Two styles compared
| Aspect | Low and steady | Raised and quick |
|---|---|---|
| Wing height | Just above the surface of the berm | Higher, clearing obstacles with margin |
| Speed | Slower and consistent | Higher, with more load on the truck |
| Result | Cleaner cut but more risk of catching fixtures | Less risk of catching but more snow left on the shoulder |
| Edge wear | More contact and more wear on the wing edge | Less contact, with fewer drag marks |
| Best for | Open roads with few fixtures | Roads with signs, posts, guardrail ends or uneven shoulders |
Basics for any style
Whatever the style, the wing works against objects the driver can only see in daylight.
- Know the route. Mark signs, posts, mailboxes, guardrail ends and culverts.
- Brief the driver. Agree where to raise the wing and where to fold it.
- Extend and lower in a clear space, not beside a fixture.
- Look at the wing as you drive. Use mirrors and cameras, and have a second person if the operation is new.
- Raise early when an obstacle is ahead.
- Inspect after every shift, looking at the edge, the wing frame and the hydraulic hoses.
Common causes of dragging
Dragging is a set-up problem before it is a skill problem.
- Wing set too low for a rough or sloping shoulder.
- Speed too high for the height setting.
- Driver watching the road only and not the wing.
- A wing edge worn unevenly, so one end drags first.
Limit
Machine design and local conditions vary. Follow the equipment maker’s instructions and your agency’s rules for wing operation.
Training suggestion
Practise wing work in a quiet yard before the season, with cones for obstacles. Put the new driver in the cab with an experienced one, and let them swap after a few passes. A short rehearsal reduces strikes more cheaply than any hardware.
If the route has a mix of open stretches and fixtures, use the raised style near fixtures and the low style in the open, and tell the driver where each begins.
Boundary: No heights, speeds or hydraulic values are given; use your equipment maker’s manual and your agency’s rules.
Further reading on this site.
We use a wing only on part of the route. Should its edge match the front plow material? ↗Do we need separate drawings for left- and right-hand wing edges? ↗Carbide snow plow blades ↗Plowing Grades and Hills: Uphill, Downhill and Where the Edge Loads Up ↗Backing and Spotters: Working Safely Around Parked Cars With a Plow Truck ↗Rail Crossings: Flangeways, Plow Height and Edge Strike Prevention ↗
