Got a snowplow and need to make some money? At least one South Shore town needs drivers

The first snow of the season has already gently fallen on parts of Eastern Massachusetts. But at least one South Shore town still needs snowplow drivers and is hoping its newest contract offer will help keep the roads clear and safe this winter.

For the first time, Weymouth is offering two-year contracts for snowplowing and hauling with the option of a one-year extension. The third year will have a higher rate, to be determined before the start of that season.

The town has lost roughly half of its contracted snowplow drivers since the 2015-16 season, going from 51 contractors to 27 last season, said Robert Feldmann, chief of operations with the Weymouth Department of Public Works. He said that can be chalked up to rising fuel and insurance costs as well as a lack of snow.

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“There's been a great decline. We’re just trying to build that number back up,” Feldmann said.

The pay depends on what type of equipment the drivers have. Someone with a pickup truck can get $125 an hour whereas someone with a loader with a plow can get $288 an hour, Feldmann said. Contractors will be paid a six-hour minimum during any singular storm.

Aside from having their own equipment, drivers must also have commercial general liability insurance with the town listed as well as $1 million in automotive liability with snow removal in the description. While drivers must have their own cutting edges on their snowplows, the town will pay to replace them if they are worn down.

Anyone interested can call Feldmann at 781-927-0840 for more information.

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In Quincy, the city uses a mix of its own employees and outside contractors to plow and remove snow, Commissioner of Public Works Al Grazioso said.

Contractors who plow and haul snow are paid a wide range of hourly rates depending on the type of vehicles and equipment they use. In all, there are 16 different categories, each with its own hourly rate.

At the low end, a driver of a small plow, defined as having a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 pounds, makes $90 an hour. At the high end, someone operating a large wing plow is paid $310 an hour.

Grazioso said Quincy does not pay bonuses to plow drivers, and that he expects the city will have no issues providing enough snow removal services.

“We should be all set this winter,” he said. The city isn’t seeking more contractors.

The state Department of Transportation continues to seek snowplow drivers, with hourly rates starting at $90.

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth is trying something new to attract snowplow drivers