industry SECRET to Salt & Brine: pricing, equipment, rates and more

[@mtlefty8687]

I would definitely like to see more in depth video showing complete brine mixing, transferring and actual results of application of both pre and post treatments. Loved this video. Thanks.

[@terrypercy]

Vsi has some pretty awesome videos of such

[@Dirtmonkey]

Yep I’m sure they’re out there!

[@jamesdickson7510]

same here

[@nicklaspaquin9524]

I want to see more

[@kyleboland6400]

This is my first year doing the snow side of the landscaping industry. Companies like VSI and channels like this who highlight these companies are what fuel me. I love the innovation here. The status quo works, but getting ahead of the pack is what makes people and companies great. Keep up the good work!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Very true

[@nicklaspaquin9524]

I want to see more

[@jhonnyblossom3034]

I have been doing the same for a few years and this is very good information for people who are dedicated to snow removal.👍👍👍👍👍

[@samuelbellingrath]

I’ve watched nearly every Dirt Monkey video over the last 3 years. This is top 5 in terms of being informative. Jordan & David from VSI knows their stuff! Thanks Stan & all the folks @ VSI!

[@DaleB809]

This video is awsome. I'm retired at 62 but I'm going to look into this system for sure Thank you Winnipeg Manitoba Canada 🇨🇦

[@pedrocaballero1497]

This is FANTABULOUS! Definitely a lot of brainstorming took place to develop this system. Kudos to these gentleman. They will probably become Gagillionaires , and rightfully so. Great information in this video. Thank you Stan. 😎 👍👍👍👍👍

[@delbert9357]

I retired from DOT recently in Illinois and I started in 2002. At that time they just started the brine system. Now every truck has a brine tank on it around 100 gallons and it is injected into the auger along with granular salt. We make our own brine and have probably 7000 gallons of brine storage tanks and one 2500 gallon calcium tank that is added to the brine when it's made. Great video!! I wish you well with your company.

[@Dirtmonkey]

The DOT here is also using both now

[@nickscott9961]

Awesome video! I don’t know how much more you could actually show but I would love to see it! Great job guys!

[@donaldlohouse1334]

What a great proactive approach to snow and ice control.

[@randybedker1584]

This is awesome. Sent to a couple of people that plow. They were very interested. Thanks for taking time to do the video and sharing all the info.

[@emt-lee2238]

Thank you for the video sir. I’m expanding my lawn care services to snow removal for winter and you answered every question I’ve had.

[@bryanlester-nl3px]

Love to see more and a complete set up cost. Love seeing them make the brine also

[@EhhWhatsUpDocc]

Stan! This is damn cool, very informative and I am now considering going brine only. I have started a smaller company since I was on your video, and we offer snow and salt management and this would be an awesome way to stand out vs the bigger companies in town. Thank you!

[@Dirtmonkey]

You got that right 👍

[@every_1s_bff]

Agreed, thinking the same!!

[@jamesnm21]

Stan is doing a huge service to everyone with this video.

[@athomas1823]

So cool. Thank you for sharing the details. God bless.

[@randybedker1584]

Show more very interesting and informative. Most people would be making them give you something for doing the video but you are doing it to help others.

[@jamesnm21]

Those two signs on the wall: good vibes and the harder you work.... now that's a great shop slogan. 👍

[@drockjr]

I learn so much from your channel. Seriously.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad to hear it!

[@dubuque1]

Very impressive video, especially for us midwest snow states. In our city, we also joke that we can tell when a snow storm is coming, as we see state and city brine lines on the pavement :)

[@willieslawncareservice.8436]

What up, Wow That system is beautiful, Maybe later in time I buy one.😜👍👍👍

[@tg9388]

Thanks for this amazing interview

[@jeffgootjes8418]

Really interesting! The cost savings in big trucks and loaders alone would be significant.

[@davewallace.8303]

That was really cool. More please!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Will do!

[@jeffmcbride469]

Thanks Stan! This video ties nicely into the question I asked you about your last video!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Aaron-bq7dt]

Please show more. Very interested in learning more about this system.

[@jareds6611]

Yet another great informative video. In the south east section of Pennsylvania brine has not really been picked up. We are a Boss snow plow distributor and in case you didn't know Boss just bought VSI, it all happened about 2 months ago so the season was sort of underway and these brine systems are expensive so we didn't order any thus far. It probably is the future and we look forward to selling and installing some of these units. We will for sure be ordering some during preseason next year.

[@Dirtmonkey]

I think brine is taking over

[@pbdrls6901]

More info on pricing is always helpful

[@Dirtmonkey]

For sure!

[@yardvarkslawncare7866]

Just bought my first boss salt spreader. Thanks for the great info

[@ClintonCountyDroneGuy]

Remote filling is my favorite feature during a storm. No need for a loader. Only need a pump. Some locations with hills, we can gravity feed without a pump.

[@andysukosd8177]

Love your videos ! This was very informative and interesting. Thank you !

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks for watching!

[@connorhedge9502]

I've been dabbling with my own set-up for a couple years, and the guys from VSI have been helpful even when building my own set up. I'm in Western Mass, have some niche properties where this has been huge, even pre-treated a freezing drizzle event with it for sh*t and giggles and it cut down the freeze, and the granular app afterwards.. someday when I can charge per gallon, it'll be all liquids, salt brine will be what everyone around here has to catch up on, Massachusetts is one of the only states not regulating yet, I'm going to be ahead of the game. I'm glad you got to catch up with the guys at VSI, Stan, they are great for our industry.. and show more!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad you found it helpful! Will do 👍

[@mikesmith-ek1il]

I have been to the VSI shop, they sprayers are built better than any other on the market. They even figure little things into the design like how to replace a basic part without the need to disassemble the entire plumbing manifold.

[@Dirtmonkey]

They are insanely well built.

[@Nick-gi6ym]

Stanley great video want to see more on this. Thank You

[@dereksmith1803]

Awesome. More please. Best video you've had in awhile IMO.

[@Dirtmonkey]

More to come

[@davidbrunette6692]

Yes this is next level stuff, im in michigan, wow impressed thank you

[@wornoutjunk390]

Thanks Stan , I do believe you probably just made this company millions!! I want one for todays snow we’re going to get in upstate New York! The mountains not affiliated with the city !

[@CareTaker2010]

This rocks!!, my work goes through many pallets every year to de ice. This would be very coooooooool. Thanks for the vid

[@Dirtmonkey]

You bet!

[@drockjr]

Great, informative video. So awesome this guy is discussing his business. Such a nice building too. But damn, nobody mudded the drywall behind his desk. It's bare drywall. Like, wut? Everything else is trimmed and done. Doesn't matter. Thanks for the upload! You do everything so thoroughly. Awesome

[@MrBenLinder]

That’s actually a concrete wall, not drywall! 😂

[@drockjr]

@@MrBenLinder oh thank god. Thanks for the clarification. I can only dream to own anything in the video someday anyway, so Idk. Lmao

[@jeremydobbert1287]

I want to see much much more! I would like to see the brine being made too! Definitely has caught my attention for a potential in the future of my plowing business!!

[@robertvannicolo4435]

Stan looks like a very effective and efficient setup I can see deicing being regulated in a few years. Funny thing about it if you have bulk salt pile has to be covered because of leaching but you can spread same pile in a small lot and that’s ok🤔

[@Dirtmonkey]

We stored our bulk salt inside

[@donaldlohouse1334]

I love the sign that reads The Harder you work, the luckier you are.

[@brad6478]

Great video and interesting equipment. I’m a contractor in Michigan. We have been plowing and salting for 36 years and never used 1.5 yards per 43-44k sq. Feet . Most of our smaller accounts are 30k square feet per. We normally get 6-7 accounts post snow event ( 1” or less accumulation 25 degrees and above) for salting operations only with regular v-box electric spreaders and hydraulic auger driven. Are routes are set up so are guys do not have to come back to our shop and refill. Most guys come back with salt to empty out of there hoppers. I do not agree with the math here. I have subcontractors using even less than us on the same size sites. I know time is a factor for granular salt to change to brine, but here the traffic on the lots help in melt off.

[@fiercebon14]

Definitely would love to see more!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Awesome. I’m on it.

[@hydroaxop73]

This was a great video very informative makes me want to start a liquid only treatment company

[@ianunderwood1163]

I bet this will be a great video

[@jeffmcbride469]

Stan, I like the guy showing you the shop demo, you can tell my his worn cap that he works!

[@hobbyguy79]

Show us more! As a highway operator I'm very familiar with brine use, but, there is a lot of overhead involved here - raw materials storage - roduction equipment - manufactured product storage - application equipment - facility to have production set up in If I'm already applying salt or sand I've got my application equipment and likely just run to my materials suppliers yard for loading and don't need a shop for production operation and materials storage. So, there's a number of overhead and operating expenses and requirements that are being glazed over here.

[@DocEnnik]

I would sure love to see more of that. But then again Stan you always have some good ideas your videos are always good so no matter the decision I'll be watching. Hope you meet up with Ryan again on Victory. I watch his videos too. You both are the top two favorites

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you sir

[@Tom-ng3pc]

About time you have done a video about liquid applicatons! Been running VSI liquid applicators for 4 seasons.

[@SoulSearchnThruMusic]

This video was very interesting and educational! Top Notch. Love your videos! I’m in Shakopee so it’s fun recognizing some of the places your at 😂

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jamesmisener3006]

This is the future of ice control. If I was still in the business I'd get on board fast. The ROI is fantastic. I believe prices will drop for the customer eventually as they get educated on the cost savings and demand better pricing by calling out for competitors to bid causing a bit of a price war but still there will be profits beyond the reduced costs like remote storage without a loader to refill for one. You need somewhere inside to hold the mixing gear with a loader there. Hopefully near where you need it and a few of those big tanks. I can see Stan is hooked and I think I'am too. Great presentation by the partners too. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@Dirtmonkey]

I am hooked. I’m going to be looking hard into this myself.

[@brianwilton8555]

great video and great information

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Brian 👊

[@bobcatbuilder2107]

wish I could hit the like button 20 times! This was fantastic. Thanks Stan!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Wow, thanks a bunch!

[@staglione79]

Super cool Stan. 👍🏻 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks man!

[@berkoskilandscaping4247]

This is awesome info Stan. I don't do any snow removal because we haven't been getting much snow around here the past few years but if I ever decide to do it I think im going to go with this type of setup instead of rock salt. I like it.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Right on thanks for watching!

[@berkoskilandscaping4247]

@@Dirtmonkey every video! Gotta support my fellow pollocks!

[@johnsobaski3478]

Great video, Stan! Would love to see more.

[@Dirtmonkey]

On it!

[@chrisschultz143]

Good job Stan. 🇨🇦🥃🤙❄️all ways want more.

[@jpocketrocket]

I would love to see more about how this works,It's pretty cool, thanks Stan

[@CZAnthonyX]

Good evening Stan! I hope you have a great weekend! Looks like this weekend, we could see a little white stuff!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Hope so!! I’m sending some your way brother 👊❄️

[@alaskacanoe6837]

They have been doing brine on our roads here in Alaska, and the cars started rusting up really fast. After some concerns about drain water into lakes and streams and the salinity putting the streams above allowable limits for fish to survive, it looks like an Attorneys dream coming down the pike with the damage being done. Brine and runoff = dead fish.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Dang that’s too bad! Hope this gets fixed asap

[@michaelhunter5056]

That's cool! I see the future

[@benlevin1332]

Show us more! Very cool especially all the reasons to move to brine!

[@391949599]

SHOW US MORE STAN! keep the great content coming 😀

[@davidmiller4816]

Show me more I'm extremely interested in this for my snow management company keep up the great videos

[@michaellanglie5502]

Very cool, and very informative.

[@brett1618]

Would be cool to do a real life comparison salt vs brine. Driving on salt vs brine. Diffrences between how long/quick it takes to melt. What's slippery ect...

[@stanhensley3082]

When you don't have to stop to fill so often it really makes a very big difference in getting the job done faster.About like mowing with 32 inch lawnmower or a 72 inch mower. Thanks 🤔.

[@tonyjacobson9824]

Would love to see more about this product and process.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Agreed. I’d like to do a full application

[@robertdavis9533]

Hello Stanley Robert from Northeastern North Carolina. I enjoy your videos! Josh from Stoney Ridge Farmer recommend I check your site out. He’s an awesome guy.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Love him!! Thanks for stopping by 😊

[@benjaminpettibone4254]

Our snow and ice removal business have a different set of environmental applications and works extremely well. Here’s what we do on our small commercial lots: 1) Plow off any snow deeper than 1” 2) Go over sidewalks and lots with a rotary powered broom (push that extra snow to the snow pile) 3) Spread a tiny amount of granular salt over the surfaces (10% of normal full use with using a rotary mechanical broom) A full 50% of the time, depending on certain environmental factors, we can skip step 3 above. Why? The powerful rotary broom clears snow and ice extremely well and often provides a dry (or drier) pavement surface that mainly has traction. The 10% of salt use is far better to the environment compared to the salt brine solution which uses much more than the methods we employ. The drawback is it takes more time to get the job done (unless you have bigger crews than ours) and have to be very careful of not getting broom spray on buildings or vehicles. But the upside benefits are huge. Here they are listed below: 1) Far less product to purchase 2) Very little to no tracking inside of buildings with mushy snow on the bottom of feet, carts and forklifts 3) Corrosion and damage to infrastructure is greatly reduced (much drier application of salt - the salt will only interact with any ice present and that area has been minimized by 90 to 100 percent with the rotary broom) 4) Contractor earns more money than application of salt brines alone (depending on contracted rates) 5) Customers love the results and see increases in pedestrian traffic into their places of business 6) Least amount of salt use regarding MPCA standards (yes, even over salt brine use) 7) This is catching on - other businesses are asking about our procedures and hiring us to do this work. The largest grocery store in our growing town has now asked their contractor to at least do some of their main entrances and drives lanes with use of the rotary broom (he just talked with me about it the first week of December 2022) 8) It’s a great team effort for our business 9) The tiny amount of salt use left behind helps with additional traction, helps protect you against insurance claims and acts as a residual ice melt for the next smaller snow/ice event. Here’s an example - went in this early morning (December 10th, 2022) to check on the 1/4” dusting of snow that fell overnight. Much of that snow was melted already. Just put down a little bit of supplemental granular salt to finish the job - done! 10) Our lots are the most clear, most safe and best looking in the entire area. As a business owner, we strive to save infrastructure, keep our costs and the customers in line, keep happy customers and always find ways to do things better. What I don’t know is how well this could work on a much larger scale. Haven’t tried it out. Thanks for reading this long post. Have a great Winter season everyone!

[@benjaminpettibone4254]

Forgot to add one important benefit of the 10% normal usage of sodium or calcium chloride granular to the list above after rotary brooming surfaces (#11) - customers can see that their surfaces are physically treated with a product. This gives them assurance the work has been done by their snow/ice removal contractor, that their commercial property has been properly protected from liability and their customers walk with more confidence in their Winter stepping.

[@scottmccowan8434]

Awesome content- thanks

[@tonynewton7902]

Nice one Stan. 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@kimsomerville8692]

Very interested!! Keep roll with the liquid De-icing

[@schmitty8225]

They've been using trying to use brines in Sweden, Norway and Finland for like 30 years. They've also been using potassium formate.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Interesting!

[@brucemcdougall7282]

Great Info Stan , Thanks

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chrismarzec103]

Would like to see more of an application in snow and inside the tank on how it’s made and how the tank mixer system works

[@steved.5628]

Great video, Stan! I have one of theirHydro seeders It’s built well works like a champ so I could only imagine the brine spreaders will be right there also.

[@mclaughlink69]

Thanks Stan! Great information!

[@nathanjamesDewey]

Definitely want to see more

[@Dirtmonkey]

👌

[@shaunleereis2592]

In the auto glass industry going to hate this kind of equipment. However I love it my question is how would you charge for residential driveways

[@treefrog2299]

Let's do it let's see the whole process from nuts and bolts I'm on board that's a great product ways set up

[@ianunderwood1163]

Love the videos

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks man

[@daveanderson2865]

Some locations are taking the brine from pickling plants to use as well. Since they move a lot of product.

[@dropshot1967]

more please. Great vid, great info, great product Plans for Europe, world wide?

[@jeffreydolby9861]

here at the michigan proving grounds started with a brine program 2 years ago

[@Dirtmonkey]

Cool beans 👌

[@johnl3477]

Love the information thanks @

[@whskythrttl]

I understand it working pre and post treat, but alot of contracts I have want salt applied every plow no matter what, it doesn't work to good when it's dumping, but when it's coming down easy it works as the salt breaks down, I wonder how a product that's already liquid works when it's snowing. The state uses it once and while around here, but the county stopped liquid altogether, the person in charge of it told me they save more cutting the salt with sand so they got rid of all their tanks

[@Derf1313]

Any way I can like this a few extra times?? Lol. & didn't even cover the point of use spray hose, for entry walks I assume... Think of the possibility of road comm using this, better roads, less cost for municipality, & my GMC wouldn't have the frame rot... Yea, A bit more up front, but know a mess of guys that ran out of salt mid season & had to pay thru the nose for more product. This certainly changes the overhead (not to mention the salt trucks that rots the bed away, if not cleaned out constantly!), or the increased profit margins... Stan, I definitely think this needs to be addressed more, I'm sure there are lots of guys that need a better perspective! Thanx !

[@Aepek]

More in-depth podcast type vid please. Thx Stan and vsi

[@ryanperry9838]

Very impressive

[@mytime8243]

Some of our state DOT here in NH use liquid on the highways. I've seen a couple towns or cities using it as well. Only businesses around me that use liquids are the big guys and they mostly use camion systems. Almost bought a camion system last year but couldn't afford it. But now I see vsi is a boss might look back into getting one of there's.

[@mytime8243]

Also VSI has a lot of good information on their KZbin channel. Haven't seen any new videos recently though

[@elferraz2854]

here in Florida we don't need this but this is super interesting

[@Dirtmonkey]

Soak up some sun for me!

[@317lawnboy]

Several contractors here in Sou. Indiana and Kentucky went with the brine setups. After about two to three years they went back to granular applications.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Any idea why?

[@mattf5042]

@@DirtmonkeyYup. We built our own custom 1300 gal setup on a F550 chassis in 2014 when salt went over $240/ton here in Michigan. It paid for itself but just sits now unless salt goes up again; and we have a local supplier in our town where we can buy natural brine from wells at 15 cents/gal which most guys don't have that in there back yard.. Problem is we found its extremely slow compared to slinging salt. Think painting the lot, takes forever with brine, salt your in and out in minutes. It takes time to get those gallons down. Next problem we had, brine won't melt hardpack or ice from the top very effectively, it needs to get under it. Rock salt melts right thru, brine sits on top. It also takes a lot of brine to be effective. It woks good in light fluff snow but the more the denser or water content the snow the more you need.. Brine gets on everything the mist covers mirrors and windows on you own rig, and you gotta be careful we had guys spraying cars and buildings and people calling wondering what was going on lol. Brine has its place but its mainly a pretreat for us and salt after, plus some of our salters inject the brine at the spinner which is nice for those low temps.. With these new electric salters tho you can really dial back your salt usage compared to he old gas hogs. That's our experience anyway.. People definitely need to use less salt tho I'm glad they're making others aware of the problem, and that's a pretty sweet spray setup too!

[@317lawnboy]

A lot of our storms start off as a rain event. I can’t tell you how many times the weatherman are predicting a rain event switching over to a snow event and the DOT brines the roads anyway. Genius!!!!!​@@Dirtmonkey

[@Tacos888]

@@mattf5042 you said it’s slow , it’s slow if you have the wrong pump and that’s the biggest mistake many make. ?

[@caleboldhouser478]

Can you leave liquid brine filled in the truck spreader without it freezing? We don’t put salt in our spreaders until we are going to put the salt down in fear of it freezing. That is a game changer for us. I actually just ordered the Brine Buddy to start using brine for our sidewalks. But if we get a good Winter I may consider switching trucks over also.

[@MRPlow-gj4qg]

Thanks Stan yes I would love to see a more in depth video on this at least a full tank run through. filling it applying it to the actual parking lot show how it slows down when you’re rounding corners and stopping in the lot would be much more informative. Show an actual 300 gallons worth of product going down. thanks👊

[@Dirtmonkey]

Will do

[@cameron2508]

I did some work on the landscapers building that had a brine machine in their shop. The roof and all of the metal in the building was rusting away.

[@JacobShelley-f6e]

Is it possible to use liquid deicer with a power washing pressure unit?

[@simguns8388]

I reduced my salt usage by 100%. I moved to south of Houston, TX.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Sounds pretty nice 😂

[@Tacos888]

And how’s that go last year

[@jerrylynch7865]

Good episode but 2 questions 1) what about salt during a storm where long storms yousometimes have to throw salt down during shift changes or when customers leave or enter and storm is still going but liability is a concern 2) how much quicker will trucks rot due to brine application compared to rock salt

[@michaelkelley1177]

Awesome info!

[@thomasfriedmann8522]

Would probably be great for places where we are allowed only to use beet juice, but can rinse and go brine for other areas. If we ever get ice beyond inches of freezing rain.