we have an established name in Canada and are getting well known in the U.S. as well. We have been around long enough that they know they can count on us for a high-quality product. They also know that we listen to them and always look for ways to give them what they want and need.”

Peters offers four objectives that every contractor should keep at the top of his decision criteria: scraping efficiency, survivability, salt savings and safety.

“Competition is tough and your choice of pusher can go a long way to determining how you will succeed or fail,” he says. “You cannot afford to spend 2-3 extra hours on a job, spend 50% more salt, waste tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on repairing property damage, total your pusher on a light pole, or send your operator to the hospital.”

Peters notes that Arctic invented snow. st n ai ag lt u the Sectional Sno-Pusher in 1995 e assa y snow e to lead th an lik o to h le w b ta se and used it in their own fleet for 11 adap for tho nowWing is ol. ing is built S to W e w le th o g s n n n S si io A a years before introducing it to the ith format The HL ow blades w in different sn y fl er th to o f ed o n world.

“I can safely say it is proven Desig variety an exclusive replacing a d sk an , ta m g n te ri technology, yet the advice I would clea ion Sys trailer pins.

Tire Protect as , rs ch o at su u s give any contractor is do not take ct ry A rhang atented Rota earance under low ove p s re u at fe my word for it, speak to as many It r cl wing tip* fo removeable users as you can and ask them about formation. in re o m r fo their experiences,” he says. “That is r r local deale Contact you the only way you can truly make an only gs in w ot informed decision and truly relate on 5 fo *available design detail to overall value.”

now.com www.hlas

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By Gigi Wood

Honesty,Communication Important WHEN LEADING

A BUSINESS THROUGH CRISIS, LEADERS SAY

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eaders at two snow and ice management companies emphasize the importance of communicating frequently with employees during the COVID-19 crisis.

Zech Strauser, president of Strauser Nature’s Helper in Pennsylvania and Jon Crandall, chief visionary of JC Grounds in Massachusetts recently discussed how they’ve been managing business morale while shelter-in-place orders were in effect in March and April 2020.

Communicating with Employees For Crandall, communication has been a big part of boosting morale at his company. There are weekly meetings with different teams to keep everyone in the loop about what is happening with the company.

“We’ve really stepped up our game from a communication standpoint,” Crandall says. “It’s a biweekly or weekly thing, where I’m driving around and talking to the crews and being open and honest with them and sharing with them company news.”

Case

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Instead of cancelling or delaying the company’s quarterly strategy meeting, the meeting took place and leaders came up with a business plan for the next 30, 60 and 90 days. They then shared that information with the rest of the employees.

“We decided, if we’ve ever needed a clear plan, it’s now,” Crandall says. “One thing that creates anxiety is a team without a plan, so we went ahead and did the meeting and we got a quarterly picture of what’s changed.”

He also seeks out advice. Each weekend, Crandall talks to industry peers to trade lessons learned.

“I’m lucky to have a trusted group of mentors with several people from my industry,” he says. “We’re talking every week on how we’re taking care of our teams and moving forward. If we surround ourselves with a peer group of people who we consider experts and advisers, we’re going to get through this.”

Putting Your People First Strauser began preparing early on for the possibility of a widespread crisis.

“When this started rolling out, we were pretty early to take action. I thought I was overreacting,” he says.

“About a week later, I realized I wasn’t.”

A three-day leadership series provided by John C. Maxwell has provided a lot of guidance to Strauser, he says. Taking the time to go through such a seminar allowed him to gather his thoughts and come up with a plan.

Strauser says he frequently reviews Maxwell’s main points: • Put people first • Be flexible • Leverage your team • Communicate well • Be authentic One of the first steps they took as a company was to educate workers about the risks and to come up with a safety plan for working in the field.

“When the landscape industry became essential, I felt we had to close to reconfigure everything,” he says.

“We changed out our crew structures and policies, put together a new operations plan. We began looking at losing some business and making light changes on the financial side. And we made sure the team was put together from a safety side.”

The company is conducting daily management meetings and weekly video employee-wide meetings.

“That’s been a big part of the morale,” Strauser says. “There’s been a lot of videos, we record the meet-

ings and send them back out afterwards and we’ve done a lot of social media exposure, where we’ve been getting a lot of feedback from customers.”

Planning for a Slow Year After a slow 2019-2020 snow season, many in the snow and ice removal industry are preparing for a 50% drop in landscaping business this spring and summer, they said. Crandall and Strauser say they’re working to budget out this new expectation, planning as if they’ve already had a revenue decrease.

“What does you business look like with a 10%, 20% reduction in revenue,” Crandall says. “Go back in time, to where your business was at that point in revenue.

We asked some of our management people to jump back in the field and help with production.”

Once those managers went back into the field, they were asked to look for inefficiencies to correct, help improve morale and be on the lookout for future company leaders.

“We had to share the reality with them that they might be there for a few weeks, or it might be a few months,” Crandall says. “They’re just happy to be part of the solution.”

The company is also thinking about their most resilient customers, the businesses that are thriving right now.

“That’s who we’re targeting for growth,” he says.

“We need to get our receivables in for the winter, we’ve got to support our clients. For our property managers, our building manager (customers), what’s important to me is a continued relationship. After 2008, I’d rather take a revenue hit than (building owners) go through and do a whole new RFP. If you need us to do anything, we’ll do whatever you need. They’re scared right now, so to have that kind of support from a vendor, that means a lot to them.”

Case

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By Ryan Whisner

HOW SNOW CONTRACTORS

Can Find the Right New Clients

Prospecting and finding good snow leads and how the wrong clients can hurt the bottom line

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often stop there. ll snow prospects are not created equal.

“There’s another layer to consider when prosSnow and ice management contractors pecting, and that’s their contract types,” he notes. often face the dilemma of not wanting to turn “As you can imagine, your conversation or how you down work. That can be due to financial constraints, wish to dictate your snow pricing could the unpredictability of the upcoming change whether you’re interacting with snow season, or the concern of trya snow-only contract versus a potential ing to keep their workforce busy all Your roster of 12-month contract for both snow and year-round. equipment and labor summer services. The same can be said They feel the pressure to stock- should serve as your first when negotiating with your existing clipile as many snow clients as they trigger as to whether or ent base.” can to build their portfolio for the not a potential job site is Most companies will offer the same upcoming snow season. right for you, snow pricing regardless of whether it’s an This can lead to contractors not existing or potential new client. Ducusin spending enough time identifying points out that there are some key things to keep in and qualifying the right prospects for them, only to find mind such as history or other extenuating circumout at the end of the season that some of these new stances that must be kept top of mind when dealing clients were in fact hurting their bottom line says Pete with your existing customers.

Ducusin, director of sales for LMN, a snow and land“When identifying and qualifying a prospect three scape industry business software provider. key considerations must be brought to the service,” he says.

Types of Clients • What are the service timing requirements? And does Typical snow prospects can be broken down into it fit with your current portfolio? general categories such as residential, commercial, • Where is the site and can it be integrated with your government, retail, etc. Ducusin says most contractors

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current routes?

• Do you have the equipment and staffing to serve the property successfully?

Equipment and Labor Ducusin says there are direct correlations with a contractor’s portfolio of customers and whether they are properly equipped or staffed to manage these sites.

“Your roster of equipment and labor should serve as your first trigger as to whether or not a potential job site is right for you,” he adds.

As an example, site A could be a wide-open industrial lot that’s only in use during the weekdays between set business hours.

Site B may be a school campus with lots of walkways that has foot traffic all day long.

Immediately, you can appreciate that each job site would have its own unique equipment and labor requirements.

“Before you consider taking on a new client you need to ensure that you are either already equipped or have the means to be equipped with the rentals or subcontractors for the upcoming season,” Ducusin says For equipment acquisition, Ducusin recommends contractors arm themselves with a rich portfolio of local dealers or, if fortunate enough, to have a local brokerage firm that can get in touch with other companies willing to rent equipment.

He notes that in recent years there are services online that can connect with those who are also seeking to rent out equipment as well.

Staffing Staffing is another variable that contractors should not ignore when considering adding a prospect.

“If you start bidding and winning residential jobs with lots of sidewalk shoveling then you want to make sure that you’ve got a head start on finding the labor to do the work,” he says.

Subcontractors are another option to consider.

“If your goal is to scale fast, and take on an abundance of snow clients at once without the burden of carrying equipment or labor costs year round, or even just for the winter months, subcontractors could serve as an additional resource for your organization,” Ducusin says, acknowledging that use of subcontractors could be its own discussion and advises getting some advice on use.

Premium wages during the winter months also is part of the staffing consideration. It is fairly standard to see most snow and ice contractors offer an annual sal-

ary for full-time employment year-round.

“If you are expecting employees to brave the elements at all hours of the day and night during a snow event, you’d want to make sure you compensate your staff fairly to ensure you keep them through the season or throughout the year,” Ducusin says.

He notes that in recent years, there is a growing trend in companies gamifying their lead and prospect generation through the use of staff incentives and bonuses.

Time and Site The other two things that contractors need to think about is service timing requirements and site location.

“If a new prospect has strict requirements on when they need to be serviced, for example, a hospital that’s open 24/7 with zero tolerance versus a shopping complex that doesn’t open until 7 a.m.,” Ducusin says. “You need to ensure the work falls within the scope of your current service times.”

He adds that there is no point in taking on work if the client falls outside of current routes - or new staff or subcontractors should be considered.

“This should be fairly obvious but can be a costly mistake if taken lightly,” he says. “If a lead falls out of your current route, the additional time it would take to send the crew to the job site may not make sense from an efficiency perspective.”

From a site location perspective, snow and ice management contractors must consider the distance to the nearest salt depot or their shop if the salt is stored there, who is the nearest operator to that job site, and is that even the right operator to service that site.

“All of these variables can compound into a big detriment to how efficient your route can be at the end of the day,” Ducusin says. “The most efficient snow and ice contractors define their market segment or segments by having laser-focused position with the right equipment and staff to be experts in their niche.”

He adds that by owning a specific subset or subsets of prospect types, contractors can set themselves up for success by maximizing their efficiency by having similar type properties, all using similar equipment and operator familiarity since they are more likely to have the same type of requirements from site to site.

“While it does take discipline to turn down work, it pays off in the long run by ensuring you’re not hanging on to accounts that don’t fit in your market segment, which could be siphoning profit from your bottom line,” Ducusin says.

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By Gigi Wood

Ventrac

What Is the Best Way to Keep Sidewalks Clear of Snow?

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hen it comes to snow removal, there are more than roads to clear. Whether removing snow and ice by shovel or machine, there are a variety of challenges and obstacles to watch for on sidewalks.

Between increasing public demand and stricter city ordinances, there has been mounting pressure in recent years to ensure sidewalks are cleared of snow during winter.

Breaking Down the Barriers “Operators performing sidewalk snow removal need to pay attention to the environment around them,” says Renae Beegle, marketing specialist with Ventrac, which produces compact tractors and snow-removal attachments. “Sidewalks have a lot of foot traffic, close obstacles, cars overhanging the edges, etc., so paying close attention is paramount. Sidewalks are such a visible and highly-used area, they must be taken care of promptly and according to the contract outlines of each site.”

Beyond the sidewalk, there are typically many landscaping elements to protect during the cold season. Contractors and municipalities need to be aware of those elements to preserve them for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.

“Maintaining the integrity of the sidewalk and protecting the grass and landscape next to sidewalks are two major challenges to consider when taking care of sidewalks,” says Katie Roell, associate marketing manager with BOSS Snowplow, a manufacturer of snowplows, spreaders and snow plow parts. “Urethane cutting edges offer optimum scraping performance and are easier on sensitive surfaces to protect the integrity

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of the sidewalk. To protect the grass and landscape around sidewalks, drop spreaders are preferred to precisely drop deicing material.”

As always, safety must also be a top priority. There are several steps companies can take to keep their workers safe when removing snow from sidewalks.

Bob Iverson, product manager for snowplow and attachment maker SnowEx, suggests the following safety tips: • Practice basic safety procedures • Wear appropriate clothing • Protect yourself from cold weather • Wear high-visibility clothing • Clear sidewalks in the direction of oncoming traffic to maintain visibility “In some ways, removing snow from sidewalks can be more dangerous than being out in a truck pushing snow in the middle of a blizzard. It’s important to remember and practice basic safety procedures,” Iverson says.

Which Is Better?

While more contractors are using professional-grade blades and plows for snow removal, Iverson says shovels are still a viable option, and have improved with time.

“Shovels haven’t gone without their advances,” he says. “Consider those that are built with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Though this might just look like simple plastic to some, these poly materials are petroleum products, meaning there are oils present that help prevent snow from sticking to them. This helps save the operator time, and annoyance.”

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The Ventrac Sidewalk Snow Vehicle (SSV) has the ability to add multiple attachments and includes ergonomic features.

SnowEx

says. “And more dedicated equipment can help them Wheeled shovels are worth a try, as well, he says. get the job done better, quicker and safer. Also, the “Wheeled push shovels are much more effective than public is increasingly more demanding about sidewalks they might look,” Iverson says. “Many snow events being cleared. That leads to municipalities either having wouldn’t make sense to use a vehicle-mounted plow, to be better about doing this maintenance or putting but the snow still needs to be removed. These push pressure on a contractor to shovels can make quick complete the job. In the end, work of an inch or less of more effective equipment snowfall, while putting solutions reduce that presvery little stress on the person doing the job.” sure, which is better for everyThere is no replacing one involved.” the efficiency, effectiveFrom utility task vehicles (UTVs) to walk-behind spreadness, durability and safety of professional equipers, professional snow removment, however, he says. al equipment allows contrac“For those who are tors to complete jobs faster. having to maintain the “Today, there are mulsidewalks, they know that tiple professional-duty tools this application is more – plows, spreaders, spraySidewalk snow removal presents a number of labor intensive,” Iverson ers – built specifically for use challenges, including narrow pathways and landscaping obstructions.

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Sn

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on UTVs,” Iverson says. “There’s just no comparison between what a person can do with a UTV and what they can do with a shovel. And it will be much safer because the operator isn’t as exposed to the elements and traffic when in the UTV’s cab, nor do they risk the injuries associated with pushing/lifting shoveling snow.”

Adding professional equipment can also improve a contractor’s bottom line.

“Keeping walkways, sidewalks and doorways open for business can be a profitable addition to a contractor’s snow and ice operation when done efficiently and effectively,” Boss’ Roell says. “To best combat labor challenges and maximize on-the-job productivity, having the right equipment is key. While shovels and walkbehind spreaders can get the job done, finding enough shovelers can be a challenge, not to mention labor costs chew into the profitability of the job. Powered equipment saves on labor and time, ultimately making the contractor more profitable.”

Professional equipment also offers improved safety, Ventrac’s Beegle says.

“Users of professional equipment will benefit from better results, higher employee retention, and most importantly, safer sidewalks and lower risk of slip-andfall incidents,” she says.

ommends a stand-on snowplow like the BOSS Snowrator.

The 4-ft. hydraulic plow allows users to brine, spread and plow simultaneously.

“It reduces BOSS SNOWPLOW the need for shovelers, maximizing productivity and efficiency whether in metro commercial or residential environments,” she says.

Meanwhile, Iverson suggests a UTV equipped with a plow and a brine sprayer.

“Our UTV V-plow is designed to match the widths of varying sidewalks,” he says. “It can be used in the V position to first push through the sidewalk snow pile, throwing the snow to either side of the walkway. Then it can be used in a straight position and angled to either side to push remaining snow and clean the sidewalk down to the pavement. Once the snow is removed, they can use the drop spreader to apply granular salt to the surface to remove the ice.”

Hit the Ground Running

No Strings Attached

When it comes to clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, contractors and municipalities should look for equipment that can negotiate narrow spaces.

“The best sidewalk machines are maneuverable enough to get around in the tightest of areas and powerful enough to handle any type of winter event,” Beegle says. “The best equipment will also handle deicing needs as well as the actual snow removal. Lastly, the best machines are easy to use, reliable, and suitable for operators of all skill levels.”

Roell rec-

When it comes to selecting features for snow removal equipment, attachments are key.

Iverson suggested that one particularly beneficial addition not any machine is a spray wand.

“If looking into a sprayer, consider one that has a peripheral spray wand integrated with the machine.

Typically, a contractor isn’t just charged with clearing snow/ice from sidewalks, but also from steps, landings and entryways where plows can’t reach,” he says. “A spray wand allows the operator to walk away from the machine and apply brine in hard to reach areas. Then, after the snow event, the snow can easily be pushed away with a shovel. And, to repeat, look for equipment that is specifically built for sidewalks. Plows and spreaders sized for sidewalks and compact spaces will simply do the job much better.”

Keep in mind attachments that can help with ice removal, Roell says.

“Snow removal is only half of the game,” she says. “Ice control on sidewalks and walkways is a major concern for businesses and cities. Having equipment that can both effectively remove snow and manage ice is imperative. The Exact Path drop

x

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Drop spreaders can be highly effective for laying down deicer without disrupting grass and landscaping.

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The BOSS Snowrator is a stand-on machine that provides simultaneous options for brine, spreading and plowing.

spreader designed specifically for sidewalks, precisely drops deicing material to protect grass and landscaping.

Exact Path reduces salt waste and makes deicing sidewalks and walkways more profitable for contractors.”

While drop spreaders for deicing may not look sophisticated, they are highly effective, Iverson says.

“Many advances have been made to make these perfect for sidewalk maintenance,” he says. “First of all, they are being sized for sidewalks, making it possible for treatment in one pass, while not wasting any material. And with today’s greater focus on environmentally friendly approaches, especially when it comes to

chlorides, the drop spreader checks all of the boxes for what someone would want when spreading material on a sidewalk.”

Other features, such as ergonomic-friendly design, is also important.

“We recommend a machine like Ventrac’s SSV (Sidewalk Snow Vehicle), which has the ability to add multiple different attachments and a host of ergonomic features to keep operators comfortable and boost efficiency,” Beegle says.

The efficiency of stand-on machines is tough to beat, she says.

“If somebody is relying on handheld equipment and lots of laborers, they’re really behind the times,” Beegle says.

Manufacturers have increasingly modernized equipment, with advanced solutions for the age-old weather scenario. Consulting with your local dealer can help you decide the best tools for your cold-weather jobs.

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By Pam Haskell

DO ONLINE REVIEWS REALLY MATTER?

93 percent of customers say online reviews are important in selecting service providers

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s a business owner, you already know how important your reputation is in the landscaping industry.

For many of us, we’re only as good as the last job we worked on.

What people say about your business matters, and that’s especially true about what customers are saying online. Instead of a happy customer telling five of their friends how amazing your company is, they write an online review and hundreds, possibly thousands, of potential customers see it.

Sound great? It is. There is a downside to online reviews too – if you leave a client on not-so-great terms, they can do serious harm to your reputation with a negative review.

But just how important are online reviews? How influential are they to potential clients? Is there a way for you to control what’s said about you online?

You might think that online reviews don’t really matter to your customers, especially if they can see your work in their neighborhood, visit your website showcasing your best work with photos taken by a professional photographer, all while providing the best value services. If you have a reputation for bad service, all that isn’t worth much.

The market has changed, when people are looking for a landscaping pro, they go online.

If you’ve invested in your website, it might pop up as the number one result on Google. If

you’ve claimed and optimized your Google My Business listing, it might be the highlighted option on the right of the search results.

What happens if Google and social media is riddled with one-star reviews of your company?

All that hard work you’ve invested in online has to battle against a bad review from six months ago to persuade a potential client to part ways with their hard-earned money and hire you.

While online reviews may seem like a small piece of the bigger picture that makes up your online presence, people are relying on reviews more and more when deciding what companies to hire.

cu re

I tom are O cat inc

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you’re the best company to hire.

The buying decision from reading your reviews and hiring you is incredibly quick. Customers typically decide yes or no almost immediately.

For many people, checking online reviews is the last hurdle for a company to overcome before they hire them. A recent study found 68 percent of people form an opinion of a company after reading between one and six online reviews.

An overwhelming 84 percent of shoppers said they trusted online business reviews as much as a personal recommendation from friends or family. Now that’s some serious power of persuasion.

As a small business, your online reputation can directly influence your bottom line.

THE FACTS

A powerful tactic to gain trust

How customers utilize online reviews

In the digital age, 93 percent of customers say that their buying decisions are influenced by online reviews.

Online reviews have major implications on many different things, including: Your website’s ranking on the search

engines Your company’s performance in local search engines Which search results get displayed (and clicked on) Consumer purchasing decisions By the time someone is looking at the reviews of your company, they’ve already decided they need someone that provides your services.

If they’re not using Google to find their next landscaping pro, they’re going to be using a review website (Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s List etc.)

Half the battle is already won, they know they need the services you provide; they just need to be persuaded

Every small business owner should welcome and actively encourage online reviews.

Had a great interaction with a client?

Ask them to leave a review online.

If you don’t ask your customers to write online reviews for your business, you’re missing out on a powerful tactic to gain prospective customers’ trust and persuade them to hire your company.

You also run the risk of letting the few customers who do write reviews having a huge effect on what everyone else thinks of your business.

If hardly anyone writes reviews, one bad review has a much bigger effect than it otherwise would.

Before you start asking customers to leave you reviews, you need to claim your business on the main review sites.

There’s probably already an entry for your company on the likes of Google My Business, Yelp and Angie’s List – all you have to do is follow the instructions set out by each site and claim it.

Once you’ve got your profiles optimized (like adding high quality photos,

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opening hours and directions to your main office), you can start directing customers to leave you reviews.

The secret to getting happy customers to leave good reviews?

Make it simple, make it easy.

If something is too difficult to do or takes up too much time, they won’t bother. Give them easy-tofollow step-by-step instructions and link to the profile you want them to leave a review for.

Here are some tried, tested and proven simple ways to encourage customers to write online reviews for your business:  Add prominent links on your website where customers can review you (like a link to your social media accounts or your entries on Yelp and local directories)  I f you have an office or shop, put signage up, such as Yelp decals, to let customers know which review sites you’re featured on and where they can find you

 Add a special note onto your receipts, contracts or invoices saying where to review you A golden rule for online reviews: always respond. Always. Let your customers know you hear them. People like to be heard and feel like they’re the only customer that matters to you.

If someone leaves you a negative review, respond to them in a positive way. Do not take a bad review as a personal insult. Ask them how you can make their experience better in the future.

If needed, apologize for their bad experience, let them know it won’t happen again and you’ve dealt with the problem personally.

Whether the person that left the bad review will change their mind on your company is up for debate but anyone that reads the exchange will see how professional and respon-

This article was written by Pam Haskell, owner of the website design & development company Chili Pepper Design, who has been solving clients’ problems since 1988. She helps businesses in the landscaping and outdoor living space create and maintain a modern web presence along with online marketing and reputation management services.

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sible your company is. Keeping a level head and being polite will help turn a bad PR event into a positive advert for your company.

Getting maximum exposure for your business

Once you’ve managed to secure a positive review from a customer, you want to use it to get maximum exposure for your company.

• Promote your latest positive reviews on your social media profiles • Display positive reviews on the homepage of your website • Create a case study to highlight the work completed and use the good review as a testimonial • Approach the customer to feature in a testimonial video • Send out your latest reviews as a feature in your next newsletter Getting a positive review from a customer is an amazing achievement and is a boost for you and your team.

Online reviews aren’t something to avoid, they should be embraced.

Getting online reviews is a opportunity to promote your business, on so many levels, so get started today. ❯

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By Allan Heydorn

SNOW MELTER NEWEST TOOL TO CLEAR PARKING LOTS T

he typical snow removal operation on a parking lot generally involves pushing snow into piles in an out-of-the-way location. But if the parking lot is small or the amount of snow is significant, pushing snow into piles might not be feasible. In such cases loaders often deposit snow into dump trucks, which then haul it to an out-of-the-way location, where it is piled until it melts.

But an alternative approach that is gaining traction both in the United States and Canada is to melt the snow in place on the parking lot and deposit it as runoff into the storm system. One Canadian firm that is using this approach with significant success is Lyons Landscaping, headquartered in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, with site locations in Salmon Arm, Kelowna and Vernon.

Specializing in landscaping for 20 years, Lyons has been performing snow removal for its off-road customers since 1995, according to Steve Blackmore, co-owner and construction manager. He says the company generates 60% of sales from landscaping including

Spectrum Equipment

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construction; maintenance; “specialty landscaping” such as fencing, irrigation, and bulk sales of rock and gravel; and 20% of sales from a retail store and plant center -- including a market featuring fresh fruits and vegetables. But each November 1 the company refocuses its efforts and switches to snow removal, which Blackmore says accounts for 20% of their revenue.

“Our summer clients wanted someone who would be reliable and do snow removal, so we started with just a pickup truck and a blade and we learned the business,” Blackmore says, adding that the company today services “hundreds and hundreds” of snow removal locations, ranging from private residences to large commercial properties and malls.

“That really helps with employee retention to keep quality workers through the winter,” Blackmore says.

The company employs 80

Melters cut down on the equipment contractors need to clear snow on a parking lot. Based on a one-hour cycle time per truck, for example, the PD-80 melter, which can melt up to 80 tons of snow per hour (60% more than the CT-15, pictured), replaces two loaders and 14 dump trucks with one loader and one melter.

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people in the winter and 120 at peak season in the summer. “It enables us to serve clients year-round, which really helps develop and maintain our relationships with our customers.”

Blackmore says Lyons has more than 60 pieces of equipment, many with specialized hydraulic plows to handle its driveway work; a hand-shovel team where each truck and trailer is outfitted the same with ATVs, snowblowers, backpack blowers and salt spreaders to handle sidewalks; and 15 pieces of heavy equipment including skid steers, loaders and tractors, all of which are outfitted with either an hydraulic plow or extended box plow. Many of their snow removal dispatchers are certified in Advanced Snow Management through the Snow & Ice Management Association.

Melting vs. Hauling Snow But it’s the company’s approach to snow removal on larger properties that is unique. Blackmore says the company has commercial trucks to haul snow from a property if that’s what the customer wants, but it also uses a snow melter – the only melter he knows of being used on a regular basis in British Columbia.

“It’s exciting because it’s using technology to be more efficient, more effective and safer,” Blackmore says. “No one wants to watch and listen to a bunch of large trucks and machinery work all night moving snow, so we use the melter to get in and get out safer with less impact.”

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The melter Lyons Landscaping uses is a CT-15 Trecan Snowmelter, by Trecan Combustion, Nova Scotia, which has been manufacturing both stationary and portable models for 40 years, according to Steve Wheatcroft, managing partner, Spectrum Equipment, which supplies the melter to Lyons Landscaping. The CT-15 is a trailer-mounted portable melter, hauled from site to site by a pickup truck, that is part of Trecan’s line which includes models that can melt up to 350 tons of snow per hour.

Wheatcroft says a Trecan melter is used on almost every major airport in the snow regions of North America, and many cities use them as well. He says Boston, for example, relies on about 50 melters because it takes dump trucks filled with snow 90 minutes to get to a snow dump, “so it’s much more efficient to bring the snow to a melter and get back on the roads.”

The snow melters feature a melting tank into which snow is dumped by a skid steer. A pre-burner melts the snow to create a water bath, and very hot air is blown into the water bringing the melt tank water to a temperature of around 70°F, agitating it. Wheatcroft says that the hot air blown into the water creates “an almost turbine effect” and the agitation of the water melts the snow as it is dumped into the hopper. The melted snow fills the hopper and when the water level reaches an overflow, much like the overflow in a sink, the water flows out of the tank and onto the ground, into the storm system.

“The melters discharge the water into the storm system at a time when there’s no water in the system, so you’re not creating any extra strain on the system,” Wheatcroft says.

“It actually takes the strain off the system

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because it’s melted in the winter and not as the weather warms and when the system handles other water from melt and rain.”

Blackmore says there was initial concern about the quality of the water being discharged into the storm system, but local officials and public agencies now realize there is no issue. “We have the okay by the city because what ends up going into the catch basin from the melter is the same that would go into it when it melts on the street,” Blackmore says. “In fact, during the melting process garbage, sand and gravel is removed by a skimmer and tray system.”

Efficient & Safe Built for a smaller parking lot footprint, the dieselpowered CT-15 melts up to 24 tons of snow per hour.

Wheatcroft says a tandem axle dump truck carries about 6 tons of snow and the CT-15 model can melt between 2 and 4 truckloads of snow per hour depending on snow density. He says the efficiency of the melters varies depending on how much snow falls, the density of the snow and the distance from the snow removal site to where you have to haul it to dump the snow.

“If you have 1 inch spread over 10 acres and you push that into a pile, that’s a lot of snow you have to haul away,” Wheatcroft says.

Blackmore estimates that melting snow using the CT-15 takes three commercial haul trucks off the road for every hour of use. Blackmore says Lyons typically use a 1- or 2-yd. bucket on a skid steer to dump snow into the melter. He says the speed of melt varies with the type of snow, but he says they can melt a 2-yd. bucket of “typical” snow in 30 to 50 seconds.

Blackmore says the melter is safer than traditional snow removal

Lyons Landscaping’s workforce, which fluctuates between 80 people in the winter and 120 people in peak summer, receives preseason training on the melter.

operations, which often involve trucks hauling snow away from a property and then returning empty for another load. “At a hospital, for example, if they have to run up and down the same road that an ambulance uses, you just increase the chances for an accident,” Blackmore says. “The snow melter can be positioned in a small space, out of the way of traffic and cordoned off.”

He says smaller vehicles such as skid steers deliver snow to the melter, working out of the way of other traffic, and the process is quieter than the standard snow removal operation. He says another advantage of melting snow is that there is less trash left in the dump area, usually a field, when the snow finally melts. Also, there are no additional dumping fees charged back to the customer.

“When you haul away snow in the traditional way, you’re picking up whatever is beneath the snow and hauling it to where the snow gets dumped in a field.

Then there’s all the trash left after it melts.”

The snow melter, however, screens trash out on the top and any gravel picked up falls to the bottom of the melter.

“All contaminants are screened out,” he says.

“At Lyons we truly care about our culture, our clients and our community,” Blackmore says. “We bought the snow melter because we know it’s better for the environment and because it’s a safer way of removing snow. We’re proud to support our community and be leaders in the industry and this is one way we can do that.”

Lyons Landscaping

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PRODUCTS

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL Buyers Products SnowDogg VXF105II The SnowDogg VXF105II is an extra-large V-blade that is built to work with trucks through class 6. Additional features include: • Spans 10 feet 6 inches • Ascends from 35 inches at center to 45 inches at edge • Double-acting cylinders that empower the large plow to handle with nimble versatility.

• Standard 304 stainless steel blade • Optional Illuminator heated LED lights www.greenindustrypros.com/21130067

BOSS Snowplow Snowrator BOSS Products has re-engineered the Snowrator to maximize performance and reliability of the machine.

The Snowrator deploys to plow and de-ice sidewalks and walkways, allowing the operator to brine, spread and plow at the same time to maximize on-the-job productivity and profitability. Updates include: • 4' hydraulic snowplow with 20" polyethylene skin • Improved electrical and plow attachment systems that are more weather-resistant.

• Accepts all BOSS ATV plow accessories and common parts.

• Available accessories for the Snowrator include a 20-gallon auxiliary tank, plow wing extensions, material carrying trays, broadcast spreader, plow box wings, shovel mounting brackets, EXACT PATH drop spreader, urethane cutting edge and 5-gallon bucket mounts. www.greenindustrypros.com/21078417

ECHO RB-100W The ECHO RB-100W has a lot of great features that are specifically intended to handle bulk rock-salt and ice melts. A winter spreader, it is ideal for landscapers, municipalities, school districts, facility maintenance crews and more. Features include: • Spiked auger that breaks up clumps • Adjustable spread pattern • Maintenance-free gear case • Easy-to-use and durable design • 100 lb hopper capacity • Metal agitator • 14-inch tires • 52 lbs www.greenindustrypros.com/21103478

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For additional snow-handling products and equipment, visit the Product Guide at GreenIndustryPros.com

Toro Powerclear 60V Snow Blower Toro Power Clear model snow blowers are now battery-powered.

These machines are built to perform, starting the first time, every time, and requiring minimal maintenance with lithium-ion technology.

• Snow-throwing power of up to 40 feet • All-steel Power Edge auger • Remove up to 12 inches of snow in a single pass according to Toro.

• Panoramic LED lighting The new 21-inch Power Clear 60V models are available in three configurations: • Model 39901T: Toro Power Clear e21 60V battery snow blower without the battery assembly • Model 39901: Toro Power Clear e21 60V battery snow blower with one 7.5 amp hour (ah), L405 battery • Model 39902: Toro Power Clear e21 60V battery snow blower with two 6.0 ah, L324 batteries www.greenindustrypros.com/21096580

Fisher Engineering Storm Boxx Plows Fisher Engineering has expanded its line STORM BOXX plows adding 12', 14' and 16' models. Built specifically for larger pieces of construction equipment to move large amounts of snow, these new plows will join the 8' and 10' models that were launched in 2019.

• Interchangeable attachments will allow users to quickly and easily attach the pushers to various pieces of equipment within a fleet.

• Two-piece steel trip-edge delivers a cleaner scrape for hard-packed snow and ice.

• Floating attachment plates that help smooth out bumps, allows side-to-side movement and keeps the pusher in contact with the surface at all times. www.greenindustrypros.com/21131761

SNOW PROS Depend on Natural Alternative

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for Ice Melt and LEED Compliancy Winter Equipment Patriot Steel Snowplow Cutting Edge System Winter Equipment’s Patriot system cutting edges are designed to clear packed snow and ice from rough roads, asphalt, and concrete streets at lower speeds.

The system comes with a satisfaction guarantee, ensuring that if the product’s wear system does not perform or last as long as promised, the company will work with its customers until they are satisfied.

• Wear bars are filled with Winter carbide matrix weld paired with high-quality, hardened steel for increased blade life • Serrated design self-sharpens and cuts through packed snow, which decreases salt usage and chemical treatment • For easy and safe installation, the system features three Patriot sectional blades • Two Winter PlowGuard Maxx guards are included in the system to defend against uneven and premature wear www.greenindustrypros.com/21109223

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Western Products ENFORCER V-Plow The Western Products Enforcer V-plow is purpose-built for halfton trucks and engineered with all of the features and benefits of Western’s full-size V-plows. Available with either powder-coated or stainless-steel blades, additional features include: • 7' 6" wide as a straight blade or 6' 9" wide in V mode, making it the ideal size for cleaning up smaller jobs and spaces. The Enforcer V-plow is 26" high in the center and 33" high at the outer edge.

• Double-acting angle cylinders allow the operator to adjust the wings independently or to lock them together for efficient straight-blade operation.

• Trip edges are included to protect the equipment and operators if an unseen obstacle is struck.

• UltraMount 2 attachment system allows for easy plow hook-up.

• LED or dual halogen Nighthawk headlamps.

• Accessories include a 10" rubber deflector, shoe assembly kit, AR400 steel curb guard kit, cast iron curb guard kit, ½" steel cutting edge, 1" poly cutting edge, blade stop kit, back drag edge. www.greenindustrypros.com/21131652

2020 Ford Super Duty The F-Series Super Duty improvements include new engines, a 10-speed automatic transmission, chassis upgrades, exterior and interior design updates and smart advanced technology.

• Highest Super Duty conventional, gooseneck and fifth-wheel towing and payload ratings • Offers an advanced 7.3-liter gasoline V8, upgraded third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 and 6.2-liter gasoline engine options • Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance now compatible with fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers • FordPass Connect with 4G LTE modem and available wireless charging www.greenindustrypros.com/21098424

Meyer Super-V3 Meyer Super-V3 plows bring you next-level V plow performance. Their independently controlled tapered wings give you the flexibility to go from V, scoop, or straight-blade configuration with the press of a single button. Super-V3 plows are engineered for 3/4-ton and larger pickups, or choose the Super-V3LD for 1/2-ton pickups. Other features include: • • • • • •

Nite Saber LED lights for better night vision Locking double-acting cylinders to back-drag snow more efficiently Bottom-trip design so only the lower portion of the blade gives way to minimize snow loss Upper-sealed center deflector to keep snow off the windshield Lower-sealed center cutting edge to eliminate snow trails 5-year warranty

www.greenindustrypros.com/21109247

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o V3

Fisher Engineering Minute Mount 2 Attachment Kit for Tractors Fisher’s Minute Mount 2 attachment kits for tractors meets a high customer demand for non-truck mounted snowplow applications.

Gives operators more versatility while allowing more vehicles to operate Fisher plows.

SnowEx HELIXX Stainless Steel Hopper Spreader SnowEx HELIXX stainless steel hopper spreader that is a triple threat with the ability to spread, pre-wet and spray with one machine.

• The corkscrew, or “helix,” design of the material delivery system is optimized for efficient and cost-effective use of salt, and was designed to operate in the target range for salt spreading best practices • Designed for full-size pickups, flatbed trucks or dump-bed trucks, the HELIXX stainless steel hopper lineup includes five different models with hopper capacities of 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.5 or 6.0 cubic yards.

• Three spinner height adjustments allow spreaders to maintain consistent spinner height of 18 to 22 inches off the ground.

• A dual variable-speed control allows independent adjustment of spinner and HELIXX speeds for precise material delivery, whether at low or high output. It also features no-blast startup, auto reverse and • Available options and accessories include an inverted “V” for materials susceptible to compacting, dump switches, chute extension, strobe lights, secondary work light, ratchet straps, chain kit, pre-wet tanks and spray boom. www.greenindustrypros.com/21131276

• Designed to easily attach Fisher heavy-duty straight blades, V-pows and winged plows to tractors.

• Removable push beam allows for easy installation and removal of the plow.

• No need for the operator to completely uninstall the mount when reattaching the loader system. www.greenindustrypros.com/21131752

Western Products Striker Light-Duty Truck and UTV Stainless Steel Hopper Western Products two new Striker stainless steel hopper spreaders, a 0.7 cubic yard model purpose-built for half-ton and light-duty trucks and a .35 cubic yard hopper designed for UTVs and compact trucks. The stainless steel, riveted construction provides durable, lightweight performance that the intended vehicle can handle.

• Dual variable-speed control • Pintle chain conveyor delivery system • Option for pre-wet and direct liquid application kit for the 0.7 cubic yard model.

• Additional accessories include: extension collars to increase the hopper’s material capacity, spill guard kit, work light kit, central point grease kit, vibrator kit, inverted V kit, tarp cover and more. www.greenindustrypros.com/21131296

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ADVERTISERS INDEX Arctic Snow & Ice Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Naturalawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

ClearSpan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Nokian Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

GEICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Progressive Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

HLA Snow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

SNOW PRO | MAY/JUNE 2020

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