With Chicago having its mildest winter in 78 years — with an average temperature about 11 degrees warmer than last year and about half of last year's snowfall — there has not been much work for snowplows.

Chicago Snow Removal Services, which operates 22 trucks and has been in the business for 25 years, estimates this year is one of its worst with business down 75 percent compared with last year, a company representative said.

While most plowing companies are hit hard by this milder weather, it is worse for small companies, which tend to lack the security of a fixed seasonal contract, and instead work on a per-push contract.

"If it doesn't snow, my customers don't pay no money," said Jake Smith, who operates two snowplow trucks in Chicago as ASAP Snow Removing Services. "It's killing me."

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