x
Breaking News
More () »

Plow drivers using smartphone app to book extra business

By 10:00 p.m. Saturday developers say they took in nearly 1,000 calls for service.

MINNEAPOLIS - Snow plow drivers have been out in full force this weekend.

MnDOT crews are busy plowing major streets and highways. City and county crews are working on the local roads.

Meanwhile, independent plow companies are busy tackling parking lots and driveways.

"With wet snow like this, we're going to have to go through the sites more than one time," plow driver Max Kushner says.

Saturday night Kushner had 14 parking lots on his plate under his own company Maxim Snow Removal.

He also picked up a few extra residential jobs using the smartphone app Plowz and Mowz.

"They can just pretty much call in any time they want on the app and have it done," Kushner says.

The app officially launched in Minnesota in 2015. This year developers added a shoveling service that customers can add-on for a few extra dollars.

The app allows customers to book a service whenever they need it, developers say.

Once a customer sends in a request the closest available snow plow driver will swing by, typically within a few hours.

"It's great for us because it's another source of income when we're not going commercial calls," Kushner says.

Developers say the network in Minnesota now features more than 250 snow plow companies.

Saturday night they were taking calls every five and a half seconds.

By 10:00 p.m. Saturday developers say they took in nearly 1,000 calls for service.

"It's really helping, because the last three years have been tough for snow removal business," Kushner says. "This year it's finally nice to get some snow that we can work with."

App developers say customers can expect to pay between $40 and $50 depending on the size of their driveway.

Before You Leave, Check This Out