How to get a job in snow removal

[diesel lover]

Well, just a background here I live near Indianapolis indiana and work 3:30 pm to midnight Sunday through Thursday as a Mechanic in a truck and trailer shop. I have a background operating and to some extent preformed maintenance and repairs on heavy equipment. Since I was young I have operated farm tractors clearing snow. As I become older I learned how to operate larger equipment. I worked at Old Dominion for two years. During tho use two years I was a truck mechanic but I also removed snow. I was one of the few mechanics that enjoyed it. As it ended up I was only of the only people that reliably showed up and I do not have a 4wd pickup. No matter how bad the roads were I made sure to show up. Snow removing was accomplished by two heavy duty plow trucks with air brakes front plows and salt spreaders, a komatsu WA180 wheel loader, and a 2012 F250 pickup.

Not only was snow removal required on a 40 acre lot but also had to ensure all trucks could get out. Old Dominion primarily runs single axle trucks pulling doubles. I spent several hours operating the Komatsu pay loader. I had to plan out how to get all the trucks moving when they were stuck. It was extremely tough to find a way to safely pull a stuck tractor with two trailers to get it moving. It was negative 20 F and we had an unbelievable amount of ice on the pavement. I even had to safely preform the removal of one of the plow trucks from a ditch at our entrance off the road.

Between my operating experience before and after that I feel I have a fair amount of experience operating equipment and operating equipment to remove snow. So I would really like to get a good job part time removing snow this winter. I keep finding more and more people that do not like plowing snow and also don't like to drive in any bad weather.

So here it is how do I find a job this winter removing snow? I don't know if I should be putting adds on craigslist or calling different companies but I need to do something to get a good job removing snow part time. Thank you for any advice!

On a side note brush hogging or trail maintenace in the summer would be nice to get into as well! I have seen several people out brush hogging fields for different companys

 

[Buppies]

The companies that do snow removal are always looking for good dependable operators to help with snow removal. You just have to find out who they are contact them and go from there. Landscape companies are a good place to start. Highway contractors are another place to look those who remove snow. Pay is generally better with those folks

 

[RoyJackson]

Unless I'm missing something in your post, it appears you have no equipment for snow removal and would have to depend upon whoever hired you to supply the necessary equipment. Is that correct?
That's going to make it tough getting snow removal work.
However, I'd try the state roads department to see if they hire seasonal workers for clearing snow...try municipal departments too.

Never hurts to try Craigslist, but without equipment, I don't think you'd have much success.

 

[diesel lover]

Unless I'm missing something in your post, it appears you have no equipment for snow removal and would have to depend upon whoever hired you to supply the necessary equipment. Is that correct?
That's going to make it tough getting snow removal work.
However, I'd try the state roads department to see if they hire seasonal workers for clearing snow...try municipal departments too.

Never hurts to try Craigslist, but without equipment, I don't think you'd have much success.

That is correct. I do not have any snow removal equipment. I would prefer to work for someone at an hourly rate using their equipment. I agree that the city or highway departments may be a great place to check. I imagine they do have trouble keeping good workers during the winter. But I think I'm more interested in checking into working for the city or working for contracted companies to remove snow from large parking lot

 

[dave1949]

It could be tough to do snow removal along with a regular job with a fixed schedule. You can't control the timing of the snow storms.

A lot of commercial lot and street clearing is done at night when traffic is light, parking bans in effect, stores closed.

 

[3930dave]

I'd say call on companies in person. Have a resume with you, and a calling card.

Any employment related business seminar will cover calling cards, or search the internet for examples. Basically a business card, up to index card size, that has your contact info, and key bullet points about you, that are relevant to that business.

If a company does not have plow openings, depending how (if?) their equipment is serviced, they may be interested in you for regular maintenance checks, or light repair work.

Rgds, D.

 

[diesel lover]

I'd say call on companies in person. Have a resume with you, and a calling card.

Any employment related business seminar will cover calling cards, or search the internet for examples. Basically a business card, up to index card size, that has your contact info, and key bullet points about you, that are relevant to that business.

If a company does not have plow openings, depending how (if?) their equipment is serviced, they may be interested in you for regular maintenance checks, or light repair work.

Rgds, D.

Thanks guys! This is giving me great ideas for where to look and most importantly how to present myself as well.

 

[diesel lover]

I'd say call on companies in person. Have a resume with you, and a calling card.

Any employment related business seminar will cover calling cards, or search the internet for examples. Basically a business card, up to index card size, that has your contact info, and key bullet points about you, that are relevant to that business.

If a company does not have plow openings, depending how (if?) their equipment is serviced, they may be interested in you for regular maintenance checks, or light repair work.

Rgds, D.

Thanks guys! This is giving me great ideas for where to look and most importantly how to present myself as well.

 

[The Fred]

Don't present yourself like this guy.

Boston Snow Plow Driver Fired after Deliberately Burying Cars and Blocking Driveways - YouTube

The swears have been bleeped out.

Fred, Getiin ready to go "push back the bankens".

 

[D7E]

Very easy to get snow work here and pays well and needs no qualifications at all but nearly all night work and usually not the greatest of brains at the wheel , High school kids start on plow trucks . Very tedious and boring work , My friend owns a large clearing crew and I have drove loader (CAT 416 and CAT 928) for them part time for 4 winters as it's local and pays well but you soon get sick of it .