My dad used to say, "Before you get started, get the right tool for the job." He meant that while a hammer is an excellent tool for banging nails and securing hubcaps, it’s the wrong tool for fixing a watch. This concept applies tenfold in our industry. It’s more critical than ever, given the increasing labor shortages and skyrocketing business costs. We’re all striving to acquire the right tools for our jobs.

When buying equipment and tools to build your inventory, consider two things:

1. Can this tool or equipment be used in multiple seasons?
2. How many of your service locations can use this tool or equipment?
   

Running your purchase options through these filters helps you to match the right equipment for the job and maximize equipment usage for productivity and efficiency. Let’s review some site location setups and what may be best for your company.

Sidewalk operations

For many reasons, sidewalks are one of the most challenging areas to control and maintain. Many smaller locations are manageable with push or straight shovels. Most large jobsites (as a rule, anything over a few thousand linear feet of sidewalk) require mechanical help.

With an investment in mechanical equipment, you can handle multiple locations more easily. The latest technology can plow and spread granular products at the same time. Some high-end equipment can apply brine while plowing for a cleaner single-pass setup. The availability of automated sidewalk machinery is also on the rise. These upgrades and innovations to sidewalk treatment equipment will continue to develop and improve over time.

Before you buy a new piece of equipment, do some general homework and figure out a) if you will use the new equipment enough to justify its purchase, b) the cost of using it on a "normal" storm, and c) the potential cost savings for using it. This homework is especially critical on contracted sites where you are experiencing labor shortages.
 

Plowing operations

Plow designs and features have continuously evolved as jobsites and customer expectations have changed—often becoming more demanding and requiring more flexibility. An example of such a change is using the "fixed" blade vs. the "floating" blade. In our service region, many older properties suffer from poorly graded parking lots, which significantly affects drainage from one end of the parking lot to the other. The grade and terrain vary so much that traditional fixed plow blades do not effectively clear these areas, often leaving snow trails that freeze when temperatures fall. A floating plow allows the blade to adjust with the terrain and "float" 4-6 inches from side to side, providing a very clean pass and reducing salt applications on the back end of the storm.

Consider keeping blades of various sizes on hand to best service your clients’ properties and their unique challenges. For example, our account managers have 6-foot blades on their mini trucks to tighten up any unique property features, such as around fire hydrant openings and bus stop locations, they encounter during site checkups.

Loader operations

Super-sized distribution centers and 24-hour operations warehouses are particularly challenging jobsites that drive innovation in our industry. Such industrial sites often feature loading bays for 53-foot parked trailers that frequently move in and out of the parking lot, making large-scale removal and treatment capabilities imperative.

Manufacturers now offer containment plows and pushers with a variety of edges and features designed to more efficiently clear large amounts of snow. These types of setups save time and allow for simultaneous plowing, stacking and clean-up operations for each property.

Relocating loaders from one jobsite to another during snow events can be challenging and dangerous. If you can, keep this equipment at a specific jobsite for the duration of a snow event. This allows for increased billing since the machine is already on location and ready to go.

An 8- or 10-foot pusher works best if you service small- and medium-sized locations. More significant sites will require equipment up to 16 feet wide with hydraulics to move wings in and out as necessary.

Take time to review and evaluate your company’s contracted sites. Some service providers focus only on largescale operations like shopping and distribution centers. In contrast, others prefer to focus on smaller operations like fast-food drive-throughs and parking lots with less than 50 spaces. The level of workload and the types of equipment needed to service these varied environments are very different. Ensuring the equipment you have fits the size and scope of the job is critical to your success.

Remember: Use the right tool for the job! Regardless of size, each jobsite requires a focused analysis of its challenges, production requirements, client expectations, and the equipment, training, and personnel needed to service it effectively. Make such evaluations and plans long before the next weather event when your team’s services are required.

Mike McCarron is president and founder of ImageWorks Landscape Management, a commercial landscape maintenance and snow removal firm in the Northern Virginia market. He has 20+ years of industry experience. Email him at mike@imageworkslandscaping.com.