Scenario: a storm ends, trucks come back coated in salt and slush, and the wash and inspection is rushed or skipped. Direct answer: use a short, fixed routine: rinse first, inspect second, record third. Salt left on hardware can cause trouble, so prompt rinsing is a sensible habit, though I cite no corrosion data. Check your machine maker’s wash guidance first. This is a depot template.
Template: the routine
| Step | Task | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Park and secure | Lower the plow safely, shut down, chock and tag as your procedure says | Safety first |
| 2. Rinse | Rinse the plow, mount, edge, bolts, lift gear, spreader and undercarriage with water | Use warm rather than hot water on a cold edge, and follow maker guidance |
| 3. Inspect | Go through the check points below with good light | Look before parts dry and hide rust |
| 4. Lubricate | Grease pivots and pins as scheduled | Wipe off excess |
| 5. Record | Log faults, photos and actions | One line per truck |
Inspection points
Wash first, inspect second; salt and grit hide the defects you are looking for.
- Edge and bolts: wear, chips, loose or missing bolts, rust at heads and nuts.
- Pins and bushings: play, scoring, dry surfaces.
- Hydraulic hoses and fittings: leaks, abrasion, rust on fittings.
- Cylinder rods: pitting or damage to the chrome.
- Welds and frames: cracks, rust bleeding from joints.
- Electrical connectors and lights: corrosion, moisture, damage.
- Brake and air lines, if fitted: chafing and rust.
Where corrosion often starts
Common places are crevices and joints where salt water sits, bolt threads, pin ends and anywhere paint has chipped. This list is shop experience, not data.
Recording
| Date | Truck | Finding | Action | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (date) | (no.) | (note) | (work order) | (file) |
A note on wash water
Check local rules on where wash water may go, since it may contain salt and oil. Many depots need a drain, a trap or a collection arrangement, and your environmental contact can tell you what applies.
Frequency and timing
Do the routine after each storm that involves salt or brine, and at least weekly in a long season. Do it before the truck is parked for more than a few hours, so that salt does not dry in place. If a storm ends in the early hours, let the next shift run the routine, and make sure the handover card says it is due. A routine that depends on one person’s memory will fail in the first busy week.
Boundary: No corrosion data is cited; follow your machine maker’s wash guidance and local rules on wash water and runoff.
Further reading on this site.
Inspecting and Rotating a Packed Ice Edge Through the Season ↗Inspecting a Carbide Insert Delivery: A Buyer’s Receiving Checklist ↗Carbide snow plow blades ↗Five-Minute Pre-Storm Briefing: Routes, Hazards, Edge Condition, Spare Plan ↗County Winter-Prep Calendar: April Review to November Readiness ↗How Long Does an Overseas Edge Order Really Take? ↗
