NDDOT announces 2026 Name-A-Plow Contest

BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) today announced the start of the 2026 Name-A-Plow contest inviting North Dakotans to submit name ideas for a snowplow in their home district.

The contest is open until Monday, Nov. 23 and the public can submit their name ideas at dot.nd.gov/name-a-plow.

"This contest is a fun way to connect with North Dakotans and bring a little personality to the important work our snowplow operators do every winter," said Matt Linneman, NDDOT deputy director for engineering. "We love seeing the creativity and community pride behind the submissions, and it gives people a fun way to engage with us. Name-A-Plow is a fun way to put travel safety at the top of people's minds. While the names bring the laughs, our snowplow crews are out there doing serious work to keep the roads as safe as possible."

One winner in each of NDDOT's eight districts will be selected in December by Team NDDOT. Contest winners will have an opportunity to meet the plow operators and have their photo taken with the plow.

Contest rules:

• Names submitted should be appropriate and under 15 characters.
• If the same name is submitted by multiple individuals, the entry that came in first will be the one considered.
• Names may be submitted by a group (schools, nursing homes, etc.) but must include a contact name.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to remind the public to give our plow operators space as they clear the roads," said Linneman. "We want everyone to get home safe to their families at the end of the day."

Find more information on winter weather driving, the ND Roads app, and the Name-A-Plow Contest at dot.nd.gov.