Gem State Wire

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has seen an innovative development in snowplow operations thanks to Skylerr Valentine, a plow operator. Valentine, along with the Idaho Falls shed crew, developed a system to monitor salt levels in plow trucks without needing to stop and manually check.

Valentine faced challenges while plowing, as he had to frequently stop his truck and climb up to see how much salt remained. This process was not only time-consuming but also potentially dangerous. "I would make a 70-mile round trip, having run out but no idea where," Valentine said, highlighting the inefficiencies of the old method.

To solve this problem, Valentine proposed installing a camera to monitor the sander box that holds augers and salt. He collaborated with ITD Fleet Manager Dalton Rice and used an outdated wing plow camera from a surplus truck for testing.

With assistance from ITD electricians Josh Harris and Justin Romrell, the camera was mounted on the truck bed and wired into the cab. This setup allows operators to view salt levels from inside the vehicle. The innovation has been named the "Salt Seeing Eye."

“It was a lot of work, figuring it all out just right,” Valentine commented on the project. “We really tried to make sure it was waterproof and could stand up to the elements.”

The traditional system used tablets inside plow trucks to show drivers video of their wing position and relay salt output numbers. However, it did not indicate when the salt in the truck bed was depleted. This new tool helps address that gap by providing real-time visuals of salt levels.

Idaho Falls Operations Foreman Jared Loosli noted potential benefits: “This could really help us find discrepancies in our calibrations.” He mentioned possible cost savings through more accurate salt usage.

The "Salt Seeing Eye" has been tested this winter on US-20 west of Idaho Falls. It allowed Valentine to complete routes more efficiently by determining if he could make additional passes without stopping for checks or refills.

While not a solution for personal decision-making like a crystal ball might be imagined, this innovation increases operational efficiency and safety by reducing unnecessary stops and preventing hazardous climbs onto equipment during winter conditions.

Looking ahead, there is hope that this technology will become standard in new ITD trucks alongside existing tools such as tablets.