Spending the time to research and check qualifications, and investing the dollars
to hire the right contractor, will provide peace of mind this winter season.

Full-Time Fighter
The first thing Strait stresses when choosing a snow contractor is the importance of hiring a full-time, dedicated company with an adequate supply of its own equipment and manpower. A full-time snow removal company is one that exclusively practices snow and ice management. Several companies and individuals offer these services “on the side,” according to Strait. But a company that is 100 percent-committed to snow removal has the ability to respond on a moment’s notice.

“These days, facilities are open much earlier than they used to be,” Strait explained. “If your contractor shows up late, he’s lost the opportunity to plow the entire lot before traffic arrives.”

Full-time companies offer the added benefit of providing a commitment for the full season, from November 1 to April 15. A majority of part-time snow removal contractors are full-time workers in a seasonal industry, offering snow removal as a way to keep equipment and staff busy during slow winter months. However, this can cause problems during early spring when the weather seems to be improving.

“If warm temperatures get them pulling their equipment away, a facility can be left in a lurch in a surprise snow event,” Strait advises.

Ultimately, the decision to go with a full-time or part-time company really depends on the needs and expectations of each individual. After making this initial decision, there are three major types of snow and ice contractors to consider.

Know What You Are Getting
Of the three primary types of contractors, perhaps the most valuable option is what is referred to as a snow removal company—a full-time, dedicated snow and ice company that not only plows snow but will remove it as well. Contractors either haul away the snow in large trucks or semis, or bring in heavy-duty snow melters.

Because of the service level provided, a snow removal company will often be a more expensive option. But the professionalism, reliability, thoroughness and, most importantly, peace of mind these contractors bring to the table make them worth every penny.

A snowplow company, on the other hand, provides a similar service, yet less thorough. The upside is that many of these companies are full-time, dedicated contractors with their own equipment and manpower to handle accounts professionally and efficiently.

As the name implies, a snowplow company does just that—plow snow— but that is where the service ends. Snow removal is not part of the package. This may be adequate for some facilities, but keep in mind the snow will need to be removed at some point unless the manager is content to let it sit in the lot until it melts. If at any time the owner desires the snow be removed, the work would need to be done at an added expense.

The third option available is completely different than the above two— a snow management company. Rather than having the equipment and staff, and handling the work on their own, these large companies subcontract out their accounts to smaller, third party entities. They are often located hundreds, even thousands of miles away from the actual property location.

Because they do not own the equipment or have the actual work staff, these companies have minimal overhead costs and therefore can offer very low rates. But “Caveat Emptor,” because contracting with these companies means relinquishing control of which contractor is hired to service the lot.

“It’s not unusual these days for a big company to subcontract jobs to other businesses that sometimes turn around and produce a third-generation contract,” Strait explained. “The quality often diminishes with each subcontract. But hiring a contractor who owns and operates his or her own equipment provides greater assurance that the job will be done right and completed quickly.”

Beyond that, a small subcontractor will not have the buying power a bigger contractor will. For example, consider salt usage. In the event of a shortage, a contractor large enough to purchase and store their own salt ahead of time will prevent the slippery havoc—and liability issues—that could follow.

Speaking of liability issues, an unreliable contractor may cost a facility more than time and headache due to inefficient snow removal. Leaving any opportunity for even a small accumulation of ice can have serious consequences.

Liability Issues
Lawsuits from slips and falls can top a half million dollars. Although the burden of a liability claim will almost always rest solely on the contractor, the facility manager needs to be concerned as well, and hire a contractor with an adequate insurance policy.

Imagine a severe slip-and-fall where the plaintiff sues the snow contractor for $250,000. Say that contractor has failed to obtain liability insurance and cannot afford to pay that claim. Slipand- fall claims are taken very seriously, and the property owner will likely end up paying the entire amount not covered by the snow contractor.

Furthermore, it is a good idea to consider a contractor that maintains electronic job tickets with GPS tracking, as it will provide a level of insurance for a facility if it becomes the target of a lawsuit— even several years down the road. If a contractor is deposed in a case and has maintained impeccable records, the facility will be able to easily prove it was not at fault.

While digital tracking provides a form of insurance, actual insurance that is adequate and from a reputable agency will ultimately be the best protection. Slip-and-falls can be prevented with proper, efficient snow and ice removal.

Well-Equipped
A snow contractor, whether a full service removal company or a plowing contractor, is more than just a machine and plow. The quality of equipment used will make a huge impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of plowing.

Snow plowing, as the name implies, really comes down to one key factor—the plow, or pusher, itself. A facility manager should request to see the contractor’s equipment, or better yet, have the contractor demo the equipment. This is a great opportunity to be sure the pusher does a superior job of moving snow and scraping compact snow and ice.

Then there is the equipment powering the pusher. A company that owns, versus rents, its equipment has full control over it in the event it needs maintenance, repair or complete replacement.

“A contractor that rents his equipment is at the mercy of the rental center if something goes wrong,” Strait explained. “This could mean he’s held up for several days waiting for a piece of equipment to be repaired, while Mother Nature could still be dumping snow.”

Finally, a contractor needs to be well-equipped in terms of more than just equipment itself. Find out how many people are employed at the company and how many other clients the contractor is currently serving. Being able to provide professional, dependable service is a hallmark of a truly reliable contractor, so be sure the company has the resources to take on another account.

Long-Term Investment
Along with reliability, trust is a major component of the client/service provider relationship. When it is 4:00 a.m. and a blizzard has just dumped a foot of snow, it is not enough to simply hope the contractor will honor his commitment and show up to work.

This level of trust is a perfect example of why it is a good idea to secure a long-term contract. Ideally, a manager should try to plan out three to five years when hiring a contractor. They will be more familiar with the property and more likely to purchase specialty equipment when there is a long-term investment and good working relationship.

On the flip side, a business can get itself into trouble by signing a long-term contract only to find out the relationship is not a good fit.

“Be sure to have a 30-day cancellation notice due to poor service written into any contract,” Strait advises.

In theory, a property manager could simply go to the yellow pages, choose a name and hire a snow contractor. But with something as serious as snow and ice management, why take a risk? Spending the time to research and check qualifications, and investing the dollars to hire the right contractor, will provide peace of mind this winter season.

Steve Sepaniak is Director of Sales and Marketing at Arctic Snow and Ice Control Products. For more information contact Steve at (585) 690-8811 or email at pusherpro@yahoo.com.