I have been noticing alot of plow and sander trucks up for sale that used to be on the state plowing. now with this new program they want sander to have that new system and wings also if you want to be put on the list or first call list. if any one has noticed the state does not have hardly any equipment to plow the roads itself anymore . before you would see state yards with 30 medium duty plow trucks now you might see just a couple. if eery contractor got together and said no we would all be snowed in . does any one else agree?
ma state plowing
cat320
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I have been noticing alot of plow and sander trucks up for sale that used to be on the state plowing. now with this new program they want sander to have that new system and wings also if you want to be put on the list or first call list. if any one has noticed the state does not have hardly any equipment to plow the roads itself anymore . before you would see state yards with 30 medium duty plow trucks now you might see just a couple. if eery contractor got together and said no we would all be snowed in . does any one else agree?
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The guy who is in charge of 8 depots in out area said that they eliminated better than 50 % of the contracts they had hired. They got rid of the deadwood, the people that showed up late, the people that broke down constantly, and the people who didn't work or play well with others. I think it will be very interesting to see how it goes down this year.
They used to have twice the # of trucks they really needed for small to moderate events and would rotate through the call list for those and call in all for the forecasted larger events. What I can't figure out is that they eliminated better than half yet still plan on having a rotation. So by my logic that puts them at less than 25% for most events. :scramble People better get used to driving in snow again cause there will be more of it on the roads at any given point in time.
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I heard a stat on the radio recently that the city of Toronto has 600 plow trucks, 300 sidewalk machines and 200 salt/sand trucks.
600 plows?
My town brought on-board a new contractor who was mandated to have all units capable of plowing with wings and salt/sand. They've got 16 of them plus I don't know the number of city owned units...I don't think it would be very high.
They're having the second unit in a tandem run (middle, most often...unless it's a 4 unit run) lay down salt at the same time whereas in the past they'd have a salt-only unit trailing. At least the tractors are always first in the tandems so we're not going to get hammered with salt all winter.
600 plows?
My town brought on-board a new contractor who was mandated to have all units capable of plowing with wings and salt/sand. They've got 16 of them plus I don't know the number of city owned units...I don't think it would be very high.
They're having the second unit in a tandem run (middle, most often...unless it's a 4 unit run) lay down salt at the same time whereas in the past they'd have a salt-only unit trailing. At least the tractors are always first in the tandems so we're not going to get hammered with salt all winter.
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I was told a long time ago that the state always hired out for snow help but after the Blizzard of 78 it became a much higher priority. The early 80's I guess had some layoffs from lack of snow and the economy being in the toilet. The 90's, particularly in the early 90's when we had 3 historic winters in 4 years expanded the rolls since the polls knew they would be toast if the plowing continued being what it was. I remember growing up in the 70's and 80's and seeing snow and ice on our street for weeks at a time. The money just wasn't spent on services. At the end of the day people don't want to hear about budget cuts or belt tightening, they just want the garbage picked up and the streets plowed and the pols know it. I know one thing for sure, if a big one is forecast they'll be calling EVERYBODY, dead wood or not to come and join in.
I had a former state plower call me a couple of weeks ago looking not just for work but how to start a plowing company! Seems now that the state bumped all his f-250 and older 350's off the state they needed some work. I was honest with him and told him that it was the wrong time to get into the business and that he should sell his trucks. He thought I was kidding. I wasn't. Not trying to be jerk but I was as realistic as I could be. He wasn't a young kid either but apparently he never had to go out and scrounge his own work and really had no idea how to do it. I don't know who was sadder after the conversation, me or him.
I had a former state plower call me a couple of weeks ago looking not just for work but how to start a plowing company! Seems now that the state bumped all his f-250 and older 350's off the state they needed some work. I was honest with him and told him that it was the wrong time to get into the business and that he should sell his trucks. He thought I was kidding. I wasn't. Not trying to be jerk but I was as realistic as I could be. He wasn't a young kid either but apparently he never had to go out and scrounge his own work and really had no idea how to do it. I don't know who was sadder after the conversation, me or him.
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They cut my pu and did not replace it with another pc.Both ends of our area lost a truck.It will be interesting i will agree.It is going to be a real interesting year for sure. all I know if a big one hits everybody better get behind the big FWD because its going to be the only lane open. I think the state is making a big mistake cutting all the trucks.
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Code:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r29s6f9284p0&lvl=18.743776793188484&dir=88.42850647362895&sty=bwell i remember when i was a kid i lived next to the MDC garage in stoneham and they had so many dump trucks and plows it was unbelivable loaders backhoes you name it they had it used to love playing over there they even had a sand tower to load the trucks. if you go to the yard today it's hard to belive they had that many trucks and peices of equipment it's like a ghost town there. now to wounder they replaced there fleet with subs? now they just dropped half of them i'm talking early 70's and still a good amount right into the early 80's the last auction they had there they unloaded all there bodies and stainless sanders.
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I was told that they were looking to get rid of everything below 11k gvw.
To me it seems as though they could save themselves a fortune by eliminating the hired loaders from sitting in the pits. The pits around here all have Sate loaders but they just sit unused and all the while they pay 117.50 an hour for the entire length of the storm.
I noticed the same thing, tons of trucks on craigslist for sale and they all say they plowed for the state. Not to steal the thread but does anyone know what Mass does with their old equipment. I see other states like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio have equipment auctions that are easily accessible but never see anything for Massachusetts.
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well the dcr(formaly MDC) i think are down to the bare bones i live by the maintence garage and i never see any trucks there. the mass dot have been having auctions but most are not real close to me usually way down south or out west. you can check this guy out he does some state auctions
http://www.jackbautoauctions.com/home
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Most of MA.'s stuff should go directly to the scrap yard. By the time they are done with neglecting things they are junk!!
Why don't some of these guy's go plow for there town's instead ? Granted they don't pay as much but it's still good money...That's what my buddies doing this year, Mass-DOT dropped his F-350 so he's now plowing for a local town...He just picked up another truck too, for me to plow in ....
It was too damn funny on Thursday when all these weather dumb@ss's were saying were going to get hammered with a "noreasta" my old cheap ass boss came a callin' to run his combo for him for the state, I said sure how much you payin this year seen he's getting well over $155 an hr, he said $15 cash I laughed & told him to stick it
....It was too damn funny on Thursday when all these weather dumb@ss's were saying were going to get hammered with a "noreasta" my old cheap ass boss came a callin' to run his combo for him for the state, I said sure how much you payin this year seen he's getting well over $155 an hr, he said $15 cash I laughed & told him to stick it
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I don't know about other towns but towns around here are flat broke so I wouldn't expect much work from them IMO.Why don't some of these guy's go plow for there town's instead ? Granted they don't pay as much but it's still good money...That's what my buddies doing this year, Mass-DOT dropped his F-350 so he's now plowing for a local town...He just picked up another truck too, for me to plow in
This city hires off of a list thats bid every year. In an emergency they call everyone but it has to be a blizzard.
Oh I know, all the money goes to the schools now...
A prime example is I was paving a street up in Ashby over the summer & was talking to the DPW guy that was there & we were talking about the upcoming winter, He said the town laid off 8 workers, now there's only 3 full time guys to plow all the street's & mountain roads up there, he said the schools took all the money
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