Calibration Accuracy of Manual and Ground-Speed-Control Spreaders

Calibration Accuracy

Problem

Although ground speed controllers have been used on snowplow and salt spreader trucks in place of manual spreaders since the mid-1990s, the accuracy of the equipment has never been determined.

Objective

Document controller settings, actual salt usage and prewetting rate information from trucks with various types of controller units during winter storm events.

Results

Guidelines to help snowplow operators establish and maintain accurate calibration of ground speed controllers, resulting in reduced salt usage and improved efficiency.

See the article in the July 2009 issue of Better Roads magazine and the article in the September 2009 issue of Roads & Bridges magazine.