Winter driving is a grind—but Idaho drivers can take heart knowing a veritable snow fighting army has their back.
Hundreds of snowplows are deployed across Idaho every winter and plow an estimated 3.4 million miles each winter. Plow operators are trained as first responders too, keeping people warm and safe in the case of an emergency. Weather sensors placed throughout the state give the crew real-time data so they can stay prepared and work ahead of the storms.
In short: when it comes to winter driving, we’ve got Idaho covered.
Ty Winther leads the charge as ITD’s State Maintenance Operations Manager. He started as a snowplow operator 23 years ago, cutting his teeth on back-to-back shifts plowing some of Idaho’s most difficult terrain. Now, he oversees all winter preparation and maintenance across the state.
“We know our families and friends drive these same roads,” he says. “My role, along with our dedicated team of support staff, is to ensure our crews have everything they need to tackle whatever nature throws at us.”
Preparing for winter in Idaho is a year-round, all-hands-on-deck effort. We spoke with Ty to get a peek under the hood at:
- The powerful ins and outs of Idaho’s winter maintenance
- The many hats of a snowplow operator (and why they deserve a thank you)
- What every Idaho driver should know this winter
Meet the SnowFighters: The Power Behind Idaho’s Winter Operations
The Idaho Transportation Department manages 12,600 lane miles of highway across the state, and Ty and his crew are responsible for keeping every mile as clear as possible. Maintenance of this scale requires a fleet of operators and snow removal equipment, anti-icing liquids and materials, and top-tier forecasting. Here’s what that looks like in Idaho:
Idaho’s Winter Fleet:
This is what Ty and his crew call the SnowFighters. In total, the crew has over a thousand moving parts:
- 550 trained snowplow operators, the true winter warriors
- 425 large snowplows, many with wing plows that span 10 to 12 feet wide
- 50 road graders
- 45 snowblowers
The operators are the boots on the ground, and the plows and graders are snow fighting tanks capable of moving massive amounts of snow off the roads. These steel and poly machines weigh up to 58,000 pounds fully loaded and push millions of pounds of snow per day. Such powerful machines deserve powerful names. “Austin Plowers,” “Scoopy Doo,” and “CrtlSaltDelete” are a few of them—the creativity of local students who won ITD’s Name a Snowplow contest. (Read all the winners, here!)
The winter fleet sees regular upgrades. Ty and his crew are constantly evaluating, experimenting, and finding smarter ways to keep Idaho’s roads safe.
“We continue to become more informed, more data-driven, more efficient, and more proactive,” he says.
“We continue to become more informed, more data-driven, more efficient, and more proactive,” Ty Winther, ITD State Maintenance Operations Manager
A few things he’s excited about right now are:
- New snowplow lighting packages that will dim or brighten based on conditions, making plows more visible on the road
- Green wing lights to better alert drivers to the snowplow’s extended blade
- GPS integration that will allow snowplows and maintenance crews to appear in apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze, alerting drivers to slow down and prevent snowplow collisions from occurring
The Anti-Icing Agents:
One of the most important tools in the SnowFighter arsenal are the anti-icing liquids. These liquids prevent snow from bonding to the road, making it easier to remove snow and allowing our crews to work smarter, not harder.
Idaho uses a combination of:
- Magnesium chloride: This anti-icing agent is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air and ice, and creates a brine that lowers the freezing point of water. It also releases heat as it dissolves, melting ice for efficient snowplowing. It’s environmentally friendly and less corrosive than salt.
- Granular salt: ITD uses granular salt during snowfall because it disrupts water molecules, prevents ice from forming, and creates more traction on the road.
Since using salt, we have seen a decrease in crashes and fatalities during active storms. Since 2011, fatalities decreased from 15 to 4 in adverse conditions, serious injuries reduced from 69 to 19, and all crashes went from 1,966 to 643/
- Specialty liquids based on temperature and regional climate
Every piece of snowplowing equipment on the road is equipped with weather sensors that show the temperature of the pavement and the air. Crews use this data to apply only the necessary amount of anti-icing liquids and/or salt.
Pro Tip: Wash your car regularly during winter. ITD washes their own vehicles regularly because these materials are corrosive. Ty recommends every driver do the same.
The Weather Intelligence:
These days, there are so many ways to check the weather—and they’re not always accurate. That’s why ITD goes directly to the source.
Across the state, 130 of ITD’s Road Weather Information Stations (RWIS) provide real-time data through cameras and sensors, including:
- Pavement temperature
- Air temperature
- Wind
- Precipitation type
- Friction loss
“We get real-time notifications on what’s happening 100 miles away,” Ty says. “That way our foremen can be prepared and be out there with the right equipment and products.”
This data appears on ITD’s 511, which is available to the public.
Pro Tip: You can use ITD’s 511! It’s a great resource that gives you real-time insight into road conditions and road closures. Available as both a website or a mobile app. Check it out here: ITD 511 System.
Winter Prep Never Stops
While September to May see the bulk of active winter maintenance, Idaho’s winter preparation never stops. It takes year-round strategic planning and execution.
As soon as winter ends, the team assesses the damage: everything is thoroughly washed, meticulously inspected, and repaired as needed. The trucks and graders are retrofitted for their summer roles such as asphalt hauling and rock removal. Procurement for next winter season’s equipment and material begins right away.
“There’s not much downtime for anyone,” Ty says with a laugh.
By the time the end of August rolls around, they’re ready to do it all again.
The Hard Knock Snowplow Life
Winter maintenance would not be possible without the “winter warriors” themselves—snowplow operators. These drivers take on 12-hour shifts in the worst weather, at hours when most people would rather be snug in bed, all to keep the roads clear.
It’s a grueling, often thankless job. But they do it because they know the work matters.
Brian Inwards, a Transportation Operations Team Leader in Cascade, has been doing it for 25 years.
“There’s no middle ground,” he says. “You either love snowplowing, or you can’t do it.”
There are 50 snowplowing crews across Idaho, each referred to by their call number: the 480 crew, the 690 crew, the 380 crew, etc. Each crew handles a different terrain—from Idaho’s low valleys and river beds to mountain passes over 8,000 feet. In certain areas, such as the avalanche prone Galena Summit and Big Wood River area, 20-foot deep snow removal is par for the course.
During the thick of a storm, the trucks never shut off. Operators might work from 3:00 AM to 3:00PM, leave the engine running, and “trade butts in the seat,” Brian says.
And they do so much more than steer a plow. Being a snowplow operator requires:
- Making critical judgment calls on anti-icing application and safety.
- In addition to clearing snow with the plow, operators are constantly assessing the traction of the road and deciding how much anti-icing to use. Sometimes, this requires them to get out of the plow and dance. Or at least, it might look that way.
“We always joke that you’ll see operators out dancing on the road,” Ty says. “What they’re doing is they’ll get out, and move their feet around to see if it’s slick.”
- Responding to winter emergencies
- Operators are also first responders, and are trained to stop and provide help if they encounter an emergency on the road. Ty once rescued a mother and her children after they had veered off the road during a storm.
“Sometimes we find people that are hours away from anything and without heat or communications,” he says. “Our crews have a lot of stories in some of our corridors of rescuing stranded people.”
Just another reason snowplow operators are heroes of the road.
- Managing traffic.
- Operators are also trained in traffic management and will step in as needed. Ty recalls a time as an operator when a storm brought power poles down in the middle of the road. He ended up flagging and directing traffic for 10 hours in under 10 degree weather.
“It’s critical we are prepared for anything in Idaho,” he says.
The life of a snowplow operator is not for the faint of heart. But the operators are driven by a deeper “why” behind the work. They typically live in the areas they maintain, and take great pride knowing they’re keeping the roads clear for their communities.
“You’re making it safe for other people,” Brian says. “Our families travel the same roads that everybody else does. It’s knowing that you’re making things safe for everybody.”
How to Thank Your Local Snowplow Driver: 5 Winter Tips for Idaho Drivers
Despite everything snowplow operators do to keep people safe, they’re often met with public scrutiny. People tend to either complain about being stuck behind a plow, or wonder why plows haven’t come yet. Worse yet, impatient drivers try to pass a snowplow and cause a collision—delaying important snow-clearing work.
Already this season, Idaho had its first plow strike.
“A car slid head-on into the plow,” Ty says, citing speed and slushy roads as the probable cause. “Luckily no one was badly hurt.”
Winter safety is all of our responsibility. Snowplow operators want all Idaho drivers to get where they need to go safely, and they need our help to make sure they can do their thing and keep the roads clear. That takes understanding, preparation, and patience. Here’s what they want every Idaho driver to know this winter:
Prep your car for winter.
Just like Ty and his team gear up for winter well in advance, you can prepare before the first storm hits by equipping your car with a winter back up kit. This includes things like a rope, a shovel, warm clothing, first aid kit, even food. Snowplow operators have come across people who are stuck in a drift and had to spend hours in their car. While this is the worst case scenario, it’s best to be prepared for any winter condition curveballs.
Pro Tip: Want a step-by-step list of what to include in your winter kit? We got you. Read our guide, here.
Check 511 before driving.
Always check the weather and road conditions before any winter travel. We recommend using what the snowplow operators use: ITD’s 511. With cameras, sensors and real-time data, it’s one of the best ways to accurately understand the road conditions and visibility across Idaho. And while plow operators have to go out in severe weather—you don’t. In a blizzard, stay home. For regular winter travel, leave early and give yourself plenty of time, especially if weather conditions may cause delays.
Give snowplows room.
If you meet a snowplow on the road, give them plenty of space. Plow wings extend farther than you think, and the snow flying behind the plow can be dangerous. A common misconception is that the snow coming off the plow is “fluffy snow.” Rather, it’s a sheet of ice that can take you off the road. Stay back, and, ideally, wait for them to pull off to the side in order to pass. Snowplows have a turnaround every 20 miles, so that is the farthest you will ever have to wait to pass a plow.
“If the weather’s bad, don’t pass a plow,” Brian says. “It’s way worse in front of it than it is behind it. It’s worth driving a little bit slower.”
Pro Tip: Never pass a snowplow on the right. That is wing territory. One of the most common incidents on the road are drivers not seeing the snowplow wing and clipping it. Don’t do it!
Keep calm and slow down.
In Idaho last year, over a quarter of crashes happened during the winter. Speeding, aggressive driving, and distracted driving can all lead to a crash when the weather’s sunny and roads are clear—when it’s snowy and slick, that risk gets even higher.
Winter driving requires patience. It’s just how it is. Snow means go slow. Most plow-involved crashes come down to speed. Have patience, and let them do their work.
Trust the plows are doing their job.
When you have to get somewhere and there’s snow on the road, it’s easy to question where the snow plows are. We get it, it’s frustrating. But the reality is that if there’s snow on the road, the snowplows are out.
“We have 24/7 coverage,” Ty says. “We guarantee our plows have been out. They may not be working on your road at the moment but they will keep working until the whole highway system is as safe as possible.”
And remember: snow plow operators care deeply about their work. Know that they are working through the night to keep the roads clear, and get you where you need to go.
We All Play a Part in Winter Safety
While Ty and his crew are managing hundreds of snowplows and preparing year round for winter safety, he’s counting on Idahoan drivers to plan ahead, too.
By following his winter safety advice, driving with patience and awareness, and respecting the snowplows on the road, we can make winter transportation more enjoyable for everyone.
“Our crews take huge pride in keeping Idaho open during winter and year around,” Ty says. “Give them space, be prepared, check 511, slow down, and we’ll get everyone where they need to go safely.”
And the next time you see a snowplow operator on the road, be sure to give them a wave and a thank you. Thanks to Ty and the SnowFighters, we know Idaho roads are in capable hands.
