Scottish Gritter Names: These are the hilarious names of Scotland's gritters and how to track them - from Sled Zeppelin to Basil Salty

Scotland’s fleet of gritters have become world famous thanks to their quirky names.

With the weather turning cold and further weather warnings in place this week, the battle is on to keep Scotland’s roads free of ice and snow.

On the frontline on the fight against the freeze are the country’s fleet of 240 gritters, based at 42 depots.

It’s a serious business but when you see them on the motorway or city roads, the names painted on the side of the vehicles might give you a chuckle.

Since around 2017 BEAR Scotland have given the gritters a range of hilarious names, many of which reference famous Scots or aspects of Scottish culture – from Andy McFlurry and Lew-Ice Capaldi, to Gonnae Snow Dae That and Yes Sir, Ice Can Boogie.

They’ve proved to be such a hit – with the website that’s let you track them since around 2016 sometimes registering over 100,000 visitors a day – that other countries have followed suit. Last year in the USA the Minnesota Department of Transportation held a public poll to come up with funny names, as did a number of Canadian towns and cities. Winning names included Plowasaurus Rex, Sir Salts-A-Lot, and Snowboni.

Here are all the names in Scotland and how to track them.

How did the gritters get their names?

You can track Scotland's hilariously named gritter fleet

The idea to give Scotland’s gritters amusing names dates bqack to 2020, when Amey – a company responsible for maintaining public highways and bridges, performing inspections, and keeping the roads clear from debris and snow – ran a competition to let the public name the winter-busting vehicles.

Running from December 23, 2020, to January 23, 2021, the online submissions proved to be a massive success – a world apart from the famous poll to name a scientific research ship that came up with the moniker Boaty McBoatface.

How can I track Scotland’s gritters?

A full map of Scotland's gritting fleet can be found at scotgov.maps.

Double click to zoom in on the map, and click and drag your cursor to explore the interactive map of Scotland.

Scotland's Gritter names 2022/23

Rumble

Mr Plow

The Ice Destroyer

Gritallica

Ready, Spready Go!

Sled Zeppelin

Snowlar BEAR

Gansta Granny Gritter

Frosty

Snow Angel

Veruca Salt

My Name is Doddie

Sprinkles

The Snow Buster

For Your Ice Only

The Snowclaimers

Salty

Grit A Bit

My Name’5 Doddie

I Want to Break Freeze

Mega Melter

I’m shovelin’

Always Be Grit-full

Scotland’s Bravest Gritter

Blizzard BEAR

Basil Salty

Polar Patroller

Snow Dozer

Licence to Chill

Sir Salter Scott

Snow Connery

Nitty Gritty

Grit-Tok

The Incredible Ice BEAR

Walter The Salter

BFG – Big Friendly Gritter

BEAR-illiant

BRINE FREEEEZE

Mrs McGritter

Polar BEAR Express