Paint the Plow

The MCDOT Paint the Plow Middle School Contest is back for its 5th year!


Join the Montgomery County Department of Transportation for Truck Day 2026 on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m. , at the Salt Barn, 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville. This free event will have activities for the entire family and feature the famed Paint the Plow middle school contest, its most anticipated event.

Truck Day will kick off National Public Works Week, a nationally recognized week thanking public service workers for improving residents' quality of life. This year’s Public Works theme is  “Rooted in Service, Powered By Community,” a tagline used for our Paint the Plow contest to highlight the many facets of our Highway Services professionals’ work and the way in which community fuels it. MCDOT Highway Services professionals serve as first responders, closing roads during floods, and making those same roads and sidewalks passable for residents after winter storms. Public works employees are always there when our residents need them.

Montgomery County's public middle schools are encouraged to participate in our Paint the Plow contest, utilizing their creativity to decorate an MCDOT snowplow with a unique design and name, and raising awareness of the important work our public works professionals do throughout the year and its effect on our Montgomery County communities.

Public middle school participation is free, and paint supplies are provided.

Register below by Friday, April 10, to have a plow and paint supplies delivered to your middle school on Thursday, April 16, and picked up on Thursday, May 14. The decorated plows will be taken to Truck Day for event attendees to vote on their favorite design. First, second, and third-place winners will receive cash prizes for their school.

 

Register for Paint the Plow


Learn more about National Public Works Week and this year's theme here .

Contest Details

Theme:  "Rooted in Service, Powered By Community"

Registration Period: Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 10

*MCDOT will provide the needed art supplies for painting snowplows.

*All submissions must be created by the individual or group submitting the entry, will become the property of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, and may be used for publicity.

Snow Plow Drop-off:   Thursday, April 16, 7 a.m. -9 a.m. 

Snow Plow Pickup:   Thursday, May 14, 12 p.m. -2 p.m.

Paint the Plow Voting: Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. -1 p.m.

*Attendees will cast votes for the decorated snowplow design they like best.


Prizes *check made out to winners

  • 1st Place: $500
  • 2nd Place: $300
  • 3rd Place: $200

Annually, painted snowplows service County roads during the winter season. Captured photos are displayed on MCDOT's website and social media channels.

 

Winners of the 2025 Middle School Paint the Plow Contest

1st Place: Redland MS

 

 

2nd Place: Hallie Wells MS

 

 

3rd Place: Julius West M.S.

 

Thanks to all who participated in our 2025 Paint the Plow Contest and attended our annual Truck Day celebration!