How Winter Weather Impacts Rumpke's Drivers and Services
From icy roads to heavy snow, Rumpke drivers face many challenges in winter. Slippery road conditions make driving difficult, putting our drivers and vehicles at risk. Our ultimate goals are to provide service in a safe and responsible manner, while minimizing disruptions for our customers. Read on to discover how winter-weather challenges can impact our trash and recycling services and how you can help.
Snowy Roads & Large Trash Trucks
Rumpke drivers are trained and prepared for driving and providing service in all weather conditions, from blazing hot summers to frigid and snowy winters. However, icy roads and blizzard conditions can make roads impassable, keeping large trucks from traveling for extended periods—sometimes for days or even weeks.
At Rumpke, the safety of our people is our top priority. Given inclement weather conditions, crews prioritize safety over speed, occasionally causing service delays.
Rumpke Service Alerts
Check for updates and delays on our Service Alerts page. Click below for the latest information.
Determining Service Delays
Rain or shine, drivers are on the roads keeping your neighborhood clean and green. But sometimes, service delays are inevitable because of severe weather conditions.
Rumpke Evaluates Road Safety
Before announcing a delay, Rumpke evaluates road safety using these key factors:
- Road conditions, including snow drifts, ice, and plowed surfaces.
- Whether there is enough space for trucks to turn safely.
- Type of snowfall, such as heavy, wet snow versus light snow.
- Weather reports over the course of the day and week and when experts expect snowy conditions to improve or worsen.
Is it Safe for Our Drivers to Walk?
Our team also works with local leaders and customers to stay updated on their areas. We must consider conditions for our drivers walking to and from the truck to service a trash or recycling container, thus reducing the possibility of a slip, trip or fall.
Final Decision
All of these factors help us determine if a start-time delay is necessary or potentially an outright cancellation of service. If delayed, we inform and update customers through a variety of communication channels, including our website, social media, text, email and phone calls.
Important Reminder
It’s important to remember that a single weather event might affect service for several days. Or if there are multiple weather events over a span of several days, service issues can become compounded. Our teams will do everything possible to provide the high level of service you expect and deserve during these storms.
How You Can Help
There are three major ways you can help ensure collection during a winter storm:
- Clear a Path
Keep driveways, sidewalks and streets salted and free of snow—make sure snowbanks do not block carts. - Position Carts Safely
Place carts on level ground and away from snow piles so they’re visible and accessible. - Stay Informed
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- Monitor weather updates and service alerts via Rumpke’s website or social media.
- Keep your contact information updated in your to receive Weather Delay alerts via email and text.
- Check your holiday schedule to see what holidays might impact your pickup schedule.
Thank You!
Winter weather can be tough for everyone, and we appreciate your patience. As a family-owned company, we always put safety first to ensure our drivers get home safely. Together, we can protect our communities and keep them clean and green. Thank you for your support!