Avalon snow crews playing catch up after slow season
A snowplow operator says his crew worked 30 hours straight following Thursday's storm, trying to make up for lost time during a slow snowclearing season on the northeast Avalon.
David Baird, who owns Baird's Snowclearing Services, said slippery road conditions have kept his crews busy spreading salt this winter — but there hasn't been enough snow.
Baird told CBC News that Thursday's substantial snowfall has him and his team playing catch-up.
The company provides snowclearing for private businesses.
Snow is great for me, I get paid by the hour.- David Baird, Baird's Snowclearing Services
"Last year, we started in the last week of November and went on right through the winter, and this year, it's been quite slow for the snow," he said.
Baird's company charges an hourly wage — a risky move, considering Baird is making payments on a brand new $200,000 front-end loader.
Baird said some companies instead take on lump sum contacts, so the operators get paid regardless of whether or not any snow has fallen.
Still, Baird doesn't feel pressure to change his sales tactic.
"I find the guys that take lump sum contacts, a lot of times the prices [the operators charge] are a bit low," said Baird. "So you gamble and hope that there's no snow."
Baird said he's keeping his fingers crossed for more snow in the months to come.
"Snow is great for me, I get paid by the hour ... so the more snow, the better for me," he said.
With files from Mark Quinn