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Pilotiko for snow removal companies
In Quebec, a snow removal company sells in September, gears up in October and works nights as soon as the forecast says 5 cm.
Pilotiko helps a Quebec snow removal company track its seasonal contracts, get crews and machines ready before each storm, keep each driveway's instructions (deadline, where to pile the snow, salt) on file and draft contracts along the lines the Office de la protection du consommateur recommends.
In short
- Each seasonal client has a file: trigger depth, deadline, snow drop spot, related tasks.
- Tractors, snowblowers and trucks are tracked as resources: you see what's free.
- Contracts follow the headings recommended by the OPC.
- Roof snow removal is scheduled with work-at-height skills.
When does a snow removal company actually work?
The season is sold from late summer into fall, when homeowners shop for contracts. October is for driveway markers, machine prep and confirming routes. Then, from November to April, it all depends on the sky: an overnight storm sends crews out around 2 a.m. so driveways are clear before people leave for work.
The worst stretches are long storms with several passes per driveway, and a thaw followed by a freeze, when salt and sand become the priority. In March, it's snowbanks that are too high, loaded roofs and calls to blow the snow further back.
| Period | Work | What the office tracks |
|---|---|---|
| August to October | Selling and renewing contracts, markers | Signed contracts and routes to build |
| November to January | Overnight storms, salting, first roofs | Crews and machines ready before 2 a.m. |
| February and March | Big storms, snowbank blowing, loaded roofs | Extra passes provided in contracts |
| April | End of season, markers out, lawn repairs | Damage reports and switch to landscaping |
What should a snow removal contract specify, according to the OPC?
The term, the exact snowfall that triggers service, the time by which snow must be cleared, where to pile it, related tasks, and the total price with payment terms.
The Office de la protection du consommateur suggests the contract state the precise quantity of snow that requires removal, for example "5 cm snowfall minimum" rather than "a snowfall", the time by which the snow must be removed and the place where it should be left, checking municipal bylaws [1]. Related tasks such as salting or clearing doors, and the total price with payment terms, belong in it too.
A snow removal company that canvasses door to door is an itinerant merchant: it must hold an OPC licence and provide a written contract, which can be cancelled within 10 days [1]. The Office also advises customers not to sign anything before making a final decision [1].
| Heading | Example | In Pilotiko |
|---|---|---|
| Term | November 15 to April 15 | Contract dates on the client file |
| Trigger | 5 cm snowfall minimum | Client instruction |
| Deadline | Driveway clear before 7 a.m. | Instruction and visit slot |
| Snow drop spot | Left side of the lot | Instruction visible to the crew |
| Related tasks | Salt, sand, door access | Services added to the contract |
| Price and payment | Two instalments | Contract draft reviewed by you |
What about roof snow removal?
A loaded roof is a different job: it's work at height. The CNESST (in French) mentions temporary guardrails for one-off work such as clearing snow from a roof, and treats the guardrail, placed within 300 mm of the edge, as the reference means of fall protection [2]. In Pilotiko, a roof snow removal service can require a work-at-height skill; assignment only suggests employees who hold it.
How does Pilotiko help a snow removal company?
Each client file keeps its instructions: deadline, snow drop spot, salt, door to clear, car to work around. Tractors, snowblowers and trucks are resources: you see which are booked and which are in the garage. The virtual office shows Dispatch, Vans and fleet, Workshop for breakdowns and Accounting for instalments.
During a storm, the dispatch agent can prepare the list of driveways to redo and clients who reported a miss; a lead decides who goes. Reports then show visits per client, useful when renewing a money-losing contract.
Before the season, the quotes agent drafts contracts with the OPC's headings; you set the prices and get them signed. Estimates for new properties are booked through the booking link.
Example: how many driveways can a tractor clear before 7 a.m.?
Which objections does a snow removal company hear?
- "You came too late." The deadline written into the contract, as the OPC recommends [1], settles it.
- "My lawn is damaged." A dated report on the client file is settled in spring without arguing over who said what.
- "It barely snowed, why pay?" The fixed seasonal price and the trigger are explained at signing.
What's still to come?
What about the rest of the year?
The same office runs landscaping in summer. Roof snow removal ties in with roofing, and commercial parking-lot contracts often go with commercial cleaning.
See also: dispatch in the middle of a storm, customer acquisition cost and the customer lifetime value of a contract renewed every year.
Frequently asked questions
What should a snow removal contract include?
The OPC suggests the term, the exact snowfall that triggers service, the time by which snow must be cleared, where to leave it, related tasks and the total price with payment terms.
Can a customer cancel a snow removal contract signed at the door?
Yes. If the company canvassed at the home, it's itinerant selling and the contract can be cancelled within 10 days. The company also needs an OPC licence.
Where can snow be piled?
Where the contract says, in line with municipal bylaws. The OPC advises customers to check those bylaws before signing.
Can Pilotiko track tractors and snowblowers?
Yes, as resources: you see which are booked and which are free, and a resource can't be promised twice at once. Real-time GPS tracking isn't offered.
Is fall protection needed to clear a roof?
Yes. The CNESST treats the guardrail as the reference means of fall protection and mentions temporary guardrails for jobs such as clearing snow from a roof.
Sources
- Office de la protection du consommateur, Before hiring a snow removal company (accessed on October 15, 2026).
- CNESST, Garde-corps (accessed on October 15, 2026).
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