Casey, we carry them in the trucks that have alot of shoveling. It all depends on what/how the truck operator feels like doing or what would be quickest..shovel or broom. We run 4 trucks, 4 routes. Operator is also shoveler, so I leave it up to them to make a field decision. I know that on brick walkways, brooms will out do any shovel. No getting gagged up on edges or joints of the bricks. As for being heavier, the brooms are, but, after however long plowing, heavy is a relative term. A shovel full of snow can be heavy. As I stated earlier, once the broom hits the ground, you never "have" to carry it. The broom turns like a wheel, so you can "drive" it anywhere. (I prefer the operators NOT to drive it back into the truck, though.) That's where lifting comes into play. If you can, try renting one for a storm and see if it works for you. Although once you have one, you will find better ways to complete the tasks. Just like plowing a new lot for the first time compared to a lot you have plowed for years...you can find a better.quicker, faster way. You gotta get one of these things. I looked hard at them for 2 years, then after I bought the first one, I realized I had wasted 2 yrs. of hard work on being skeptical. I am one who does not buy into new technology on the first go round. I still have my tried and proven 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton with 7' plow on the front line...I hate new stuff, so these were something that I looked at as new fangled, wizzkid, wannabe toyz. They're not..they are a quality production machine, some limitations, but once you realize the limitations, you can improvise a solution.
On light fluffy, powder snow, we have even used our backpack blowers....really neat to see peoples' reaction to that. "I thought you could only use those things to blow leaves around." Told this to a friend that worked at a car dealership...he had the job ofo cleaning off all the cars on the lot after it snowed..took one of ours with him one day, they went out and bought 2 BPblowers and now can have all the cars cleaned off in 1/2 the time and without scratches.