Fleet Management Techniques & Software Series 101

I will be offering a series of articles containing fleet management techniques and processes that I have learned and implemented over the years.  A very important component of sound fleet management is a comprehensive but "user friendly" fleet management software package.  In my recent "Roads Scholar" post, I forgot to mention that Dave Budd  (the "Roads Scholar) was the individual responsible for introducing fleet managment software into Michigan Department of Transportation.  In 1993, Dave purchased an "off-the shelf" fleet management software package called "Qquest".  I think he bought five programs (they were DOSS versions) for $300.00 each.  He distributed 3 in his area and sent me 2.  One of those programs opened the door to fleet management software in MDOT.  Robin Lester and Keeley Farrell undertook the initiative to get the program updated to "Windows" and they key punched in all the region fleet data..  That very program was the program used when the Paw Paw Central Repair Facility was opened on August 5, 1996.  The very first repair facility and region in Michigan Department of Transportation history to utilize fleet software. 

I doubt you will ever find any of this information mentioned in the MDOT historical files.  Working for government is very much like urinating in your dark navy blue trousers.............no one notices it but it does leave you with a warm feeling inside....

Stay tuned for some very practical and useful fleet management tehniques. 

Anti-Ice Tanker News Article MDOT in 2000

ROAD CREWS MAY WARM UP TO NEW ANTI-ICING TRUCK
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will test a new anti-icing truck this winter in the Kalamazoo area. The 5,000-gallon tanker will operate on I-94 and M-31. The unit is capable of covering 165 to 250 lane miles with anti-icing material in one trip, "five times as far" as the old 1,000-gallon trucks, said Mark Lester, regional equipment manager for MDOT.

The truck cab is equipped with a global positioning system that is able to provide and record application data. This notifies the truck driver of the rate of application, route, road temperature, truck speed and the time and date of application. This ensures a uniform coverage of anti-icing material to the roadway and allows drivers to pick up where a previous driver left off.

"By eliminating the cost of extra operators, trucks and hours, this single truck can do the same job of three to five trucks with a savings potential of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year said State Transportation Director James DeSana.

For more information, please see:
http://kz.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/20001128kmdot.frm

Hey folks, I found this on-line and it is as relevant today as it was when written in 2000.  When doing anti-icing applications, bigger is better.  I still don't know why everyone does not anti-ice?  It can pay back in big ways, especially in the after storm clean-up.  You apply the chemical prior to storm during regular work time, on decent roads, at highway speeds.  Agencies could even collaborate on equipment and applications by mutually investing in tanker.  Perfect application for Swaploader would be interchangeable tank, salt hopper, etc.  Equipment truck with controller that can handle granular, prewet, anti-ice, and booms.

Winter Snow Removal Efficiencies

One Response to Why Should You Add Liquids to Your Winter Operations Arsenal?

1. Mark Lester says:

   September 10, 2011 at 7:53 am

   Thanks for sharing my comments. Seems like there are two areas of “contention, if you will” in snow & ice control operations. One seems to be adding liquids to your “snow fighting arsenal” and in what context, i.e. prewet, anti-ice, etc. and the other is in the addition and use of wing plows. WIng plows have become a standard spec. item in most fleets but there are still a few hold-outs. Adding liquids and wing plows to your winter snowfighting “tool kit” will: a.) increase your efficiency by increasing your productivity, b.) provide a better service and end result to your customer, c.) your customers will notice the results quicker d.) and ultimately you have satisfied cusomers which means you have a happy board or council. The “icing on the cake” is you can have an increased level of service and productivity with decreased manhours. It would be great if we could create a message board or discussion group so those that are using these techniques successfully could share their processes and successes with everyone.    check out:  http://www.deicemandave.com/.  and  http://www.ttspec.com/. 

Why Add Liquids To My Snow & Ice Control Operation?

Why should you add liquids to your snow & ice control operation when you have always salt in a granular form and it works?  I have to be honest with you, this is a "trick question".  Everyone engaged in snow & ice control utilizes liquids..............don't believe me?  Call your old high school chemistry teacher and ask them to explain the process of melting snow with sodium chloride (rock salt).  Or I will be happy to explain, granular salt is ineffective in melting snow or ice.  The granular salt must attract water and transition to a liquid state (brine) before it becomes effective.  There are a couple of methods to speed up the melting process:  A.)  apply in a very concentrated application (apply in band rather than broadcast).  Try it for yourself on your own sidewalk this winter, throw out a handful of salt like you are feeding chickens in one area and then pour the entire handful in a concentrated application.  Compare the results after about twenty minutes.  In a trunkline application, you would apply the concentrated band of salt on the crown of the road or high side of ramp and allow gravity and traffic to assist in the effectiveness of the salt brine.   B.)  the other method is to apply a liquid chloride from the "get-go" or prewet the granular salt.  You will notice an almost instant response and you'll discover you can use less granular and obtain better results.   If you really want "more bang for the buck", apply prewetted granular salt in a concentrated pattern.  If you prewet with calcium or magnesium chloride, you can lower the melting temperature giving yourself the ability to apply salt and have it be effective at a much lower temperature.  Now you are a hero to the motoring public and ultimately with the police agencies and politicians.  How's that for job security?  Have a anti-corrosive additive included with your liquid chloride purchase and reduce equipment rust & corrosion damage, liquid product pump lock-ups, etc. and now you are a hero with your fleet maintenance folks.  So, the answer to the original question is:  We are using liquids.  The next question:  why are you not expanding your liquid use?  The legitimate answer might be:  our budget will not allow us to purchase the application and storage systems for the liquids at this time.  There are many different options and you should contact us:  http://www.ttspec.com/.  If you answer:  1.) well we always done it this way  or   2.) our employees are afraid it will reduce "their overtime",  then you are not a good steward of the taxpayers tax dollars and you need to retire.   

Wing Plow Use in City and Muncipal Snow Removal Operations

To all those "nay-sayers" who question the advantage of wing plow usage in cities, villages, and other urban settings, I have to say you should reconsider.  Pictured is a newly completed single axle plow truck with underbody scraper and mid-mount wing for the city of Kentwood, Michigan.  For those that are unfamilar wih Kentwood, it is suburb of Grand Rapids in west Michigan right on the edge of the lake effect snow belt.  Kentwood is not the only Michigan community to utilize wing plows and realize their effectiveness.  The community of Monroe, Wisconsin (where Monroe Truck is located, primary maufacturer of snow and ice equipment including wing plows) uses wing plows on their city trucks quite effectively.  I observed, first hand, a Monroe City Snow Plow truck clearing a city street with diagonal parking using a plow truck with wing plow and in one pass he cleared most of the lane and the parking area.

He was clearing the streets very early before there was much traffic and I assume there was a winter parking ordinance in effect.  Granted, wing plows won't necessarily work well in every application but they do have their place.  Winter operations folks should rethink their snow removal practices and objectively consider process improvements and improved efficiencies.  When I was in the MDOT fleet arena, I always observed "what the other guy was doing" and what results "he was obtaining".   Don't be an "ostrich".........you know what body part you expose when you bury your head in the sand!