There are numerous benefits and challenges of brine and liquid deicing solutions for snow and ice management professionals. Here’s a quick guide on how to overcome common hurdles, leverage industry resources, and collaborate with peers to optimize your winter operations.
By Joe Gibbons
When considering brine or liquid solutions for anti-icing, factors like cost, training, application, and client perception must be weighed. While these factors may seem daunting, they shouldn’t deter snow and ice professionals from exploring this technology.
Smaller snow professionals often hesitate to adopt liquid solutions due to perceived high initial costs. However, smaller operations, especially those with one to five trucks, can often achieve a faster return on investment (ROI) compared to larger companies.
Remember, innovation is key to staying ahead of the curve in ice mitigation. By adopting cutting-edge strategies, you can enhance client satisfaction and boost your bottom line.
Weighing a shift to brine and liquid deicing solutions? Consider these insights to guide your decision-making process and optimize your snow and ice management operations.
- No Excuses. Doubts about equipment, treatment timing, and product usage are common challenges. By starting small and scaling gradually, you can minimize risks and maximize the benefits of your brine/liquid operation. Focus on repeatable successes to build a consistent and effective strategy.
- Seek Assistance. Leverage industry associations, publications, social media, and online groups to access valuable educational materials and data on brine and liquid deicing best practices. By accessing educational materials and connecting with industry experts, you can make informed decisions and optimize your brine/liquid deicing strategy. These resources offer valuable insights, best practices, and opportunities to connect with experienced professionals.
- Peer-To-Peer. A collaborative approach is key to success in snow and ice management. So, connect with other snowfighters to share experiences and insights. Leverage your network of industry peers to gain valuable insights and advice. Most professionals are willing to help, as we all benefit from learning from each other’s successes and failures. And by working together, we can elevate the industry as a whole.
While brine and liquid deicing solutions offer potential benefits, factors like cost and implementation complexity can deter smaller snow professionals. However, a gradual approach, starting with a single crew, can minimize risks and maximize returns. By leveraging industry resources, connecting with peers, and learning from shared experiences, snow professionals can make informed decisions and improve their overall operations.
A former Chicago-based snow and ice pro, Joe Gibbons is the President of Global Commodity Distribution (GCD), a vertically integrated company that manufactures and distributes liquid deicing materials and products for anti-icing, deicing, and product treatment. You can reach him at [email protected]
