GF Blue logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

How Fleets Are Handling the Recent Winter Storms

From compacted snow to snowplow breakdowns, to dealing with citizen complaints, here's how municipalities have been handling the recent winter storms.

December 4, 2019
How Fleets Are Handling the Recent Winter Storms

 

Photo via Pixabay

2 min to read


Winter storms are raging, and government fleet employees and vehicles are out on the streets making sure residents can still get around.

The City of Duluth, Minn., faced plowing challenges as residents continued to travel despite a “no travel” advisory. This compacted snow and created ruts on residential streets, resulting in crews having to use a plow and a grader down each street, Fox21 reported. The city is using 20 plows and 18 graders, and crews were working 24 hours a day as of Monday afternoon.

Ad Loading...

New York City’s snow equipment is breaking down while responding to the city’s first significant storm of the season, the city’s mechanics union said. At least seven salt spreaders, three mini spreaders, and four other vehicles broke down during the weekend; the union leader blamed shoddy work by private garages and shrinkage of the city’s unionized garages, according to the New York Daily News.

A week after a major storm and after resident complaints, the City and County of Denver on Monday dispatched 30 plows to drop de-icer on residential streets, which still have icy ruts, the Denver Post reported. This is a change from its normal policy of dispatching pickup trucks with plows that aren’t equipped to spread de-icer on roads.

The City of Fitchburg, Mass., received nearly 25 inches of snow in the past few days, or more than a third of its average annual snowfall, the Sentinel & Enterprise reported. The city was ready for the storm, with 25 plow trucks, spreaders, and other heavy equipment, as well as contractors with an additional 58 plows and 10 spreaders ready to assist. The city pre-treats roads with salt and sprays calcium chloride on the salt to help it stick to the road.

St. Louis County, Minn., is expected to approve the purchase of a dozen snowplow trucks costing nearly $1.6 million just days after one of the largest snowfalls in the area, the Duluth News Tribune reported. The Mack Granite tandem axle diesel trucks replace units that are 20 years old and are expected to be delivered next winter.

More Operations

GovCast podcast graphic.
OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Network Behind Better Government Fleet Decisions

A discussion on why relationships across the government fleet community have played such an important role and what shapes the leadership response.

Read More →
A graphic showing a mechanic and car engine.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 21, 2026

Ford, BlackRock, Google and Carhartt Form Skilled Trades Workforce Alliance

The alliance plans to develop a stronger pipeline between training programs and available jobs while examining workforce efforts already underway across the country.

Read More →
A GovCast Fro the Show Floor graphic with david renschler.
OperationsJuly 20, 2026

The Network Behind Better Government Fleet Decisions

A discussion on why relationships across the government fleet community have played such an important role and what shapes the leadership response.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A cheat sheet thumbnail with images of a checklist and mechanic.
OperationsJuly 20, 2026

What Makes Fleet Technicians Stay? | GovCast Cheat Sheet

The technician hiring and retention discussion is not new, but the way fleets respond to it continues to matter.

Read More →
Cover of the "Top 50 Green Fleets" report presented by Automotive Fleet and Inspiration Fleet, featuring an aerial nighttime photo of a lit highway interchange with looping ramps.
SponsoredJuly 16, 2026

The Top 50 Green Fleets

The List Is in: The Top 50 Green Fleets

Read More →
A GovCast podcast thumbnail.
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiJuly 16, 2026

On the Road with Government Fleet: Essential Podcasts for Professionals

Let's celebrate listening! Check out a GovCast podcast and discover the insights and strategies that can transform your fleet management approach.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiJuly 13, 2026

How Real-World Vehicle Use Guides Replacement And Budgets

Three public fleet leaders explain how they use real-world vehicle data and long-term planning to keep aging assets in service and make more informed replacement and budgeting decisions in a high-cost environment.

Read More →
A GovCast Cheat Sheet graphic for youtube.
OperationsJuly 9, 2026

When Fleet Data Has to Actually Mean Something | GovCast Cheat Sheet

Better fleet technology only works when the information behind it can actually support decisions.

Read More →
A GovCast Fro the Show Floor graphic with tim coxwell.
OperationsJuly 6, 2026

Why Public Fleet Success Depends on More Than the Vehicles | From the Show Floor with Tim Coxwell

Fleet decisions rarely stay inside the garage. From funding pressure to emissions planning, Tim Coxwell explains what it takes to keep a sheriff’s office fleet moving while planning for what comes next.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
an horse drawn ambulance and modern ambulance with an American flag overlay and the words Americas Fleet Evolution
Operationsby Jeanny AbrahamJuly 2, 2026

How Government Fleets Helped Build America

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, this look back explores how government fleets evolved from horse-drawn wagons to specialized vehicles that keep communities running today.

Read More →