“Cummings Properties takes a great deal of pride in its staff, and the Snow Team is no exception. We consider prompt snow removal to be one of our most important obligations to client firms.”
— Dennis Clarke, Cummings Properties chairman and CEO
Timely snow removal has been a central tenet of Cummings Properties' estate management philosophy since the Company's inception. Company lore holds that during the Blizzard of '78, when local roads and highways were still closed and impassable, Cummings' parking areas were clear and ready for business. That focus on customer service continues to this day; even after parking lots are initially cleared, snow removal operations continue after hours in preparation for the next storm.
The Cummings Snow Team is populated by many of the talented members of Cummings Properties' construction crews. This hardworking group of professionals includes carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and construction managers, who set aside their usual roles to share in a coordinated effort as plow drivers, spotters, heavy equipment operators, and mechanics. Strong camaraderie and team loyalty characterize this core group, which is supplemented by subcontractors under the direction of Cummings Properties' field management.
Planning for the snow removal season begins well before the first flakes fall. New team members are trained, and assignments, schedules, and procedures are reviewed. Equipment is prepared for grueling winter conditions. Mountains of salt and sand are stockpiled for the season.
As the temperature drops, managers evaluate weather forecasts and parking situations daily, always on the watch for potentially dangerous weather conditions. Property managers alert clients to proper snow parking protocols prior to the arrival of inclement weather. When the storms inevitably start, overnight dispatchers coordinate with roving field managers, assigning resources as needed. Like a racing pit crew, teams of mechanics in two maintenance garages repair equipment on the fly.
Orchestrating the relocation of cars prior to plowing is key to efficiently clearing our expansive parking lots. Dedicated snow parking areas provide clients and their visitors with convenient, pre-cleared parking spaces away from active plowing, and a growing number of garages provide enclosed parking that is sheltered from the elements. A side benefit of the solar arrays built atop many Cummings garages is the reduced snow accumulation on upper parking decks.
After the mechanized divisions of snow machines remove the bulk of the snow, squads of shovelers and sanders disperse throughout our properties to mop up sidewalks and building entries.
Planning for snow removal extends to the design of new properties and buildings. Parking lots are laid out with consideration for efficient snowplow operations, and parking garages are screened to block the entry of wind-driven snow.
The team operates a fleet of nearly 60 snow removal vehicles, including snowplows, dump trucks, frontend loaders, backhoes, and maintenance vehicles. A set of specialized truck-mounted airport snow blowers chews through the tallest drifts and helps transfer snow after hours.
Cummings takes particular pride in maintaining a fleet of vintage plows and airport snow blowers. The older equipment is simple and built to last, and our top-notch mechanics have the skills and the parts to keep these classics running for years to come.
This twin-engine behemoth features a Cummins 160 diesel front engine that drives the machine and a Cummins 165 diesel rear engine that drives the blower. This truly extraordinary piece of equipment will move mountains of snow in a short time. It formerly served at a Maine airport.
Another twin-engine snow blower, this machine’s front engine is a six-cylinder Chrysler industrial flathead gasoline engine that powers the drive wheels, while a Cummins 250 diesel rear engine runs the auger.
This former highway plow is powered by a 300-horsepower GV53 Detroit Diesel engine. An Allison automatic transmission powers all wheels. It features an 11-foot front plow, two 10-foot wing blades, and a belly plow. An integral sander diversifies the machine's capabilities.
This Canadian-made tracked vehicle is driven by a six-cylinder Chrysler flathead industrial gas engine.
