In this issue, you’ll find the annual State of the Industry report with various articles, charts, graphs and subjects about how the professional snow removal industry has fared over the past year. Personally, the industry is fairing just fine. However, when pondering the state of our industry, I found myself looking back over the past 15 years and thinking about the advances we have seen in terms of equipment. We are at a point in time where equipment availability allows us to be the most productive we have ever been.
Fifteen years ago snow pushers were unheard of. Who can doubt the impact they have had on productivity in the snow industry – especially in the private sector. Even the advancements with the original design have shown us that a great idea can be expanded and improved.
Deicing technology has advanced dramatically. Until the shortages of the last decade, salt was readily available and relatively cheap commodity. Even with the soaring pricing resulting from the shortages, salt is still the cheapest method for reducing ice to water. Entrepreneurial types experimented with various ways to enhance the product, with some limited success. The point is – the snow industry has many who are looking for ways to improve the product offering to those who fight snow.
Even the old standard – the snowplow – has evolved. “V” blades evolved from a disastrous beginning to become the standard tool in most commercial snow operations thanks to intrepid forward thinking tinkerers. Expandable plows, once a specialized product for the most progressive snow contractor, are now offered by most of the major brand name plow manufacturers.
All the equipment manufacturers have progressively sought to improve their product offering. Most noticeable, to this columnist, at least, is the dramatic change in attitude and quality of the long-standing Meyer company. I remember 15 years ago sitting with a high-level Meyer executive who told me Meyer wasn’t in the plow business, they were in the parts business. He admitted to me that their product was built to fail in favor of all the high-margin parts they could sell contractors. To say that viewpoint was shortsighted would be generous.
Enter Andy Outcalt. I had a very frank discussion with Andy soon after he joined Meyer, and I ripped the company up in a very big way. Those who have known me a long time will likely remember my feelings about the Meyer product line back in the 1990’s. To Andy’s credit, he listened, didn’t say much, and asked if he could call upon me in the future. Thus began a friendship I value to this day. However, more to the point, Andy listened to the individuals who actually work on the front lines in our industry and reacted accordingly. The resulting product line is one he can be proud to represent.
Today as Meyer’s president, Andy continues to have a considerable impact on our industry. And like many of his colleagues in the equipment sector, he represent what is great about the snow and ice removal industry.
As long as we have individuals who strive to find better, more efficient and affordable ways to move snow in a competitive market – the state of our industry is truly very, very good.