The 2021-2022 snowplow season was a crazy one! Snowplow manufacturers and dealers alike were bogged down with issues stemming from the Covid-19 Pandemic. Hurdles ranged from a lack of raw materials to labor shortages to a clogged transportation system. It left many dealers with a lack of vital inventory during the heat of the season which in turn left snowplow professionals in a tough spot. Especially difficult was the lack of inventory to repair broken plows. If these snowplow parts weren’t in stock, it could take weeks or months before the plow would be up and operational again. This was detrimental to the snowplow business, as owners had to scramble to find alternate plows/spreaders/teams to fulfill obligations to their customers.
WHAT’S THE HOLDUP?
By this point we’re all very familiar with the wide variety of ways that Covid has changed the landscape of our lives. It’s had a large impact on the snowplow industry and many others. Snowplow parts and units were both plagued with a series of setbacks that made the 21-22 season difficult and more of the same for the 22-23 season. For starters, the availability and demand of steel plays a large role in this. The raw materials are hard to come by, the mills are understaffed, and the lack of skilled workers (needed to optimize output and the transportation system) have the entire industry clogged up. Without the raw materials, snowplow manufacturers are unable to keep up with demand on all parts that require steel (to see a full breakdown and analysis of the current health of the steel industry, click here).
On top of the steel shortage, you have shortages in many of the other raw materials that go into the snowplow parts. Just like with the automotive industry, the snowplow industry is in need of chips! These chips are manufactured mainly in China and Taiwan. Their production and output is still in recovery mode from the lost time. Once materials make it to the United States, it’s very common that they stay put in their containers at the ports. Ports have been unable to handle the quantity demanded of them. Many ships have to circle the port for days or weeks until an unloading slot opens up. Once unloaded, many of those containers sit idle until a truck is able to pick them up. The trucking industry has seen a large hit as well. With less drivers, higher demand and higher gas prices, transportation times have been doubled and in some cases delayed even further. All of this plays in to the manufacturer’s ability to keep up with their demand. If they don’t have the raw materials, they can’t produce the parts to keep everything running smoothly.
As it stands, it’s looking like the 2022-2023 season will be a repeat of the prior season. While the summer season was great for manufacturers to catch up and restock, a lack of raw materials combined with the many other issues has held them back from full capacity. While some parts are available, a great many others are already backed up weeks, if not months. With a repeat in snowplow parts availability, it makes planning ahead that much more vital for the upcoming snowplow season.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Accurately forecasting your companies snowplow parts needs is the best way to avoid a hold up during the season. Utilizing tools such as the Farmer’s Almanac (click here for 2022-2023 season!) and other reliable weather forecasting, you could anticipate how heavy your winter season will be (for a guide to the 2022-2023 forecast click here). Look back and see what parts and goods you’ve needed for prior snowplow seasons and plan ahead! Most dealers have great inventory now, but once the season gets going, there’s no telling how long certain parts and goods will take. By getting ahead of the ball you could save yourself weeks or months of aggravation.
If you don’t have a record of your typical winter purchases and repairs, we can help! Whether you’d like to see your past history with us or whether we can advise you on the main parts needed for a winter, Traffic Safety and Equipment is here to assist!