Page 18
— Property Management Quarterly — February 2015
B
eing in the snow removal
industry for the last 17
years, I’ve seen many
changes and trends. The
good news is the wave of
change has been beneficial for the
snow and ice removal industry as a
whole.
Equipment trends.
One of the most
difficult dynamics in the snow and
ice management
industry is manag-
ing the never-end-
ing labor shortage.
Finding individuals
who want to go
out, in the middle
of the night, in
cold and/or freez-
ing conditions, to
perform the labori-
ous act of shovel-
ing snow, without
a restroom in sight
or warm food, can
be difficult. Addi-
tionally, finding
qualified candi-
dates to drive and operate heavy
equipment is a continuous issue.
The unwavering labor shortage
ultimately brought about increased
wages. Unfortunately, even though
the contractor is forced to pay more,
most clients are unreceptive to
increased rates, which has put pres-
sure on the industry to evolve.
To offset the labor shortage,
many snow and ice management
companies have purchased equip-
ment that goes beyond the industry
“basics” of plows and shovels. This
equipment not only saves time,
but is efficient as well. The equip-
ment plays a significant role in time
management, allowing companies
to clear sites faster, with less snow
removal personnel.
Snow brooms, Ventracs and larger
shovels can double the clearing
time for typical sidewalk work.
Snow pushers of varying lengths,
from 8 to 20 feet, can clear park-
ing lots in one-half to one-fourth
of the time it takes a plow truck
to clear, not to mention the higher
depths of snow accumulation these
pushers are capable of clearing.
Additionally, the pushers enable the
operator to strategically relocate
snow on sites in a cost-effective
manner, ultimately taking up fewer
premium parking spaces with snow
accumulation. Property managers
should pay close attention to the
equipment used on their properties
to ensure they are benefiting from
these advances.
Pricing trends.
Another trend is
the growing number of clients who
are converting from the old stan-
dard of time-and-materials con-
tracts to seasonal contracts. These
seasonal contracts offer a fixed cost
for services/ice mitigation for an
entire winter season. And why not?
We live in a world where most of us
pay for life, health, dental, home-
owner’s and auto insurance. This
seasonal contract is just another
insurance policy. The seasonal con-
tract takes an owner’s line-item
variable costs of snow removal
– which all owners hate because
it’s the unknown, bill in the night,
budget breaker – and provides him
with a budgeted fixed cost. Yes, it
might snow less than planned, and
yes, he might pay more one year
versus another year, but it aver-
ages out. This is applicable in our
everyday lives as we pay an annual
auto insurance premium whether
we have an accident, require towing
or have damage from acts of God,
such as hail. With the seasonal con-
tract, owners now see the benefit
of a fixed cost, which can be mul-
tiyear, as well as priced in a variety
of ways to meet the owner’s budget
and needs.
Another angle to consider is this:
On a time-and-materials basis,
what drives the contractor to be
efficient with the owner’s money?
On a seasonal contract, the contrac-
tor must manage the site with effi-
cient equipment and personnel in
order to meet the margin set. This
is absolutely worth checking into
for 2015.
Time management and record keep-
ing trends.
Time tracking and record
keeping are vital in snow removal
operations. Time tracking plays an
essential role for contractors invoic-
ing clients, and the internal docu-
ments are crucial for recording the
time of services, as well as type, for
property managers. The goal is for
these records never to be needed,
but the reality is that in the litigious
world in which we live, thorough
and meticulous documentation of
services is mandatory. The shrewd
property manager is ever mindful
that it’s not only important the job
is done in a cost-effective manner,
but also that the contractor has the
ability to back up his work should
circumstances demand it.
To help achieve the best of both
worlds, many snow and ice man-
agement companies in today’s mar-
ket either have some sort of tech-
nology-based software, or are look-
ing into it for their future. Countless
manufacturers strive to come up
with the right fit for tracking data,
whether its phone-based, modular-
vehicle-cab-based, GPS tracking
tied into an accounting database, or
something altogether different. A
variety of sophisticated apparatus
comes out on the market each year
to assist our industry in technology-
based time management.
Education and training trends.
Edu-
cation and training play a signifi-
cant role in the success of a profes-
sional company, now more than
ever. The Accredited Snow Contrac-
tors Association is centered on net-
working, legislative action, educa-
tion and insurance initiatives. By
connecting contractors, the associa-
tion can create education standards
and seek legislative reform. To tie
into the educational aspect, ASCA
created a quality management sys-
tem for the snow removal industry.
SN9001 was established exclu-
sively for snow and ice contractors
and works in conjunction with the
existing International Organization
for Standardization: 9001. Through
SN9001, contractors earn certifica-
tion through an independent, third-
party audit that focuses on pro-
cesses and procedures that adhere
to service quality, as well as imple-
mentation of the industry standards
for snow and ice management.
The Snow and Ice Management
Association provides resources,
leadership and support for snow
removal and management profes-
sionals across North America. It is
a nonprofit trade association with
a focus on training related to snow
plowing, ice management and busi-
ness management. Additionally
SIMA offers training and education
for Certified Snow Professional,
which is the recognized standard
for professionalism and excellence
Vendor Trends
Kimberly Jewell,
LEED GA, ASCA
certified
General manager,
SnowManagement
Services LLC, Denver
New technologies, such as new snow pushers, have made snow removal more efficient.
Ventracs can double the clearing time for typical sidewalk work.
Owners and
property
managers who
commit early
are guaranteed
better resources
and pricing.
