Snow removal companies wary of another harsh winter

Snow removal companies in New Brunswick are hoping this coming winter won't be a repeat of last year's record-breaking season that damaged equipment and set back some of them thousands of dollars.

After back-to-back years of pummeling storms, Jason Crowdis of Yard Pros is taking a cautious approach this time.

He is hoping to save on equipment costs by not accepting any new customers for his Quispamsis-based snow removal business.

"Last year was extraordinary circumstances, there was nothing like it on record, so it was tough on people and tough on equipment," Crowdis said Thursday on Information Morning Saint John.

`They're not bulldozers, they're pickup trucks with a blade on the front.- `Jason Crowdis, Yard Pros owner

"You have to pay your guys, pay your fuel, pay your insurance no matter what, it doesn't matter if you plow five times or 20 times … they're not bulldozers, they're pickup trucks with a blade on the front, so they do suffer the brunt of it when you're pushing tonnes of snow around every storm."

Crowdis says his isn't the only company being prudent with customer lists. He's taken calls from people searching for a new snow-clearer after their service pulled out.

"If people don't have someone lined up sooner than later, you will find it hard to find someone I think after last winter," he said.

"Nice fluffy snows are fine, but when we're getting what we had last year it's beyond what you'd want."

CBC News spoke to another snow removal company in Saint John that is only taking on a handful of additional residential customers this winter, and only in neighbourhoods his plows already service.

That business made no profits after shelling out $5,000 for repairs at the end of the season.

In Moncton, Mohammed Benyoussef of G2W Landscaping, is taking on another 10 customers this year.

He opted to add more equipment, after several pieces sustained damage last season.

"The best winter is one that is going to be smooth, a bit of snow, but not like last year," he said.

"But if it comes like last year we are ready for it."

New Moncton startup hoping for 'above average' winter

A new startup business in Moncton is counting on some blustery storms this season, though still "nothing like last year."

Sean Griffith, co-founder of Plow Me Out, is launching an on-demand snow removal service for people in Moncton, Saint John and Halifax who want an alternative to a seasonal contract.

Customers will be able to request plowing service on demand, and Plow Me Out will dispatch a participating local contractor.

"A little more than normal [winter weather] would be fantastic," Griffith said. "We'd hate to turn down being able to service a customer. If we have too much snow, we could run into that issue if we didn't have enough partners in a city."

Saint John smashed a 52-year-old snowfall record last year, when a cumulative 470 centimetres of snow had blanketed the city by March