Massachusetts Cities, Towns Struggle to Find Snowplow Contractors

Massachusetts towns and cities are facing a looming shortage of snowplow drivers and contractors as winter approaches.

In Worcester, officials said they will rely on a complete plow staff this season after approving higher pay for private contractors to address last year's shortages, while adding new brine systems and leveraging the city's 6500-model trucks.

Sandwich has dropped from about 25 contractors to only five this year, and Winchester continues to struggle to secure the usual pool of contractors.

A recent increase in injury lawsuits, such as slip-and-fall cases, has skewed public perception of snowplow contractors as insurance liabilities, causing premiums to shoot up.

Several municipalities cited rising costs and higher insurance liabilities as pressures on snowplow contractors, with premium increases and slip-and-fall risks identified as significant challenges by industry players.

"I actually had to drop my covered insurance provider," snowplow contractor Joe Szczechowicz said in a statement shared with NBC 10 Boston.

Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr has proposed a bill he believes could address the shortfall. He filed a bill that aims to reduce the risk to contractors.

"It isn't fair that someone who's not responsible, who didn't commit an act of negligence or an act of omission, should not be responsible for that liability," Tarr said to NBC 10 Boston.

The bill is now in the Ways and Means Committee. It is hoped that the bill will be presented to the governor soon.

In the meantime, cities and towns will continue to face a highly competitive, strained market for contractors this winter.