Get Out The Rock Salt! Another Cold And Snowy Winter Forecast

Few can forget the winter we had in the Northeast last year, with record snowfalls and colder than average temperatures.   Municipalities, businesses and homeowners spent much of the 2013 – 2014 winter season digging out from under piles of the white stuff and using more than their fair share of rock salt.  Although it’ll be hard to top last year’s constant and persistent snowfall (and who would want to?), the 2014 – 2015 is predicted to be another cold and snowy one.

While we can’t control Mother Nature, the one thing we do have control over is how prepared we are to meet the winter elements head on.  For individuals who need to rely on their cars each day, that means making sure that cars have been maintained, tires have sufficient treads and proper tire pressure, and oil and fluid levels are where they should be.  It’s a good idea to also stock emergency supplies and essentials in the car in case you find yourself detained or even stranded due to snow and icy conditions.   Keeping a bag of cat litter in your trunk may come in handy if you find you are stuck and need some extra traction.

Luckily for most commuters who rely on public roadways, state transportation departments and municipalities know what to expect and should have enough rock salt on hand or at least on order to meet the demand of de-icing roads and making them as safe as possible.   Rock salt is used both before and after snow and ice events to keep roads from becoming too slippery.  The salt works by lowering the freezing point of water.  The only drawback to using this strategy is that it only works if temperatures are above 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some transportation departments use a salt brine solution, which is a liquid solution with a 23% salt content, instead of solid rock salt for preparing roadways before a potential icing event.  The liquid solution has proven to be more effective than the solid form since the salt can begin to work immediately.  It is also a cost-effective way to treat icy road surfaces, since it takes only a quarter of the salt to prevent ice from accumulating on the roadways by spreading a brine solution before precipitation comes down compared to what it takes to spread salt to melt the snow and ice that’s already on the roadways.  However, once snow has fallen and the plow trucks have had a chance to remove most of the measurable snow from the roads, spreading a layer of rock salt can help to melt any remaining snow and ice on the road.

According to a number of weather authorities, including The Weather Channel and Accuweather, New York and New Jersey are in store for another cold, snowy and icy winter.  That means it’s time to start planning for your rock salt delivery now.

For more information about bulk rock salt delivery in NJ and Staten Island, contact ATAK Trucking at 917-912-2900.