SNOW PLOWING OPEN AREAS
Open areas such as parking lots require a more serious approach
to planning, where to begin, and where snow can be stacked at
the edges. The following will help in making a plan, thus turning
out a neat, professional job.
Always turn on warning flashers and/or use yellow warning
beacon or strobe light when plowing. Then make a single pass
down the center on the longest dimension. Angle plow the snow
toward the long sides with continuous passes until the area is
cleared and snow is all stacked around the outside edges.
For larger areas, efficient plowing calls for clearing area
immediately in front of buildings and working away from buildings
toward the outer limits of the area. When snow is quite deep,
it might be necessary to push the excess into piles out of main
traffic lanes for later handling. Areas 100,000 sq.ft. or more
— once the main artery is clear, it is usually most efficient to plow
at right angles to the artery, piling up windrows by back and forth
passes in alternate lanes. The windrows can later be pushed out
of the way or left as is depending upon conditions.
To clean up remaining snow, you can put the blade in the straight
position. Buck piles from either side to stack snow. The blade
will automatically “ride” up the pile to make stacking easier.
On a dirt or slag surface, drop moldboard to ground in straight
position, then raise one inch or adjust runners for desired
clearance. Under extreme surface conditions it may be necessary
to plow with moldboard in suspended position.
PARKING LOTS
1. Always turn on warning flashers and/or use yellow warning
beacon or strobe light when plowing.
2. Make first pass to clear area into which you will later push
more snow.
3. Clear front in straight position and clean up remaining
snow. Buck piles from either side to stack snow. Blade will
automatically “ride” up pile to aid in stacking.
Snow Plowing Tips from the Pros
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