Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
News

Introducing Spready Mercury and Gritney Spears: Scotland’s hilariously named snow-ploughs are back on the roads this winter

Snow-ploughs across the country are now back in action, and their names this year certainly didn't disappoint.

Image of a Snow-plough

230 vehicles are currently in action spreading salt and ploughing snow in Scotland. Image: Pixabay

While 2021 has been a year of uncertainty and change, we can always rely on one of the UK’s greatest winter traditions: Scottish gritter trucks with hilarious names.

As the nights get darker and the temperature plummets, the country’s fleet of snow-ploughs and are back on track with a new selection of wacky and wonderful names. 

The BBC reports that the practice of naming each vehicle goes back to as early as 2006, when The Scottish Transport Ministry encouraged school children to come up with funny names for them.

This year was no different, seeing Scotland’s roads make way for a variety of trucks and gritters with nicknames including Salt Disney, Blizzard of Oz and Yes Sir, Ice Can Boogie. 

The snow-plough fleet are playing an essential role in keeping the winter roads safe for travel. While doing so, they are also providing a Christmas laugh at the same time.

Last winter, a 24-hour maintenance team operated 230 vehicles spreading salt and ploughing snow across Scotland. This year is likely to see a similar approach.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Some more nicknames for this year’s ploughs include:

  • Buzz IceClear
  • Spready Mercury 
  • Mary Queen of Salt
  • Brine Freeze
  • License to Chill
  • Bear Chills
  • Gritney Spears
  • William Wall-Ice
  • Snow Connery 
  • You Only Grit Ice
  • Gritly Come Dancing
This year’s Trunk Road Gritter Tracker in action. Image: Traffic Scotland (2021)

In 2016, Transport Scotland released the Trunk Road Gritter Tracker, an interactive map which provides live tracking of Scottish gritters as they travel on the road. The tracker displays the current location of every vehicle, alongside a trail of all the routes which have been recently passed.

With more than 50 ploughs currently available to view, the map provides a great tool for those concerned about road conditions, and others who are simply looking for a bit of lighthearted entertainment.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Do you know how Big Issue 'really' works?

Watch this simple explanation.

Recommended for you

View all
Wales homeless football team faces race against time to survive: ‘We’re at breaking point’
Wayne Ellaway Homeless World Cup
Homelessness

Wales homeless football team faces race against time to survive: ‘We’re at breaking point’

Period poverty forces UK women to use newspaper instead of sanitary products: 'It's unacceptable'
Sanitary towels
Period poverty

Period poverty forces UK women to use newspaper instead of sanitary products: 'It's unacceptable'

Why are homes left empty in the UK and how can we fill them up?
Boarded-up empty homes in Bradford
Housing

Why are homes left empty in the UK and how can we fill them up?

Carer's allowance turns 50: 'I keep the money side of things from her, I don't want her to worry'
carer pushing someone in a wheelchair
Unpaid carers

Carer's allowance turns 50: 'I keep the money side of things from her, I don't want her to worry'