[peteg]

where to find road salt to buy without going 50 miles to get it.
I have 3 snow contracts in wash dc and have to go to baltimore
or va to pick it up. I dont have enough room to store a container full. Any ideas on what to do.

[Lanelle]

If your contracts are large enough to require bulk salt (vs. bagged salt) then you might consider striking a deal with one of the contract sites to allow you to store on site with some benefit given to them--such as a reduced labor price for spreading it. Some contractors use the more expensive bagged product because of the storage and moving issues associated with bulk salt. You can probably get Lesco to deliver the bagged product or go to Shemins.

[peteg]

I am now starting the snow business and the propertys I have
are not real big but are good money makers. I would like to buy road salt in bulk rather then baged. $50-60.00 a ton and I have 3 1/2 yard spreaders. I will keep looking which I should have done
months ago. Thanks for your help.

[Matt Kulp]

Check with your city and/or a local school district to see if they will sell to you. The school will be most likely the route to go. Most districts in our area will have a holding pile that they will allow SOME people to pull from.

Another thought would be to check with trucking companies that have triaxle service to see if there any local companies that they have hauled salt to that you may be able to buy from. Or, call around to some local landscape companies that will have it in stock and buy from them.

Lastly, If you do find someone to buy bulk from, what are you going to do if the truck is loaded and you don't spread all the salt in the storm? Are you going to let it sit, and make sure it does not freeze in the spreader? I don't know how big the lots you take care of are, but seems to me that not having a place to store the salt and having 3 ton to go through each application could be a mix for disaster. Why not set the large spreader to the side for a year or two until you have the space to store the product? Buy a tailgate spreader and a skid of salt and have some peace of mind.

[peteg]

Great ideas! Thanks

[Lanelle]

The other tough element is when you buy salt and then don't have a storm to use it. Spring comes and there sits your money, dissolving away in the spring rains or occupying precious dry space.

[peteg]

amen

[tom]

The company I help in the winter stores it in steel shipping containers. They're wide enough to drive the skid loader right into and we leave the loader inside as well.