How to Choose a Contractor for Commercial Snow Removal
17 December 2019
For business owners in Gatineau, choosing the best commercial snow removal contractor to keep their property clear, safe and open for business all winter long is an important choice that deserves some research. Here is a quick glance at things to consider when selecting your contractor for commercial snow removal.
Availability:
Will the snow removal contractor cover the full plowing season?
Because in Gatineau, we know that snow happens in October and April!
Will your property be cleared of snow and ice during peak hours to keep your employees and visitors safe?
Arriving hours after doors open doesn’t cut it.
Does your snow contractor honour their promised response time?
Ask references about the track record of your snow removal contractor.
What is their turnaround time for snow removal after a major snowfall or ice occurence in Gatineau?
And what are the consequences if this expectation is not met?
Does your snow removal company have back-up vehicles and extra staff to guarantee service every day of your contract?
When the region is hit by a major storm, do they have enough snow removal equipment and staff to get there when you need them?
Liability + Accountability
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What if someone slips and falls on my property this winter?
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By hiring a professional snow removal contractor for your commercial property, you will have access to the records of exactly how and when your site was serviced. A good contractor will be able to provide you with precise service records so that you can respond promptly with accurate information whenever there is a snow or ice related incident at your business.
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How precise is the record keeping of snow removal service calls?
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At Pavage Massie, for example, we use GPS records in its entire snow removal fleet to provide accurate records of service visits so that you can be accountable for your due diligence regarding snow removal to keep your commercial property safe for employees and visitors.
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How do I know I’m getting the snow removal services that I paid for?
The GPS record keeping that keeps you accountable for your due diligence also keeps your snow removal contractor accountable for theirs!
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What about the safety of my snow removal contractor when they’re on my property?
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Always make sure that your snow cleaning company provides the following:
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Full training for their staff
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WSIB coverage for employees
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Liability insurance with a clause for snow removal
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Proof of vehicle registration
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Compliance with municipal and provincial snow clearing regulations
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Equipment
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Is the snow removal equipment that will be working at your business professional in appearance and operation?
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Your employees and clients won’t enjoy a welcoming blast of diesel exhaust from a rusted out vehicle.
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Is all of the equipment owned by your snow removal contractor?
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If not, liability and assurances of professionalism could be jeopardized.
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Has the fleet been well-maintained by your snow removal contractor?
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Snow storms are unpredictable. The reliability of your snow removal equipment shouldn’t be.
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Does your snow removal company have the full range of vehicles and tools to manage any amount of snow and the specific needs of your commercial property?
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Bucket loaders to hand shovels, Pavage Massie covers the full scale of surfaces that need cleaned to keep your business running no matter what winter throws our way.
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Specialization
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Is your snow removal contractor committed full-time to this specialization during plowing season?
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If not, they won’t likely have the liability insurance, range of equipment or pool of employees required to guarantee the snow removal that you need for your business
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What communication channels are available?
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A full-time snow removal contractor will have dedicated phone and text lines, social media channels, and be responsive to email and phone inquiries. Side jobbers can’t usually promise reliable lines of communication.
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Pavage Massie has over 30 years of experience and dedication to Gatineau businesses for commercial snow removal services. All of our equipment operators undergo continuous safety training, and we all have full-coverage insurance that includes our snow removal services.
Our services cover everything you need for a Gatineau winter including hand labor for clearing walkways and stairs right up to loaders and 10 wheelers for hauling away the snow banks. We inspect our equipment before it heads to your jobsite and keep all of our machines in good condition.
Call us at 819-663-8767, or contact us online to have a conversation about how we can make sure your commercial property is ready for everything winter throws at it.
