Video: Day in the life of an Ann Arbor snowplow driver
Heavy truck driver Dan Grau is among 46 snowplow operators in Ann Arbor who keep the roads safe and drivable.
The majority of his work is accomplished while most residents are sound asleep. I had the opportunity to join Grau on his 45-mile route to document the efforts and logistics it takes to plow the streets.
With a sack lunch and Diet Coke in hand, Grau starts his day around 3 a.m. Depending on the conditions, he aims to complete his route before the morning rush hour. Once a layer of salt has been dumped on the roads, he gets back behind the wheel to remove more snow. After eight winters of driving, he's able to tell you the width of a shoulder, he can spot potholes under a thick layer of snow and knows appropriate driving speeds in certain tricky areas.
Daniel Brenner is an intern photographer for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Kellie Woodhouse
Sun, Feb 10, 2013 : 3:30 p.m.
Wow. He starts at 3 a.m.! I live downtown and walked to the gym around 5:30 a.m. the other morning, in the midst of a snow shower, and was amazed by the amount of plowing already accomplished at that time. Thanks for all your hard work!
Em
Sun, Feb 10, 2013 : 1:39 a.m.
"Heavy truck driver Dan Grau"....well that's not very nice, is it? :)
dexterreader
Sun, Feb 10, 2013 : 1:06 a.m.
Agreed!! Great video!! Thank you WCRC!! Keep "kicking ass"!! You're awesome!!
Johnson48Racing
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
That was a great video! Thanks for posting!
mady
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 4:13 p.m.
Good for you, Dan! if you see anyone waving from the sidewalk, that might well be me!
Steve
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 2:57 p.m.
Nice video! It captures the mood very well. Thank you "road warriors" who keep our roads open.
aceduece
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
I was down on the road commission for awhile but lately you guys have been kicking ass...awesome job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sandy schopbach
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 1:11 p.m.
Intern photograher? Jeez guys, give that guy a job. That was brilliantly filmed and edited!!!
Kellie Woodhouse
Sun, Feb 10, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
I agree, Dan is great.
MichDish
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 1:02 p.m.
Great video. Loved it!
mady
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.
Mich Dish, can't understand why ANYONE would vote you down! sheeeeesh.