State Department of Transportation names 7 new snowplows through contest

CONCORD — They asked, Granite Staters answered and the results are in: the  New Hampshire Department of Transportation is set to name seven snowplows based on citizen suggestions. 

NHDOT shared the winners of the “name a plow” contest, an initiative meant to engage the community, and they did not disappoint.

Respondents were asked to list their top three choices for snowplow names and the seven selected are as follows: CTRL-SALT-DELETE; Tomie DePlowa; Live Free and Plow; Adam Sander; 6 Snow 3; The Big Leplowski; and Fritz Plowerbee.

Names like Tomie DePlowa, Live Free and Plow, Adam Sander, 6 Snow 3 and Fritz Plowerbee invoke well-known references or influential figures in the Granite State, while others are just plain fun.

And the contest ended just in the nick of time — snow is forecast for Saturday, and the state’s plows will likely be out and on the roads, working to maintain safe driving environments. 

The contest began in the fall and, over a period of three weeks, NHDOT received over 900 entries to the contest, according to a press release sent Wednesday. State employees narrowed down the list to their top 15 favorites, and citizens ultimately selected the top seven. 

The contest originated from an NHDOT attempt to highlight plowtruck drivers, who work long hours through the winter — often in the harshest conditions — to keep the state’s roads and turnpikes safe. Engaging with the community through the naming process could foster public awareness of the dedication exhibited by state drivers.