Madison unveils finalists in ‘Name These Plows’ contest

The Madison Streets and Engineering Division unveiled its 61 finalists in the naming contest for four new snow removal vehicles. 

People have until 8 p.m. Friday to vote on their favorite names for the division's brine truck, bike path plow, loader and double wing plow. Among the finalists include many puns on celebrity names, such as “KeaNo Freeze” and “Dolly Plowton,” as well as pop culture references like “Scoopy Doo” and “Eb-brine-eezer Scrooge.” 

The winning names will be chosen via a ranked choice voting system, where voters can pick their top five names for each vehicle, according to the city’s website. A name will win only if it earns a majority of total votes cast. 

If no name wins a majority, the lowest vote-getter will be eliminated and another vote will be held until a name reaches 50% of votes cast. 

Streets Division Public Information Officer Bryan Johnson said the contest provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of snow-fighting equipment in removing snow from roads while minimizing the use of salt, which can damage infrastructure and harm local freshwater bodies.

“Naming these snow-fighting machines in the City fleet gives us an opportunity to highlight their unique roles in helping us travel safely through Madison — whether by bike or by car — during the winter months,” Johnson said. “And, frankly, it’s fun.”

The division announced earlier this month it was accepting submissions for the name contest from community members until Jan. 13. More than 1,200 names were submitted before officials selected the 61 finalists.

The city website encouraged contestants to submit playful and pun-based names. 

“The more pun-filled and playful the nickname, the better,” the site read. “Pop culture, local character and other references are encouraged.”

The final names are listed below: 

Double Wing Plow Truck

A Plow Me to Introduce Myself

Dual-Wing Banjos

Dolly Plowton

Blizzo

Plowie Walnuts

Pushy McDriftyflakes

Willem DePlow

Snowsferatu

Kung Plow Chicken

Winged Victory

Bring Da Truckus

Drifity Do Dah

Robert Plowney, Jr

Wing Crosby

Justin Timberflake

Loader with Plow and Wing

Cindy Plowford

Giannis Intent-to-Scoop-Snow

Scoopy Doo

Sylvester Snowlone

The Shovin’ Scoopful

Flakemingo

KaPlow

Jean-Luc Plowcard

Mustard Sidewinder

JD Plower and Associates

Speed-the-Plow

Plowedly Whitford

Brrrrt Reynolds

Fighting Bob La-PlowIt

Seymour Pavement

Trackless MT7 Bike Path Plow

Plowdy Doody

Snow Pesci

Polar Troll

Austin Plowers

Icecycle

Slush-a-bye, Baby

Snowbi Wan Kenobi

Aldo Leocold

Plowaton

Pennyfarthing McChuckalot

Spokes’man

Peddle Plower

Cycle-Ops

Clyde Shovelfield

Claire DeWay

Quad Axle Brine Truck

Pavement Pickler

Snowdium Clearride

Saline Away

Brinestone Cowboy

KeaNo Freeze

Albert Brinestein

Barbara Salters

LaBrine James

Sweet Carolbrine

Haline Dugan, PhD

Saltimus Prime

Brine of Tarth

Eb-brine-eezer Scrooge

Deputy Briney Fife

Brine Cranston

Master of Brine Arts

Last year, the city asked residents to vote for the names of two electric compactors. The winning names were “Rosie the Rubbisher” and “Stone Cold Squeeze Often.”  

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