Stocking up for winter

Winter 2017-18 arrived late much like the past few winters. Many regions experienced significant and prolonged cold in December and early January, but no appreciable amounts of snow in the population centers came during that cold stretch. While most apply salt during any snow event irrespective of whether it is truly needed or not, the demand volume knob was never turned beyond three on a scale to 10 this past winter. Yes, product did move, but in manageable amounts and at manageable velocity.

Velocity is the key.
While the supply side of the business can keep pace with intermittent storms, problems arise when snowstorms come in back-to-back and on cold pavements. That weather pattern demands application of deicing products as the snow fighter shifts from a mechanical fight with plows and loaders to a chemical fight of salt and other products. If you want to see trouble coming, then pay close attention to weather patterns that stack up winter events in a tight delivery pattern as well as events that arrive late in the season when supplier stockpiles and inventories are intentionally driven down.

Read more in our August issue here.