Snow Plowing & Stories from the Blizzard of '78

Making the best of a long day in the life of a snow plow driver in Waltham, Massachusetts.

[@johnapernorio8151]

In 78, I was running the South Shore with a 45'er. At noon I was having lunch at the Plaza on Gannet Street in Braintree I was told to bring it home to Seekonk. Not thinking about a blizzard, as Tony said, 4-6 inches they were calling for, I stopped at Ho-Jo's on 24 for coffee. Again, it really wasn't that bad yet. So, along with a few other drivers, we stopped at Friendly's on 44 in Taunton for coffee. When I got back to the terminal, it was really coming down. Backed my trailer into the dock and the dispatcher said to punch out and go home. I had just bought a big ass caddy and started home. Mass 195 West was in good shape. However, in RI it was a mess. I left the terminal in Seekonk at 2 at by a stroke of luck, I got home in Nort Providence, RI at 4 pm. Other Smith's drivers were stuck on 95-195 for three days. Mike, how's that for a Blizzard of 78 tale?

[@billferris5292]

Welcome back Mr. Plow. It's always great to hear others peoples memories of the Blizzard.

[@turfjon1336]

agree! love hearing stories from the old timers

[@matkremzar5474]

story time with tony and teddy = pure gold ... happy new year mike and crew!

[@ron99693]

Wicked good video

[@TheBostonTrucker]

How do you know?

[@ron99693]

@@TheBostonTrucker supposed to say videos, not video as if to say your videos are fantastic. I just finished this one and it was great. Then poor kids are gonna have school now🤣

[@smsears6743]

Gotta say I was in Waltham Sunday night and the roads were better than the surrounding cities.

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Happy to hear that! Lot of hard working people working all day long.

[@dongoodwin5773]

I surely remember the great blizzard of '78! At the time I was living in central Maine and still in elementary school. We got a ton of snow. It was great! Dad worked in Mass. for his brother Frank in Burlington and for DeRosa, Inc. in Woburn and usually came home on the weekends but not that weekend or 2 or 3 more so he could help move snow. A few years later after we moved to Wilmington, Mass. my uncle Leon who lived in Billerica called me up one snowy winter night and asked me to drive his Autocar 10 wheeler to haul snow from Polaroid in Cambridge to the BU bridge and around there. His son Eddie came with me and we had a great time. Wonderful memories. Thanks for this video Mike!

[@glennlee6700]

i plowed the blizzard of 78 for kelscot we did sub for town of lexington. started that afternoon never stopped until about 5 or 6 days later. till this day will never forget that storm . i live in conway sc. now but we never forget that time in the loader .

[@barrettw1924]

that fitness pizza in my mouth joke was the best never heard that before lol

[@TheBostonTrucker]

😁👍

[@robpeters5204]

You guys are truly the hero’s. Nobody cares about it but I got nothing but respect for you guys. My uncle used to run a salter and sander in the early 70’s here in southwestern Ontario. He did that for decades when everyone was at home collecting pogie, he was out there busting his ass in the frigid cold. He had his own dump trucks he would run construction and road paving during the warm weather. I used to ride with him every chance I got. I first learned to drive a 80Ford LNT 8000 with a 3208 and a 13spd.. I love my Fords!

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Thank you so much, I wouldn't call us heros, just doing our jobs but thank you so much .

[@MegaGeorge1948]

I remember the 78 storm. Only one Meteorologist got it right in predicting the magnitude of the 78 snow storm. He was on Channel 5 (ironically, he was the first to get laid off). All of the other weathermen said that it would be a lot less. I was out of work for a week. Sitting at home. Because I was not allowed to drive from Natick to Watertown. My bobtail FJ-40 75 Toyota Landcruiser was buried up to the roof, going nowhere. 128 was a literal parking lot. Cars were buried up to their roofs. I lived on a dead end road in Natick. Snow plows could not even move the snow. The Natick DPW had to use a front end loader to pick up the snow to move it.

[@wakeupamericaandresist2413]

The 78 Blizzard I had 1976 D-200 with a Sno- Fiter package and blew out my drive shaft just trying to get out my driveway 😂😂😂

[@EvanSlattery]

Tony and Teddy need to make an audio book. The nuances of their voices really make the stories a print book wouldn’t do justice.

[@jerryaltadonna5462]

Mike all i say outstanding plowing videos you and Teddy got it going on

[@davids4754]

....well move on over cause the Sno man is coming thru!!! Pennies from heaven ,love the plow videos

[@ronaldsholly5609]

I love big Tony he's Awesome

[@user-fz8wq5ix7n]

Winter of 78 was fun for us, I guess it's because we were not out fighting the bear like our parents. We had a gas in the snow. Mike thank you and your compadres for the work that you do. Enjoyed the video. Stay safe my friend. God bless.

[@lynnshell78]

78 was 45 years ago year i was born love the story

[@mmmemgggg617]

I could listen to Tony talk for hours. When are we going to get more Tony story time? I thought we were going to get a Q&A?

[@greeneridgeconstruction]

The best part of being out plowing is when you stop for a bit and the stories start. Always good for a laugh and history lesson. Love it

[@jsote1988]

Beautiful, but Harsh Weather Mr. Plow. "Fitness Pizza in my mouth" lol

[@frankpeavy4538]

Tony is always smiling. Great to see him out working with yall.

[@TheBostonTrucker]

He's a good man!

[@akeemceffalo101]

Plowing is what I miss most about driving a truck

[@motivepower1]

Love the stories. Brings back lots memories of the winter of 78 in Michigan.

[@jessemerriam9732]

Man tony is awsome. The story's are awsome great job mike

[@andrewd9527]

Just get dirty apparel is where you can buy the snow fighters sweatshirt..keep up the great videos Mike!

[@kirkvanswearingen8848]

We here in Hudson Valley NY got 14 inches Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. Funny how the NYC Weatherman were predicting snow starting @ 2:00 when it actually started around 8:30 pm. Thanks Michael for 'Boston Trucker' video content. We all learn so much how multi talented you are. Peace

[@joemags247]

The old stories were great. Can listen to them all day

[@daleyhanson5889]

Mike, I had photos from that storm in 78 at the breakers " in Marshfield and the waves were crashing over the concrete barriers and freezing to it and it grew too 8 or more feet high in the shape of a frozon curled wave into the parking lot at Charlie's clam shack" I was 28 years old 😅

[@kellykonoske91]

What Are GlassPacks??!!! Are you kidding me Mike? Jesus Christ! Here I thought you were old school.😮. Todd the retired trucker.

[@mikeglenn9800]

Great video Mike. I could listen to your boss tell stories all day. Keep up the good work. Another storm coming! Thanks.

[@christrella3134]

I remember "" glass packs "'. Battle Old Man Winter! You guys do nice work.

[@scottpope162]

I could listen to Tony and Teddy's stories for hours. Do you like the automatic to plow with?

[@robdixon945]

Thanks for the show Mike 🍻 🇦🇺

[@drew7487]

Epic Snowplow Video !

[@ryanmello1735]

Tony and Teddy remembering the blizzard just nails home the best advice I was ever given “Open your ears, and shut your mouth” as a 32 yr old 1 year into his professional driving career I couldn’t have lucked out any better by finding your videos.I’ve learned a ton of stuff from you, it also doesn’t hurt to get spoiled being able to listen to anything these guys have to say!

[@csvtrucking]

Wow great video Iam the same age as the two fellers in the donut shop very interesting. I have lived in west central Montana all my life the blizzard of 78

[@deanspagnolo4976]

Great video I remember blizzard 1978 well

[@G-Man-kc2nm]

I remember those days. I could hear the trucks, loader, days after we finished plowing…I slept, hour here and there, many a night in a loader or dump truck. We didn’t plow roads, just commercial, industrial lots. We had a few hospitals, apartment buildings and churches as well. Thanks for the video.

[@MrDlc1969]

Looking good driver thanks 😇🏅

[@iain3411]

In '78 I was stationed on the DD-876 in Portland. Originally from Montreal area so I know what sloppy snow is like. Had to walk to school on the drifts.

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Crazy!

[@SkyWarnSpotter82]

Pizza is at the tippy top of the food pyramid! Can never go wrong with pizza 😂😂😂😂

[@daviddziegielewski653]

I looked at pictures on line of the blizzard of 78. Pretty crazy. Cars were stuck on the interstate 5 days later! I won't complain when I'm shoveling 2" this year. Just when the plow truck covers my driveway after clearing it.

[@johnrossi6212]

Love hearing the old stories ❤️❤️❤️

[@JDPLOWER]

I was nine but my dad and uncle plowed around Boston for a week as they said. He did not come home for the first 4 days and it took the city of Somerville 5 days to send a big 4.5 yard loader down our street to clear a lane. We lost the week of school and the week after was February vacation 😃

[@4RBLUE]

You need a piece of rubber on the plow. Help stop the snow from blowing onto your windshield...you already knew that 😊

[@TheBostonTrucker]

You're correct about that.

[@thomasgrider6697]

Now that..for me...would be the most awesome job ever..plowing snow..for real.👊😎..

[@jeffreymartin8031]

Welcome back Mr plow I'm that you are having a great day you are doing a great job buy Plowing the snow

[@ColeMacjewski]

I wasn't even born yet but my father was living in sutton MA and he told me stories of how the snow was so deep at there front door they had to dig a ramp to get out and go dig out there snowmobiles he was 15 at the time and him and my uncle were riding the snowmobiles all around town till the roads were cleared they were some of the only people out riding up and down some of the main streets he said it was fun but took days before everything opened back up they burned wood so they were okay as far as heat and food now that i run loader and have a class A i wouldn't mind a storm like that all take that $$$ in the loader for days and probably snow removal sign me up!

[@TheBostonTrucker]

That's a great story!

[@joehussey2693]

Great to hear from Tony and Teddy, stay safe Mike!

[@wayneshancock2520]

For a Waltham boy who lived the blizzard by shoveling with my friend Chryel West and making $$ Bank this episode was awesome bro.Great job Mike, AC and as Micky Olivo used to call him ''Ted Ah". Oh the memories , Charlie Manero ,Eldin Hemphill from Bear Hill ,as a young buck ridin shotgun with cousin Fred Dubie I was introduced to the who's who in our home town.Great episode Mike , thank you. Unit 6 , Unit 7 and the general which would get wrecked.👍🙏🇺🇸

[@jimhancock5047]

Papa Gino's is good. Double cheese and peperoni slides down. Too bad Sorrento's isn't on your route!

[@donnellwilliams3988]

The storm of 78 was when i saw & heard a lot of the beast salvage yards holds now, truck drivers was coming from every where, i saw a 977 cat front end loader moving snow in roxbury

[@carldrexler7883]

You got my vote cap camera 🎥

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Thank you

[@christianpedersen8354]

I spent 2 weeks on active duty. with the 101st Engineers of the Massachusetts National Guard. We used our heavy equipment to help clear out cities and towns all over eastern Massachusetts

[@russelltrupia4479]

Awesome video Mike👍👍

[@matthewstanton8418]

I don't miss plowing snow. Blood money

[@classicxl]

Love the snow plow videos , i was just watching your old plow videos . We’re supposed to get our first storm here in toronto on tuesday

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Oh wow!

[@PeteLipski]

Another good video Mike. Tony and Teddy always great !! I also believe in the Papa Gino's fitness program !!😁😁

[@pauljohansson288]

I remember it well I was in highschool then. 3:01

[@peanut_trucker]

Hey Mike if you take rubbing alcohol and a micro fiber towel and clean all your windows with it you'll get a streak free view with out using your wipers. It looks cold though 🥶I was 9 in 78 pushing my Tonka plow around the yard. happy trails buddy

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Good tip thanks pal

[@carldrexler7883]

I was lucky in 78 never went further north than metro ny But I did a lot of Boston area in 2015 with all the snow farms and you could barely get around the city streets with a condo pulling a 53 don’t wanna do that anymore now I see snow ❄️ I don’t go 😅

[@TheBostonTrucker]

That must have been really challenging.

[@HighGearAutomotive]

Just realized you're in the KW & Ted is in a Mack. Consistency 😁

[@TheBostonTrucker]

I didn't even realize how consistent it was until just now 😁💯

[@bradhanson4803]

Nice

[@troyplocinski8401]

Teddy and Tony are the hero’s! They don’t make them like that anymore!!!

[@michaelreynolds1892]

I remember the blizzard of 78, I was in East Hartford CT, it was a lot of snow.

[@gregfarnsworth5011]

Great video Mike some thing us Australians no very little about snow plowing , but we do know about coffee n donuts 👍

[@user-xm8nb4pi7o]

The Blizzard of 78, I floated a loader. Allis Chalmers 644 from Ottawa Ontario Canada to a town near Boston MA. I do not remember the name of the community. There was also about a dozen dump trucks also from Ottawa, we worked around that town for a week. The town provided us with motel rooms and meals. It was a great time for us,we were very well treated.

[@gthiii]

We moved to Massachusetts in the fall of 96, and our neighbor across the street had 10 foot 2 X 2’s painted orange along the edge of his driveway. I asked why the sticks were so tall, and he said they had 110 inches of snow the previous winter. I went into the house and said to my wife that we were getting in the car to go buy a snowthrower. We did and I did not use that darn machine at all during the winter of 96/97. Tom

[@dhfwfowfo8952]

I was 28 years old working state roads on south shore area .

[@ronthompson3525]

Cool video Mike, we get a chance to hang plows this winter I shoot some footage for ya. I run the front door with two more guys behind me. ✌️

[@TheCumminspower59]

Anthony is a funny guy lol 😂

[@wicksfarm4895]

they should put a rubber flap on top of your plow it would cut the drift in your windshield ,i used that on mine and great difference

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Better to have good video footage than be able to see well. 🤦🤣

[@bigbilly7865]

MR PLOW ☃️☃️☃️

[@mikemurphy8706]

Very good video

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Thanks for the visit!

[@user-lk2yr7zg1e]

Why dont you guys run Monrow underbody scraper blades? Thats what we use in Michigan, you can take care of at least 10''of snow with them. Also you should run with your engine fan on manual while caring a front plow.

[@bulletdgw742]

👍

[@pauljohansson288]

By the way I lived in Melrose at that time. 10:36

[@mikewilber2886]

Should have spaced up the hood the snow is stacking up under the wipers

[@mh-tn3ic]

Ask Teddy if he remembers Furman Lumbers Brockway's? I drove one of them.We were also out of Waltham

[@karenmillet8776]

'78 our street did not get plowed until a week later....after my dad called in a fire. SHREWSBURY

[@scotts55]

Looks like there’s some potential B-lean customers on your plow team. 🧐😂

[@jamesmoore8269]

Mike - The jingle was for Roto-Rooter. StM & P&G, JM

[@noahdziadyk3412]

we are going at 4 am, expecting 12 inches here in IL

[@tomdelia1209]

Nice single axel. I’m am not missing plowing snow though 😅

[@Firemann487]

You can hear the auto chains on the fire truck when it goes by

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Slightly confused as to why you guys are plowing/ sanding municipal streets? Perhaps Cardillo contracts out to certain municipalities? Here in NY State local towns/ villages/ and also the State DOT takes care of things. Great show Mike!!

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Massachusetts is half state and city trucks and half contractors pretty much always been that way.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Oh, ok...well that explains things! Means more work for all you contractor companies up there! Thanks for the answer, and as I said great content Mike!@@TheBostonTrucker

[@timfoyle3362]

I don't know if you remember the fatal car crash in the late 80's on College Farm Rd? It's a really bad road to drive at night.

[@TheBostonTrucker]

I moved here in 2003

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Yes it's a terrible road, all those Lake area streets are tough

[@MC-rr3ew]

Pushin snow like tony montagna!! Wheres dog the plow guy these days?? He was epic

[@Star_Gazer_77]

There’s a passenger side blinker on the truck out

[@messarosdaniel]

Why do these guys with plows get all excited when they see one snow flake. A dusting on the road and there out like crazy.

[@steelfist65]

1978 is 45 years ago.

[@steelfist65]

Actually 46.

[@JamesSmith-co8lq]

OK Mr plow

[@lostrailbeds8289]

YUP!! America....and the Boston Trucker crew....runs on DUNKIN!!

[@Jimbodean92]

1 question Would you rather have a manual plow truck or the automatic you run now Mike?

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Either one is fine, I don't like automatics but I don't mind it when I'm plowing.

[@johnboyd2099]

How is 11 turning 12 years of age

[@ThisisMindoMint]

Your gonna film more of these dudes talking than pushing the snow? Come on man. Boston people lmao. This is just RAD

[@MrSizewise]

Mike is that dump truck 4x4 or do you need the rocks in bed?

[@GhettoWagon]

Whats in the KW plow truck a cat? Sounds like it

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Yes it is

[@frankpeavy4538]

Is the plowing done on a yearly contract bid? Or year to year by word of mouth reputation?

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Yearly contract, Massachusetts is usually half municipal trucks, half contractors.

[@tomdelia1209]

Why is it at 2 o’clock in the morning, there’s always someone up your As?:( on a side street????

[@TheBostonTrucker]

😂😂