Oakland County is not in danger of running out road salt used to treat roadways anytime soon.

Oakland County’s road commission spokesman, Craig Bryson, told The Oakland Press that even though they have used over 20 tons more salt this year than last year, their supply will be enough to get through the rest of the season.

“We contract for a worst-case scenario, so we are a ways from reaching our maximum salt order,” Bryson said. “We continue to get resupplied on a daily basis and we are not concerned about running out.”

As of Jan. 31, the road commission has used 63,836 tons, more than the 5-year average total for a full season: 63,000.

As of Jan. 31 over the last three years, the commission had used:

42,910 tons during 2024-25
39,874 during 2023-24
31,503 during 2022-23

Some school districts said salt has been in short supply and they have been taking precautions.

“(The) Oakland County Road Commission has a regional shortage of rock salt due to supply chain delays at the mines,” Royal Oak schools said in a statement last week. “As a result, Royal Oak Schools is not receiving our regular expected shipments, which are used to keep our schools safe.”

The district said they will prioritize high traffic areas, order alternative supplies if needed and put lighter coats of salt down on parking lots to stretch their supply.

“Our current supply will last us through approximately 6-8 more weather events,” the district said. “Please use extra caution when you move in and around our community, as this is impacting all of Royal Oak, not just our schools.”

Bryson said everyone is looking to replenish supplies at the same time and the main vendor, the Detroit Salt Mine, is having trouble meeting the demand because there are a finite number of trucks to make the deliveries and the company is limited by the amount of salt that can be mined at one time.

“I think the real challenge is for the smaller private contractors who ordered their quantities based on the last couple of years,” Bryson said. “Smaller contractors have likely used their complete annual supply and are competing with larger companies and government agencies like road commissions.”