"Like a BOSS" - Michael Berg

Michael started plowing when he was in high school and has been plowing for 16 years. He now owns and operates Liberty Outdoor Services with his wife, Breanna, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Snow removal runs in the Berg family and he credits his beginnings in the snow business to his father. He’s grown up around snowplows and says, “I’ve always plowed.”

Michael plows on average 50 inches per year and around 15-25 events, with 25 being a busy winter last season. He’s responsible for both commercial and residential accounts and performs sidewalk snow removal. He utilizes both of his BOSS dealers, Proven Power, where he purchased his UTV plow and Snowplow Solutions for all snow & ice removal equipment needs.

When you choose a direct lift, hydraulic attachment system for your snow plow you get a reliable and easy to use system that features quick hookup and detach capabilities. However, there are some myths that hover around this kind of system that need to be dispelled. Primarily, some say that in the rare event of hydraulic failure, you will not be able to get your direct lift snowplow elevated for transportation. This is simply not true. Just like a chain lift system, you can strap your direct lift system up with a ratchet strap, something that most snow removal professionals have in an emergency parts kit anyway. Even if you have a chain style lift, you should have a ratchet strap handy. If your chain fails, you will have no way to lift the plow or if there isn’t enough snow to ride the plow up to short chain your chain lift system, you’ll need a strap to transport the plow.

Ford, Dodge, Chevy, GMC, Toyota.....F150, 1500, Tundra, 2500…regular, crew or super cab…the variety of truck configurations is vast!  Because every make, model and year can result in differences from truck to truck, unique truck undercarriages need to be designed to give you the option to mount a snow plow on your truck. Due to the configuration differences between each truck, the bumper height can vary greatly, and this could cause the cutting edge on your BOSS RT3 V-plow to be misaligned with the ground upon initial install.

On-site documentation of the work performed and conditions of the properties that you are providing snow and ice management services for can be very beneficial. By recording what has been done at each property that is receiving your services, you can save yourself from any confusion that may arise down the road about a particular snow event or about the work performed.

When purchasing a snowplow, you get much more than just the plow. There are many pieces of equipment that typically come standard with a snowplow, such as a coupler tower, a-frame, undercarriage, wiring and controller, and attachment system. With all of these components you are ready to get out there and start plowing. However, many people opt to buy additional items to supplement their snowplow, whether it be an accessory to make their plow easier to use, to add an element of safety or to protect the plow from damage. Read on to learn about some of the accessories commonly available for snow and ice equipment.

With such a relentless, record-breaking winter we experienced last season, you may have added or are considering adding a few new members to your snow removal team. Some may be experienced snow and ice removal professionals with many winters under their belts, while others may be new to the industry. For the newcomers, you will want to provide adequate training on snowplowing best practices. This will not only help them when the first storm hits but will also help to establish your performance expectations levels and safety standards. The Accredited Snow Contractors Association’s 2014 American National Standard highlights snow plowing basics that could be beneficial for your new hire to know*. Share these tips and help them put the best plow forward. 

When it comes to ice management, there are many spreading applications available for a contractor to choose from. There are many different features and spreading materials that can be used, which can make choosing the right equipment a little difficult. Whether you are responsible for deicing your own personal driveway or if you are a commercial snow and ice management professional, we’ve created this guide to help sort out what you’ll need to consider before purchasing deicing equipment.

You may have heard that BOSS has introduced a new, optional wireless electrical system. Along with that introduction, we have also released a new pistol grip controller  that is tethered to the truck for safety. Because Next Generation Electrical system, or NGE, is a new electrical system, there are some new terms you should probably be familiar with.  The NGE wireless system offers you a new way to communicate with your plow and some of the terms you may have previously been familiar with are used a little differently when discussing NGE. Use this glossary to learn how the Next Generation Electrical System has changed compared to our wired communication system.

With summer upon us and lawns to be mowed the thought of winter storms may already be a distant memory.  However, with the ground free of any accumulating snow it’s a good time to visit the properties you service and perform your snow and ice removal preseason site inspections. Performing a preseason site inspection is a very beneficial documentation process that could save you many headaches and money down the road. Documentation can also set you apart from others in the industry. It helps present your business as a serious, professional snow and ice management company who is invested in customers even after the snow has stopped falling.

Now that you have established a social media presence using Part 1 of this guide, let’s take a deeper dive into developing quality content that will be shared by your followers. Quality content done the right way is what can set you apart from your competitors and is the key to customer trust. Read on to learn what quality content is and how to create it.