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SALT LAKE CITY — Veteran plow drivers with the Utah Department of Transportation spent their day Tuesday training on the most impressive and effective plow truck they use: the tow plow.
"They're a little more complex than your regular plow," said Jake Brown, UDOT's station supervisor for the metro area. "It's been a good tool in our arsenal for snow removal."
One tow plow driver can handle the work of two trucks, but UDOT wants all drivers to be aware of the unique way it moves in traffic.
The specialized piece of plowing gear is mounted with a standard plow on the front of the truck. It carries salt and a brine solution to treat the road, but it also tows an extra blade that enables the tow plow to clear more than two full lanes of traffic.
When a major storm blows in, 10 of the tow plows literally fan their blades out on Utah's roads.
"Try to clear as much snow as you can, as fast as you can," said veteran driver Mark Prows. When he deploys the tow plow blade, that's what he does.
"This thing is really responsive," Prows said. "It's really quick; the hydraulics come right over."
On Tuesday, drivers practiced moving the blade through an obstacle course, simulating their movement through traffic on a snowy day.
Related:
UDOT finds cost-effective, efficient ways to clear snowy roads
In an average winter, the Utah Department of Transportation spends $5 million on salt to clear roads of ice and snow. Over the past dozen years, or more, it has found ways to stretch the salt to save taxpayer dollars and clear the roads efficiently.UDOT started using these plows five years ago.
"In these times where budgets are tight and manpower is short, this was an answer," Brown said.
But he also cautions drivers to be aware: When the blade comes out, it may look like the truck is losing control or even jack-knifing, so give the plow 200 or 300 feet of room.
"We don't just plow the lane we are in," said Brown. "We will sometimes move to the right, sometimes move to the left. We're constantly shifting depending on the roadway."
So, motorists cannot anticipate what the driver is doing if they try to pass.
"Keep a safe distance, and let us do our job," Brown said. "We'll get out of your hair soon enough."
"It's not worth your life to get to work a few minutes early," Prows said.
