The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is bringing back its popular “Name a Plow” program for the third year, offering young Vermonters the chance to make their mark on the state’s iconic orange snowplow trucks. The initiative invites schools across the state to create unique names for the 250 full-sized snowplows in the AOT fleet, ensuring no repeated names from previous years.
This year, AOT is adding an exciting new twist: schools can also submit entries to name a special truck equipped with a 21-foot “wing” designed specifically for clearing Vermont’s busy Interstate 89.
Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn expressed enthusiasm about the return of the program, stating, “Our Name a Plow program has been a great success and generated a lot of fun for Vermont students and our hardworking plow drivers. The program is also an effective way to teach young Vermonters about the important work that our maintenance crews do to keep the roads safe for travel throughout the winter.”
The journey so far
Launched in 2021, the Name a Plow program initially saw public and private schools, nursery schools, and homeschooled students naming 163 of the state’s snowplow trucks. In the following year, schools that had not yet participated were given the opportunity to submit names, with 73 more trucks gaining their new monikers. Now, in 2024, the program aims to have all 250 of the trucks in the AOT fleet proudly carrying names chosen by Vermont’s youth.
How schools can participate
Participating in the Name a Plow program is simple. Each school is encouraged to submit one name, which the school’s principal or director must approve to ensure appropriateness. Political or religious references, as well as potentially offensive names, are not permitted. Schools can check a list of already assigned names to avoid duplicates by visiting the AOT’s Name a Plow webpage.
Every participating school will have its selected name assigned to a plow truck based in one of Vermont’s Maintenance District garages. A sign on the truck will display both the chosen name and the name of the school. For schools interested in naming the special 21-foot winged plow truck, there’s a contest element—Vermont’s District Maintenance and Fleet Division employees will vote on the winning name.
A special event for schools
On Nov. 7, AOT Maintenance District plow operators will visit schools across the state to celebrate the third annual Vermont Plow Day. Schools that have named a truck will have the chance to take photos of students and staff with the plow truck that bears their school’s chosen name, weather permitting.
This program brings creativity and fun to Vermont’s schools and highlights the vital work of AOT’s maintenance teams, who ensure safe travel conditions throughout the winter. The program offers students a hands-on way to engage with the world of public service and transportation while showcasing their creativity.
Schools have until Oct. 25, to submit their name suggestions. To participate, school officials can visit the AOT’s Name a Plow webpage to access the submission form and learn more.
The “Name a Plow” program continues to unite communities and create lasting memories for students, while the state’s hardworking snowplow drivers take pride in showcasing the imaginative names during Vermont’s snowy winters. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this annual tradition!
For more information and to submit a plow name, visit vtrans.vermont.gov/name-a-plow.
