The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has launched its fourth annual Name-A-Snowplow Contest, inviting residents to submit creative names for four of the agency’s snowplows. Submissions can be made at azdot.gov/nameaplow until February 2, with no limit on the number of entries per person.
ADOT operates 400 snowplow vehicles across the state, and during the 2024-2025 winter season, 200 of these plows covered more than 615,000 miles on Arizona highways. The department is responsible for managing statewide highway infrastructure and transportation services, including snowplow operations and traveler information systems, as described on its official website.
Jennifer Toth, director of ADOT who oversees planning and maintenance of the state’s transportation network according to the official website, commented on the contest: “When winter storms are at their worst, ADOT’s snowplow operators are working to clear highways of ice and snow, helping keep travelers safer and communities connected. This contest is a fun way to remind the public of the important work that snowplow operators do and offer winter driving tips for motorists so everyone can get home safely.”
After submissions close, ADOT will review all entries and select between 12 and 15 finalists. The public will then vote for their favorite names. The four names receiving the most votes will be displayed as decals on selected snowplows.
Last year’s winning names included CTRL + SALT + DELETE, Blizzard of Oz, Scoop Dog, Darth Blader, Plowasaurus Rex and Sleetwood Mac. In total, Arizonans submitted over 2,100 name suggestions and cast more than 14,000 votes in last year’s contest.
As part of its ongoing efforts to promote safety during winter weather events—efforts which include operating specialized equipment and providing traveler updates via systems like AZ 511 according to ADOT—the department issued several reminders: never attempt to pass a snowplow; maintain at least four car-lengths behind plows; slow down; and give plows extra room when encountered on roadways.
ADOT works with regional partners statewide to maintain safe travel conditions through projects such as corridor studies and infrastructure improvements according to its official site. The agency aims to link communities safely while supporting economic growth throughout Arizona.
