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Nashville unveils five student‑named snowplows, expands winter fleet to 45
Summary
Mayor Freddie O'Connell joined students at Isaiah T. Creswell Middle Magnet School to unveil five student‑named, student‑designed snowplows. The city said the additions bring the fleet to 45 (36 brand new) and expand treated routes by about 600 miles.
Mayor Freddie O'Connell joined students, Metro Nashville Public Schools staff and city transportation officials at Isaiah T. Creswell Middle Magnet School on Wednesday to unveil five snowplows decorated and named by students as part of a citywide contest.
The announcement highlighted an expansion of Nashville's winter response: the city added five trucks this year, bringing the snowplow fleet to 45 vehicles — 36 of them new — and said crews now treat about 600 additional miles of road as part of primary, secondary and post‑secondary routes.
"This year, we have five more snowplows that we're adding to our snowplow fleet, bringing our total to 45," O'Connell said. He praised Creswell as a model magnet school and framed the student partnership as a way to celebrate local creativity while improving municipal services.
Students across Metro Nashville submitted art and name ideas for the plows. The five winning names announced at the event were Dolly Plowton (a Cane Ridge High School submission), Snowella, Blizzard of Oz, Music City Plow and Frosty the Snowplow. Student artwork will wrap each truck; named student artists and contributors included Cypress Broadhurst (Aiken Elementary School), Ellie Yun (Gower Elementary School), Emoreth Gonzalez (Hermitage Elementary School), Maronia McKeel (Tusculum Elementary School), Sophia Ruiz Cruz (Thomas Edison Elementary School) and several students from Isaiah T. Creswell.
"Thank you so much for this opportunity," said Lamaya Holland, one of the sixth‑grade students from Isaiah T. Creswell whose class helped name a plow. Another student, Carter (name appears as Carter Hammond / Carter Hammonds in the transcript), read a short statement about choosing "Music City Snowplow" to reflect Nashville's musical identity.
Cody Osborne, assistant director of operations for the Nashville Department of Transportation, described operational upgrades tied to the newer equipment. "My team is responsible for Nashville's winter weather response, and I can confidently say we are in a better shape than ever to respond to a snow event this year," Osborne said, adding that the new trucks have technology to calibrate application rates and apply brine, salt or plow actions based on real‑time roadway conditions. He said salt barns are full and the brine supply is ready.
City officials framed the naming and art program as a morale boost for crews and a way to engage students in civic services; attendees were invited to take photos with the decorated plows following the announcements. The presentation was produced by the Metro Nashville Network; officials directed listeners to nashville.gov for more information and to view the event recording.
Event details reported here are drawn from remarks at the school presentation and from officials on site; funding sources for the new trucks, procurement details and the exact measurement method for the reported "600 additional miles" were not specified at the event.
