A Massachusetts trucker shows what it's like to drive a snow plow in a blizzard that dumped 14 inches on Boston

Dominick ReuterFeb 10, 2022, 21:09 IST

The Boston Trucker, Mike Gaffin.The Boston Trucker

Mike Gaffin has been a driver since 1988, and shares his work on YouTube as "The Boston Trucker."
In the past decade, he has spent winters operating a snow plow in the Boston suburb of Waltham.

The day started off with a light breakfast at 4:30 a.m.

The Boston Trucker

By 4:54 a.m Gaffin was en route to the garage listening to the local AM radio station's weather report, with forecasters calling for snowfall to rival the historic Blizzard of 1978. "Everybody was on edge," Gaffin told Insider.

The Boston Trucker

By 4:54 a.m Gaffin was en route to the garage listening to the local AM radio station's weather report, with forecasters calling for snowfall to rival the historic Blizzard of 1978. "Everybody was on edge," Gaffin told Insider.

Gaffin works for A. Cardillo and Sons, which has a snow removal contract with the city of Waltham. "There seems to be a plow driver shortage," Gaffin said of the general situation in Massachusetts. "They seem to be putting out some amazing rates to get guys to come in."

The Boston Trucker

Gaffin works for A. Cardillo and Sons, which has a snow removal contract with the city of Waltham. "There seems to be a plow driver shortage," Gaffin said of the general situation in Massachusetts. "They seem to be putting out some amazing rates to get guys to come in."

At 5 a.m. Gaffin fires up the truck to warm up the engine and checks his equipment.

The Boston Trucker

In a large cooler on the passenger seat, he has a stash of water, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches, a steak sub, and first aid medication.

The Boston Trucker

The crews head out to the streets before dawn. Snow is falling, but accumulation is still less than an inch.

The Boston Trucker

He makes the first pass on the route, but there's not much snow to move.

The Boston Trucker

The crew stops on the side of the road to regroup and check their equipment.

The Boston Trucker

One of his colleagues notices an issue with his rig, and Gaffin helps him with a spare part from his truck.

The Boston Trucker

Dawn is starting to break, and other snow removal equipment is out, but so far not much is sticking.

The Boston Trucker

At 7:44 a.m. Gaffin stops and checks the National Weather Service forecast, which says heavier snow is on the way, with 30 inches predicted in some areas.

The Boston Trucker

In Waltham, however, things are slow to pick up. "We're just kind of wasting fuel," Gaffin says as he knocks slush from his mud flaps.

The Boston Trucker

Company trucks criss-cross the town as the storm picks up.

The Boston Trucker

Five hours into the shift and Gaffin pulls out one of his most essential supplies: home-made popcorn with coconut oil and a little salt.

The Boston Trucker

"I remember when I started plowing in 2010 and I saw all these old timers who have been doing it for years," Gaffin said. "I was like, that's not going to be me... Maybe a year."

The Boston Trucker

"I remember when I started plowing in 2010 and I saw all these old timers who have been doing it for years," Gaffin said. "I was like, that's not going to be me... Maybe a year."

"12 years later, I'm still plowing," he added. "But I don't mind it."

The Boston Trucker

... and now the blizzard is in full swing.

The Boston Trucker

At a rest stop, Gaffin takes a walk around his truck to inspect it.

The Boston Trucker

Underway again, he passes a bus crawling carefully up the road.

The Boston Trucker

The whiteout conditions conceal the road ahead.

The Boston Trucker

The view from the plow itself shows just how much material is being moved.

The Boston Trucker

At one intersection, Gaffin drives his dump truck past a passenger pickup and a front-end loader, each equipped with plows.

The Boston Trucker

Later, he passes his colleagues headed the other way.

The Boston Trucker

13 hours into the shift and the fuel is down to a quarter tank, so Gaffin stops for a fill-up.

The Boston Trucker

Gaffin chats with a co-worker while they wait for their diesel to dispense.

The Boston Trucker

Gaffin retraces the routes several times to get the snow pushed back "all the way to the curb."

The Boston Trucker

Even though the temperature is dropping below 20° F, Gaffin leans out of the window to keep a better eye on the plow edge.

The Boston Trucker

By 10 p.m. the storm has mostly passed and the temperature has fallen to 2° F, so Gaffin spreads salt on the road to melt the remaining snow and ice down to the blacktop.

The Boston Trucker

By 10 p.m. the storm has mostly passed and the temperature has fallen to 2° F, so Gaffin spreads salt on the road to melt the remaining snow and ice down to the blacktop.

Back at the garage, the effect of the wind-driven accumulation can be seen against the door.

The Boston Trucker

Gaffin's boss arrives to plow the drifts away from the garage bay...

The Boston Trucker

... clearing a path for Gaffin to bring his work truck in and drive his personal truck out.

The Boston Trucker

It's five minutes to 1 a.m. – 21 hours after he started – and Gaffin finally shuts off his engine.

The Boston Trucker

His truck is caked in snow, but it will have to wait until later to be washed down...

The Boston Trucker

... he's headed home for a hot shower and a warm bed.

The Boston Trucker, Mike Gaffin.The Boston Trucker

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A Massachusetts trucker shows what it's like to drive a snow plow in a blizzard that dumped 14 inches on Boston

The day started off with a light breakfast at 4:30 a.m.

By 4:54 a.m Gaffin was en route to the garage listening to the local AM radio station's weather report, with forecasters calling for snowfall to rival the historic Blizzard of 1978. "Everybody was on edge," Gaffin told Insider.

Gaffin works for A. Cardillo and Sons, which has a snow removal contract with the city of Waltham. "There seems to be a plow driver shortage," Gaffin said of the general situation in Massachusetts. "They seem to be putting out some amazing rates to get guys to come in."

At 5 a.m. Gaffin fires up the truck to warm up the engine and checks his equipment.

In a large cooler on the passenger seat, he has a stash of water, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches, a steak sub, and first aid medication.

The crews head out to the streets before dawn. Snow is falling, but accumulation is still less than an inch.

He makes the first pass on the route, but there's not much snow to move.

The crew stops on the side of the road to regroup and check their equipment.

One of his colleagues notices an issue with his rig, and Gaffin helps him with a spare part from his truck.

Dawn is starting to break, and other snow removal equipment is out, but so far not much is sticking.

At 7:44 a.m. Gaffin stops and checks the National Weather Service forecast, which says heavier snow is on the way, with 30 inches predicted in some areas.

In Waltham, however, things are slow to pick up. "We're just kind of wasting fuel," Gaffin says as he knocks slush from his mud flaps.

Company trucks criss-cross the town as the storm picks up.

Five hours into the shift and Gaffin pulls out one of his most essential supplies: home-made popcorn with coconut oil and a little salt.

"I remember when I started plowing in 2010 and I saw all these old timers who have been doing it for years," Gaffin said. "I was like, that's not going to be me... Maybe a year."

"12 years later, I'm still plowing," he added. "But I don't mind it."

... and now the blizzard is in full swing.

At a rest stop, Gaffin takes a walk around his truck to inspect it.

Underway again, he passes a bus crawling carefully up the road.

The whiteout conditions conceal the road ahead.

The view from the plow itself shows just how much material is being moved.

At one intersection, Gaffin drives his dump truck past a passenger pickup and a front-end loader, each equipped with plows.

Later, he passes his colleagues headed the other way.

13 hours into the shift and the fuel is down to a quarter tank, so Gaffin stops for a fill-up.

Gaffin chats with a co-worker while they wait for their diesel to dispense.

Gaffin retraces the routes several times to get the snow pushed back "all the way to the curb."

Even though the temperature is dropping below 20° F, Gaffin leans out of the window to keep a better eye on the plow edge.

By 10 p.m. the storm has mostly passed and the temperature has fallen to 2° F, so Gaffin spreads salt on the road to melt the remaining snow and ice down to the blacktop.

Back at the garage, the effect of the wind-driven accumulation can be seen against the door.

Gaffin's boss arrives to plow the drifts away from the garage bay...

... clearing a path for Gaffin to bring his work truck in and drive his personal truck out.

It's five minutes to 1 a.m. – 21 hours after he started – and Gaffin finally shuts off his engine.

His truck is caked in snow, but it will have to wait until later to be washed down...

... he's headed home for a hot shower and a warm bed.