What’s the View of Chicago Like from a Snow Plow? A Q&A with a City Truck Driver

If you’ve ever white-knuckled your steering wheel down Lake Shore Drive during a blizzard, you know driving in a Chicago winter isn’t for the faint of heart. But for Marc Greenwood, it’s just another day on the job.

Born and raised on the city’s West Side and now a Northwest Side resident, Greenwood, 53, has been in the snow removal business for 25 years, and has spent the last 5 years with the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation. His official title is motor truck driver, since the department has a fleet of other commercial vehicles (such as street sweepers) that employees like Greenwood drive.

Greenwood, along with other drivers, is often one of the first people out on Chicago’s roads in a heavy snowfall. WTTW asked him about his perspective, and, being a total pro, he emphasized safety above all.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What do you like about your job, and what’s challenging?

Greenwood: I like being a part of a team that keeps the city moving and knowing that I play a role in keeping people safe and our roads passable during emergencies. It’s pretty gratifying. What’s challenging? Our streets can be difficult to navigate sometimes after a big snow.

Let’s say you’re watching the news, and the weather report comes on, and there’s a bunch of snow in the forecast. How do you prepare?

Greenwood: There are a lot of components that go into making sure that we’re ready, which we always are. We’re making sure that the files on the blades are good, the trucks are in safe and operating condition, that we have salt ready in various locations around the city, and making sure we have the manpower to move the equipment and snow.

OK. So, it’s snowing, and it’s go-time! What is a shift like, and how long can it last?

Greenwood: Well, when we activate our snow response, for me, I report to my yard and I check in. We have a lead man who hands out the trucks and our phone systems. I’ll do a pre-check on my truck to make sure that there’s no damage and the plows are operating correctly. After that, I do a radio check, and I’m ready to go. It really depends on how long we’re out. In [the Streets and Sanitation Department], we have manpower that’s needed elsewhere – we have people who work the forestry department, the rodent department. So our manpower is needed elsewhere, and that’s why we hire two-hour winter drivers every season. Because when it’s snowing, everything else in the city doesn’t stop.

For safety reasons, I’m guessing you can’t jam out to the radio while it’s snowing. What are you listening to, or what’s going on in your head as you’re working?

Greenwood: When I’m in the truck, I’m focused on my route. But I’m also listening in on our two-way radio for special instructions and to monitor the rest of our fleet. Believe it or not, the two-way radio is exciting. The stuff that's going on in the city in the snow – there’s just a lot going on. We’re constantly paying attention to the road conditions.

You get to see the snow before it gets all coated in oil and dirt. Is there a part of the city that you think looks prettiest in the freshly fallen snow?

Greenwood: I like seeing the different Chicago parks. The tree canopies look nice when they’re covered in snow and it all looks very calm and peaceful.

Every year, the Department of Streets and Sanitation has a contest to name Chicago snow plows, often very pun-ny names. Have you ever driven one?

Greenwood: I have driven one! I actually do have a favorite name: the Skilling It, named for Tom Skilling. He’s a Chicago legend. He’s very kind and I had a chance to talk to him at an event. I have a lot of respect for the role he played in keeping people safe during weather emergencies because that's ultimately what we do during snow season.

Is there a particularly memorable winter that you’ve worked through?

Greenwood: I would say probably back in 2011, it was pretty heavy. We had some heavy, heavy snow. We put in a lot of work that year.

What do you wish people knew about your job?

Greenwood: It can be a stressful job to be in a truck during heavy snow and icy conditions, especially when there’s a lot of traffic. Safety is always our top priority. Follow at a safe distance when possible. Maintain awareness of road conditions. Chicago winters are tough, but we do a great job getting through them safely when we all work together and look out for each other.