01/23/2026
MICHIGAN is in one of the worst salt shortages we’ve seen in the past decade.
A lot of people don’t realize how bad it really is right now, so I want to be straight up about what’s going on behind the scenes.
This isn’t rumors or contractor talk. It’s real. Salt yards all over Michigan are running dry. Suppliers are cutting back deliveries. Some places can’t get salt at all anymore.
Even municipalities are short on salt. Cities and townships are being forced to cut back usage and are having their deliveries reduced. They are also being given priority access to what limited salt is available, which means contractors are pushed even further back in line. In many cases, municipalities are being required to take available supply before anyone else can receive a single ton.
On top of that, bulk salt pricing has gone up 267 percent since the start of the season.
That’s not a typo. What used to be a manageable cost is now one of the biggest financial and logistical headaches we deal with every single storm.
Here’s what that looks like in real life right now:
We’re sourcing salt from out of state just to keep sites safe
We’re paying record high prices just to secure limited supply
We’re being rationed on how much we’re allowed to buy
Deliveries are delayed, inconsistent, or canceled altogether
Every ton we put down has to be carefully tracked and managed
We’re doing absolutely everything we can to get more salt and keep people safe. We’re not price gouging. We’re not cutting corners. We’re not holding back salt for no reason. We’re adapting to a broken supply chain in real time.
At the same time, snow crews are getting absolutely beat. Plow drivers are exhausted. Shovelers are exhausted. We don’t have the luxury of two shifts or endless backup crews. This industry doesn’t work that way anymore. These are real people working brutal hours in brutal conditions.
So if service feels slower.
If pricing goes up.
If things aren’t perfect every single hour of the storm.
This is why.
All I’m asking right now is a little patience, a little understanding, and a little respect for the people out there keeping roads, lots, and sidewalks safe.
Be nice to the plow guys.
Thanks for the words Cody Kenney
