Submissions are now open for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s (NMDOT) third annual Name a Snowplow Contest. Residents across the state are invited to submit creative, winter-themed names for snowplows that will be used during the upcoming winter season. The contest runs through noon on Friday, December 26, 2025.
The NMDOT will select twelve winning entries, one for each snowplow in the state’s six highway districts. According to NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna, “Our snowplow operators play an important role in keeping our communities connected and our roads safe during the winter months. We’re looking to New Mexicans for their flair, humor and originality to help give more of our snowplows unique names.”
Participants can submit one name per person, with each entry limited to 20 characters including spaces. Submissions must avoid vulgar or inappropriate language and cannot reference politicians or political slogans. Names previously chosen in past contests are not eligible for selection this year.
Entries can be submitted online at dot.nm.gov/name-a-plow/. After submissions close, NMDOT’s Communication team will review all entries and choose fifty finalists based on creativity and inspiration. The public will then vote on these finalists, with the top twelve selected as winners. The winning names will be displayed on plows throughout New Mexico and remain assigned to those vehicles for their entire service life.
Last year’s contest produced names such as “Snow Bueno,” “Taylor Drift,” “Blizzard Wizard,” and “Ctrl-Salt-Delete.” In 2024, winners included “Sleetwood Mac,” “Billy the Skid,” “Better Call Salt,” and “Snowzobra.”
