From ‘Plowy McPlowface’ to ‘Elsa:’ Oklahoma Joins Snowplow Naming Trend

Oklahoma’s Department of Transportation has decided to join the trend and let kids name the state snowplows. Because when you think of school outreach, what better way to engage children than asking them to christen the giant orange beasts that keep our roads clear?

Oklahoma Joins the Snowplow Naming Trend

I know what you're thinking... Oklahoma has snowplows? Yep.

Other states have already blazed this icy trail, and the results were… less than professional.

When Naming Contests Go Off the Rails

Minnesota let the public vote and ended up with gems like “Plowy McPlowface,” “Duck Duck Orange Truck,” and my personal favorite, “Ctrl Salt Delete.” Ohio and Michigan had similar contests, and the internet proved once again it cannot be trusted with naming rights.

So now Oklahoma kids get a turn. And while the official guidelines ask for “appropriate” suggestions, let’s be honest - how long before we see submissions like “Elsa,” “Snowbi-Wan Kenobi,” or “Big Plow Energy”?

You can practically hear the school bus giggles already.

Why ODOT Thinks This Is a Good Idea

On the practical side, this isn’t a terrible idea. Every year when winter weather rolls in, ODOT has to remind everyone that it actually does something with all that time it's not using to fix our roads. Giving these pieces of equipment memorable names makes it easier to connect, and kids who helped name a plow are more likely to remember the safety message ODOT pushes every year... Stay Back: Don’t Crowd the Trucks.

Still, there’s something uniquely Oklahoma about it. We only see real snow maybe once or twice a year, and yet here we are naming the fleet like it’s Santa’s reindeer. Meanwhile, Minnesotans are plowing eight months out of the year and probably wish they’d never let the internet name their trucks..

If nothing else, this little naming contest will give us something to laugh about when winter finally shows up. Here’s hoping we don’t end up with a “Snowy McSnowface” leading the charge down I-44.

What Names Will Oklahoma Kids Come Up With?