Here's How Minnesota's 'Tow Plows' Work

Most snowplows Minnesota motorists see on snowy days like today take up about about one lane on an average highway. They can weigh more than 48,000 pounds, 15 times more than the average car.

But the Minnesota Department of Transportation has an even bigger machine used to clear huge swaths of road covered with fallen and drifted snow.

You might have seen "tow plows" before. The specialized vehicle is unique for its combination of a conventional mounted plow blades and a blade 26 feet wide that swings out from behind the truck like a scorpion’s tail.

When fully configured, a tow plow can clear two and half highway lanes or two lanes and part of the shoulder, according to MnDOT. It operates at any angle up to 30 degrees and is capable of plowing snow at normal plowing speeds of 30-40 mph.

The plow gives the operator the ability to move snow efficiently and safely from two lanes of roadway in one pass.

Other states using tow plows include Missouri, Michigan, Maine, Wisconsin, Utah, and Ohio.

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