Understanding how winter service works

Snow management is route work, not a series of individual appointments. Properties are grouped geographically so crews move efficiently, which is why your driveway is cleared in route order rather than by request time.

• Routes are built before the season using property size, surface and access notes
• A trigger depth in your agreement determines when crews are released
• Longer storms may require an additional pass, based on conditions and your agreement
• Walkway crews often follow separately from plow trucks

Two storms with the same total accumulation can require completely different work. Temperature, moisture content and timing drive the plan more than inches do.

• Light powder: one clean pass once accumulation stops is usually enough
• Wet, heavy snow: earlier and more frequent passes prevent compaction
• Snow to sleet or rain: pretreatment matters more, and de-icing follows clearing
• Refreeze overnight: a follow-up salt application is often the deciding factor for safety

Dispatch is a judgment call made with forecast data, radar trends and conditions observed on the road, balanced against the trigger depths in customer agreements.

• Forecast review the day before, including timing and expected intensity
• Pretreatment scheduled for enrolled properties when conditions allow
• Crews staged and released when accumulation reaches trigger depth
• Status posted to the Storm Center as each stage begins

De-icing products are not interchangeable. Choosing the right one depends on pavement temperature, slope and what the surface is made of.

• Liquid brine applied before a storm reduces bonding to the pavement
• Rock salt works well above roughly 15°F and is applied after clearing
• Sand adds traction but does not melt ice — useful in very cold stretches
• Pretreatment usually lowers the total amount of salt a property needs

A short walk around the property in the fall prevents most mid-winter problems and makes crews faster and safer at your home.

• Mark driveway edges, culverts, septic lids and irrigation heads
• Identify where snow can be stacked without blocking sightlines
• Trim branches that hang low over the driveway
• Decide where oil-fill, mailbox and trash access need to stay clear

Knowing the sequence removes most of the uncertainty — and most of the reasons to call during an event.

• Before: forecast posted, pretreatment where applicable, equipment staged
• During: crews dispatched, routes active, additional passes when conditions require
• After: final pass and any de-icing included in your agreement
• Following morning: refreeze monitored, additional de-icing if needed