What it is: Clear Roads Project 17-02 produced standard specifications for plow blades with carbide inserts. This article looks at what the public project page says the specification covers and turns those headings into a checklist. I did not read the specification itself, and I do not describe its dimensions or limits.
What the project page says is covered
| Area | As listed on the page |
|---|---|
| Carbide inserts | Geometry and dimensions; insert material |
| Blade materials | Assembly details and dimensions |
| Blade configuration | Front, underbody or tow blade; length and height |
| Quality assurance | Inspections and accept/reject procedures; accept/reject procedures for inserts |
| Drawings | Text and AutoCAD details of insert dimensions and material, blade dimensions and mounting details such as bolt pattern, inside measurements, and amount of insert inside the blade |
The page notes that Clear Roads revised a portion of the specifications after an industry peer review.
Turning the headings into a quote checklist
Turning headings into a checklist is what makes two quotes comparable.
- Insert. Does the quote give geometry, dimensions and material?
- Blade body. Material, assembly method and dimensions?
- Configuration. Is the blade type (front, underbody, tow) and length and height stated?
- Mounting. Bolt pattern, inside measurements, how far the insert sits in the blade?
- Inspection. What will be checked, how many pieces, and what happens to rejects?
- Drawings. Is a drawing included?
Why this helps
The headings exist to make two quotes comparable.
- Quotes that skip these items are harder to compare.
- A supplier who answers all six clearly is probably familiar with specification-style buying.
- The same headings give a neutral base for an acceptance inspection.
Limits
Headings are a checklist, not a specification.
- Headings are not requirements; you still need the actual values.
- The specification was written for public agencies.
- Check the current files on the Clear Roads site.
Query date: October 24, 2026; the project page lists the project as completed.
How to apply it this season
Pick one product you buy regularly and fill in the six checklist items from your current supplier’s drawing and quote. Mark any gaps. Send the gaps back to the supplier as questions and note the date. When the answers arrive, file them with the order so that a future buyer can see what was agreed, and use the same sheet when you request quotes from a second supplier.
Boundary: based only on the public project page. The specification’s numbers and rules were not read and are not described.
Sources and further reading. External references are dated; where a figure is quoted, the link shows where it came from.
Clear Roads: Standard Specifications for Plow Blades with Carbide Inserts (Project 17-02) (completed April 2020) ↗Can a density result alone confirm the carbide composition we ordered? ↗What should we ask when a quote says equivalent carbide grade without naming it? ↗Tungsten carbide inserts for snow plow edges ↗Metric 8.8 vs 10.9 on Plow Edges: Strength, Hardness and Brittleness Trade-Offs ↗EN 10204 Type 2.2 vs 3.1: Which Certificate Do You Actually Need for Edge Steel? ↗Prop 65 and Carbide Products: Why a Warning Label May Appear on California Shipments ↗
