The Second Pass: What It Is, When You Get It, and Why the Berm Is Not Our Fault

Second pass done. The end of the driveway is open again.

What you need to know

• The berm is the wall of packed snow the street plow pushes across the end of your driveway. It shows up after we have already cleared you.
• Pro Unlimited includes second pass coverage on heavy storms. A berm that is already there when we arrive gets cleared with the visit.
• On Basic Per Push and On Call, a berm after your service is a quick billable add on through the office.
• The order never changes. Driveways overnight, streets whenever the borough or city gets to them.

Kaedyn Jennings Owner, Snip&Clip Alaska. Residential snow plowing in Palmer, Wasilla, the Butte and Anchorage.

The berm is the number one thing new customers are confused about and the number one reason people switch to Pro Unlimited after their first winter. Here is the whole thing in plain terms.

Why the berm shows up after we leave

We plow driveways overnight so they are clear for the morning. The borough plows borough roads, the City of Wasilla and the City of Palmer plow their streets, and the municipality plows Anchorage, all on their own schedules with main roads first. So the street plow reaches your road hours or a day after your driveway was done, and it pushes everything in the road to the side. The side is the end of your driveway.

Nobody did anything wrong. Two plows, two jobs, two schedules. It is just the order it happens in, every storm, everywhere we work.

What the second pass is

On Pro Unlimited, heavy storms include second pass coverage. When the street gets plowed after us on a big storm, we come back and clear the berm so you can actually get out. If the berm is already sitting there when we arrive for your regular visit, it gets cleared as part of that visit.

On Basic Per Push and On Call, a berm that shows up after your service is a quick billable add on through the office. Call or text and we get it on the list.

Truck at the driveway. The berm was here an hour ago.

Berm coverage by plan

Most popular

Pro Unlimited

Second pass coverage on heavy storms is built in.

• Second pass on heavy storms
• Berm present at visit cleared with visit
• One season price, seven payments
• Live GPS tracking

Basic Per Push

Secured route spot, pay per plow.

• Berm present at visit cleared with visit
• Berm after service is a billable add on
• Locked in per push rate
• 24 hour guarantee

On Call

Request based when a route has room.

• Berm is a billable visit
• No secured spot
• No guarantee
• Per visit pricing

Why we cannot just plow after the street

Nobody knows when the street gets plowedNot us, and most of the time not the borough either. It depends on the storm and the priority list.

You need the driveway in the morningWaiting for the street plow would mean waiting a day. The commute does not wait.

Heavy storms are when it mattersOn a light storm the berm is a few inches and you drive through it. On a heavy one it is a wall, and that is exactly when Pro covers the second pass.

The office is one text awayPer Push customer with a wall at the end of the driveway, text us. It goes on the list.

The storm that makes the berm. Pro Unlimited is built for this one.

Quick answers

Is the second pass on every storm?

Second pass coverage is for heavy storms on Pro Unlimited. A berm that is already there at your regular visit gets cleared with the visit on any route plan.

How heavy is a heavy storm?

The big ones, where the street plow leaves a real wall rather than a few inches. On those, Pro customers get the second pass.

I am on Per Push and there is a wall. Now what?

Call or text the office. A berm after service is a quick billable add on and we get it on the list.

Can you tell me when the borough will plow my road?

No. Nobody can. That is the whole reason the second pass exists.

2026 to 2027 season

Routes fill by neighborhood.
Lock yours in now.

Billing starts October 1. Once a neighborhood is at capacity it closes and late signups go on a waitlist.

Get my snow plowing quoteOr call or text (907) 215 7012