BISMARCK — The North Dakota Department of Transportation has launched its statewide 2026 Name-A-Plow contest, inviting residents across the state to submit creative name ideas for snowplows operating within their local districts, as The Bismarck Tribune reported. The statewide contest offers North Dakota community members a direct opportunity to engage with state transportation personnel while bringing renewed attention to winter road maintenance efforts and highway safety across the state.
State transportation officials opened the submission period to give residents across every region of North Dakota time to draft and submit their name suggestions. The deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 23. Members of the public can submit their name ideas online by visiting the official North Dakota Department of Transportation website. The agency is encouraging broad involvement from residents across all regions of the state to ensure each local transportation district receives a wide range of entries.
Matt Linneman, deputy director for engineering for the North Dakota Department of Transportation, detailed the goals behind the annual contest. Linneman explained that the contest provides an enjoyable way for the department to connect directly with North Dakotans and highlight the personality behind the work performed by state snowplow operators throughout the winter season. He noted that seeing the creativity and local community pride behind the submissions gives the public a fun way to interact with state transportation staff.
Linneman also emphasized the broader educational goal of the initiative, stating that the Name-A-Plow program acts as a lighthearted method to keep winter travel safety at the front of people's minds. He explained that while the names submitted by the public bring humor and enjoyment, state snowplow crews are out on the roadways performing serious work to ensure highways remain as safe as possible during winter weather conditions.
The selection process for the competition will cover every area of the state. The department of transportation operates across eight distinct geographic districts. A panel designated as Team NDDOT will review the submitted entries and select one winning snowplow name for each of the eight districts. The department will announce and select the individual contest winners during the month of December.
Residents who submit winning names will receive an opportunity to engage directly with the highway crews servicing their local roads. The department announced that one winner from each of the eight districts will be invited to meet the snowplow operators who work in their area. As part of the recognition, each winning resident will also have an opportunity to have their photograph taken alongside the designated snowplow bearing their chosen name.
Beyond the creative aspect of the program, state transportation officials are utilizing the contest launch to remind drivers about essential road safety habits during snow-clearing operations. Linneman stated that the contest serves as a valuable opportunity to remind the public to give plow operators plenty of space when encountering them on active roadways. He highlighted that the primary goal of the agency is ensuring that both plow operators and local motorists return home safely to their families at the end of every work shift.
Alongside details regarding the contest, the North Dakota Department of Transportation offers several public tools designed to help drivers navigate winter conditions safely. Residents seeking additional information about winter weather driving safety, the ND Roads mobile application, or the 2026 Name-A-Plow submission process can access official state transportation resources online.
