A ‘driver leader’ for Swift Transportation is in hot water after he sent a message to drivers which seemed to encourage them to drive in unsafe weather conditions. He told them “U have chains on your truck” and “if we can drive we will.”
On December 2nd, while the Northeast was getting winter weather warnings, a message went out to some Swift drivers from an unnamed Swift ‘driver leader.’
“U have chains on your truck, we cannot afford to have you down or the load to be days late due to weather,” said the message on the onboard computer system. “If we can drive, we will- whether it be 5 mph or an appropriate speed as long as we are safe. Its trucking, it’s the job, lets do it. Thanks all”
When a trucker took a photo of the message and posted it on social media, the post got thousands of comments and shares. It was only about four hours later that the same driver leader sent out another message apologizing if it “came off” as if he was telling truckers to drive during unsafe conditions. He claimed that “of course I would not want you driving if the weather wont allow it or you do not feel comfortable.”
The COO of Swift, Kevin Quast, told Freightwaves that the message was sent by a “newer driver leader” who was “a little overzealous.”
Swift put out a statement a day after the message was sent, saying:
“We wanted to clarify Swift’s stance on chain usage. Chains should be used to get a driver out of trouble and to find the first safe/legal place to park. They are not to be used to make a delivery on time or to get through bad weather. Always communicate with your Driver Leader on your status, but your safety comes first.”
Source: freightwaves
Phil says
White man speak with forked tongue. Or something like that. Should say ‘dispatcher speaks with forked tongue’. von.
Rayzer says
Hahaha!! 🤣
Alex c says
I wonder if Kevin knight or moyes can drive or toss iron ,I doubt they’ve even been behind wheel
Robert says
Well since Jerry has nothing to do with it who cares. And as for Kevin Knight his policy is chain tp get to safe haven and out of trouble.
You must not have read the article the manager got.in trouble for that message.
Get your facts before speaking it makes you sound ignorant.
Chris says
Lol BOTH of those guys are former truckers. BOTH of those guys know how and have chained trucks. BOTH of those guys are cousins and were the BEST Drivers in their time. They built their companies (swift and knight) from 1 truck each. Google is your friend!!
Michael Di Lorenzo says
Actually, Kevin Knight started as a driver way back when!
Les Wingfield says
I see all these whiners whizzing and moaning about a chaining up for a few miles, but if they were 100 miles from their warm bed and warmer cooz, what would you wish to bet they would break them out without a second thought. See? Depends on how much you wish to accomplish something.
Larry says
That is a dumb remark this what is wrong with trucking today no common sense and safety first if you have to chain up you are asking for trouble I’ve been out here too long and seen dumb stuff just use common sense a load is not worth anymore life
Abe says
Just because you’re chained up doesn’t mean that lady in the SUV isn’t going to slide into your fuel tank and light you up
Timothy Jones says
Exactly. I think your point is and you already know, the job is not worth chaining, but getting off the truck is.
JOHN H ONEILL JR says
Go away Troll.
Jason Turner says
Says the guy in the ditch.
The Truth says
It’s about safety. Not about being lazy. Safety first.
Geraldine mann says
😂😂😂😂yes they all speak with fork tounge
Taxedout says
What good is the load if it’s spread out all over the highway?
Phil says
Wonder if their ‘Driver Leader’ has ever led them in to a snow bank? Or maybe the river 200 feet below the bridge?
Douglas Kirk says
If you had chains on you wouldn’t be in the river or the snowbank, moron
Why do you guys think chains are some kind of torture device invented to bring misery to your life? Too much like actual work, I guess
I’m not in love with tire chains, but I can put em on for 10 miles and be on my merry way before the rest of you are done consoling each other with safety platitudes
rob says
So you like to drive with chains when it is not safe because you are a “big tough trucker man ?” Shut the hell up. I have gotten into more trouble and done more damage with chains than ever without them. You are a jack*** now shut up and retire.
Douglas Kirk says
Well, Robbie…
Sounds like anything less than bone-dry, blue-sky daytime driving is unsafe in your book. You should go back to your moms basement and play games
Alex c says
I’m a,tropical kind of dude, no chains for me ,unless I chain my co driver and toss him on highway
Abe says
Sounds like you work for the corporate office Dougie
Timothy Jones says
Chains are a curse. Just not worth it. It means you are on the road, then a Jack arse rolls by too fast and takes you out. Just not smart. It the knuckle heads we fear, not chains.
Fox says
Well Mr. The all Almighty and invincible. Tire chains are to be used only to get you to a safe place and park!!! In a different kind of work like oil patch I used tire chains many times during the winter because I was driving 100’s of kilometers deep in the bush to drilling rigs and gas plants. That’s the only time you use tire chains for travel. Did you get your DL in a McDinalds happy meal? Safety first!!!!
Richard says
Guess you are a crappy driver. Nothing to say to a real driver. Cuddle up with your “my pillow”
RheumTrucker says
Then you probably don’t have much experience with chains. I’ve been out here for 21 years and the last 15 years have been in the Pacific Northwest and inter mountain West. Chaining is part of trucking in the mountains. Properly chained trucks don’t do damage and make driving over mountain passes possible.
I’m certainly not going to sit for days or even weeks waiting for a pass to clear! All those Swift drivers can go ahead…. more freight for me!
Rich says
Quit before you even get started. You don’t have the balls to be an actual driver. Guide your Swifty truck to the shoulder and let the real men and womem drivers go to work. Chains have been used since before your mommy or daddy were itches in their daddy’s pants. The works been done with out complaint for eons. Wake up America this bunch of pansies are the ones that will be taking over. Next they’ll be asking for full service fuel islands so that they can stop spilling fuel on the ground cause they’re to lazy to do thst right. They got their automatics so they don’t have to shift gears. And I bet any amount they don’t know what gear to be in and when. Go ahead and kick your foot up on the dash like a bitch until you kill someone cause you weren’t alert enough to avoid or couldn’t get your leg down cause it got caught in the steering wheel. I guess that’s your idea of safety.
Just Me says
Truth!
Don says
I live in Alberta. I truck in the oil patch. I’m not some macho super trucker and neither is the guy you just replied to. Chaining up is a part of the job and part of (almost) everyday life. It’s mainly a precautionary measure. Sometimes after a mild day and then the temp drops fast, the roads freeze and if you got hills to climb, you chain up instead of being on a hill, spun out, and blocking traffic.
Alex c says
Canadian aye ,ice road hero ,my man ,show,em and,tell em how it’s done
Outback says
The only way you do damage with chains is if you do not put them on right! Many time going over the Rockies where you are required to put on chains. I have seen several pairs of brand new chains on side of road. All because people are not properly trained how to do their job.
Mark Ealy says
not me i fire up the the crockpot …whatch some tele ooooo AND GET PAID FOR WAITING ON THE SNOW TO STPP MAN I LOVE FREE MONEY
Jerry says
Who do you drive for that pays you for weather shutdowns? I do a lite of both, chain up when I must n shutdown when it’s bad or I don’t want to chain up..lol…so hey I may be I interested, who take drive for driver? Merry Christmas to you to.
JOHN H ONEILL JR says
I drive for the USPS and get paid by the hour. Many many many drivers even sleeper based drivers that are paid by the hour and get layover pay based here in the Pacific Northwest. Who do you drive for that you DON’T get paid for your time?
Alex c says
Supertrucker
Geraldine mann says
It’s not putting chains on the fact of it is if it’s that bad park. But as the post says chains ate to get you to a safe place to park not for running to delivery. As it chews up tires as well as the road. But if you are in the proximity of delivery make it happen. I’ve been driving for 35 years never have chained up only held up once with making my delivery because of weather. But it’s the captain of the vessel that makes the safty call on to drive or not to drive
Steel Horse and Wooden Mem says
Experience pays, laziness robs you of benefits of your work.
Robert Allard says
good for you sir you could put these chains on but I have seen one of my dead friend now he was installing these chains and we all left he said he was ok someone found him dead sitting by the axle being chained up. If ther is need for chains tha I just park and wait for plow.
Jason Turner says
Congrats. You sound like the world’s best driver. Soooo proud of you. Keep making your own decisions and NOT the decisions of others. I am a 30 year veteran driver and I stand by each drivers decision on what THEY deem safe and NOT you or some dispatcher.
Scott says
Good answer, as “Captain of the Ship” it is the driver’s decision if safe to proceed, period.
Sharron says
I was thinking along the same lines. I am west coast only, but, you aren’t doing too many runs over Donner if you won’t chain. It doesn’t even have to be wet for Caltrans to require chains.
James says
Or you could be involved with 4wheelers loosing it in front of you. Best case you loose $$$$thousands of cargo, worst case one, or more, of the vehicle occupants dies. Then watch as the attorneys come after you and your company,,,,,,,,,,, chains dont stop lawsuits.
Jaebro says
That driver leader doesn’t have any driving experience period !
That’s why he’s behind a desk barking orders to inexperienced drivers who fear losing their jobs for being late.
Charlie says
Please, Swift stay in the truck stops and let the professionals chain up and do their job. So much safer out here with iron-on and all of you huddled in your bunks.
moe says
good point
Alex c says
Brains expensive trucks cheap
Sean says
I agree. But I also think that ALL trucks should just stay off the roads during snowy bad weather. This is where trains are much better. I have been a cdl driver and I think drivers of all companies should be able to tell their dm to stuff it…xadfhuyth .when the roads are bad and be able to keep their jobs. This is a case where the private should outrank the general. All the companies have to do is rebook the load. I would like to see some of those shippers and receiver clerks try driving a semi in the snow and ice and make it on time…not so much as a minute late…..Practice what you preach shippers and receivers. Oh so what if there is a 70 car pile up…no big deal…
Robert says
All I have to say is weather is bad I’m shutting down. Dispatch won’t say anything except 10/4. Because they know safety will stuff a boot in their ass. All you have to do is work for the right company.
Jason Turner says
Thank you
Kelly Jostad says
I agree with you completely.
chrissy says
I walked away.. rented a car and went home.. because the company I drove for ganged up on me at the top of Donner pass, pressuring me to drive in what I felt we’re unsafe driving conditions. I looked and found out my “chains” on the truck were pickup truck size chains and didn’t even fit the tires. They just wanted to meet DOT regulations of having chains on board. They wouldnt listen to anything I said..the conditions were early morning, freezing temps and snowing. As I was loading up my rental car, DOT closed the road over Donner in both directions due to a bad accident.. I headed out in my rental car the other direction, and drove 2 days home and have never looked back. I’m so happy to be away from the constant nagging of their clueless idiot dispatchers! But now they constantly harrass me about being “under contract” with them, and how I ow them money and that I can’t drive truck for any other constantly. Oany til I pay them back. Lol All their LIES..
I fully agree with you.. It’s the truck drivers responsibility to just not drive in it and just shut down. I knew it wasn’t a good time to head out over Donner.. I was there and knew exactly what was going on. The majority of truckers were pulling off the road.. the truck stops were allnfull too. I wasn’t going to pull out and leave my spot, to risk being killed over Donner pass! And that’s exactly why they ended up closing the road back up again, someone wrecked, because they opened the road back up and trucking companies jumped on their drivers backs pressuring them to “get going” because they “cant afford to be late!” and telling them to drive in or else. O.o
The way I looked at it out there, was that the company can just deal with it. You’re on own your own anyway, with a lot of these cheap meta-carriers.. You’re just out there driving from truck stop to truck stop on very little money, paying for the weighs and hoping to get reimbursed.. babysitting their truck in a “debt slavery” situation.
JPW says
sounds like my experience with CR England. Simple solution to icy roads out west….. SALT the road like they do back east. But I guess closing roads and dead drivers is better than salting a road to make it safe. That`s why I wont drive west of the Rockies.
F...D. Trump says
The entire south shuts down if there is even a effing chance of snow yet the north has to grind it out around the clock in that nonsense. I say F Em from now on. They want to drive out there before the roads are salted they can have at it
Douglas Kirk says
I suppose you are going to bankroll all the rail spurs to all the towns and streets and individual houses that don’t currently have one? Rail rhymes with fail for a reason. They can carry more at one time, but they can’t take it eveywhere it needs to go. They also don’t guarantee that your freight will ever arrive at the intended destination
rob says
Douglas Jer* you should just shut up and retire. You are a pain to read with your “git er done” BS.
Douglas Kirk says
Why does my experience of 7 million miles cause you pain, Robbie? Are you afraid to admit that your personal lack of backbone is holding you back?
I have nothing to prove here. Just telling you guys what I have seen and done. Seems nobody cares to learn from what others have experienced
Rich says
Just really didn’t have anything intelligent to say on the matter so bash somebody else.
Alex c says
Aye aye captain Kirk, back to the enterprise,beam me up scotty
Jason Turner says
Just curious. You said you have 7 million miles in your reply to “rob”. Soooo….how long have you been driving??? The average truck driver logs about 100,000 miles a year. Jeesh… you must be about 90 years old.
Alex c says
He oldest cdl holder ,and,greatest driver ever, he should get a prize
Joshua L Weiser says
Actually he is probably a completely independent contractor not leased on to a carrier so he probably can run more miles than anyone who is leased onto a company competing with other drivers that’s why we are only averaging 1000k miles a year
Drew says
Most of them never drove a truck. They can operate a mean keyboard thou.
Karl says
How long have you been texting dad dough
Alex c says
Karl grow some fuzzies my man ,get with the program or get out join the army suck some tacky weenie and make less than minimum wage
Larry Watson says
I’ve chained a few times and the older I got , I got wise to the “urgency” of the freight getting there on time. It’s all bullstuff. Believe me, nobody is gonna die from waiting it out. In more ways than one.
Larry Watson says
I don’t know what happened, This was not meant to be a reply to nothing. I’ll be okay, I’m fine.
Kevin D Ryan says
Calls someone an idiot; uses improper spelling and punctuation…
Seems legit…
Karl says
Dats ur take away
RF says
Amen to that driver.
Fozzy says
It wasn’t the Swift driver’s having all the bed wetting tantrums about being told to chain up.. it was the run of the mill super duper trucker.. you know, the ones that pass everyone in the hammer lane spraying ice and slush all over the other trucks….. right before going into the ditch… usually taking another couple of trucks with them.
Jason Turner says
I wouldn’t call them “SUPER”. Stupid is a much better term.
Samiullah Henderson says
Driving in bad weather with chains on your tires doesn’t make you a professional. It makes you an idiot! Your company doesn’t care about you. If you die from driving on those bad roads, all they will do is replace you.
Larry Watson says
Wow! I just said those same words, “almost” in a text. That is the absolute truth.
Alex c says
My rule of thumb, if I need chains, I don’t need to be on road ,f the load
Douglas Kirk says
It makes you a weenie, Sammy Boy. Chains, in and of themselves, do not cause wrecks. I’ve driven more with chains on than you have ever dreamed of…..and never wrecked a truck in bad weather. Your trainer was an idiot, and you followed his example
Alex c says
How bout I chain my co driver and drop him off on icy roadway
Alex c says
Just chain ure co driver, and toss him on bighway
Larry Watson says
So you’re a “professional”?
Alex c says
A professional idiot
Eugene says
truck stops and let the professionals chain up and do their job
Yes only safty way .. driver .. or stop driving how long need .
Alex c says
Eugene my man keep drinking that stupid koolaide
Larry Watson says
What? Maybe see joe and get some english lessons. At least!
Charles Quail says
Agree. We are glad for the weather app and the dot road cameras. Now we route ourselves around storms or wait. We used to plow (no pun intended) right into a “weather event”. Chains are not used to reach a safe place. They are used to keep going. Swift didn’t get that right either. We would all be better off to stop before the storm and allow it to run its course. No load is worth the loss of your livlihood O/O, or your life. And being out there just increases the danger for us all. C’mon, supertrucking just ain’t necessary.
rob says
You must be an offended SJW looking for a safe space Alex. Who cares what sexual orientation someone is or their nationality. Lots of people drive from all over the world so choosing one nation is strange. You must be butt hurt from a canadian at some point.
moe says
big deal …chain up. weather is no excuse not to go unless the road is closed. put on your big boy pants and go to work.
yes, I have .
no i wont miss the prima Donna’s when i call it quits.
Dan says
Your luck will run out very soon always does. If you have to have chains to be on that road you don’t need to be on that road. Have pulled many “SUPER TRUCKERS ” out of their Cabs. If you are a “SUPER TRUCKER” you will have the opportunity to be pulled out of your Cab.
Dennis Grammer says
Soooooo very true
Larry Watson says
You must drive the goat trails.
ChuckD says
So who’s the idiot? What it comes down to is you don’t have common sense.
Karl says
Wow
Alex c says
Can u drive on a,two legged goat path
Fozzy says
People who are afraid (too lazy) to chain have usually not ran anywhere, where chaining normal for drivers who can and do actually drive for a living. If most drivers these days were as good at running their trucks as they were at running their mouths.. it would be a proud profession… Those days are long gone!
Timothy Jones says
Some truth there, but I had a good conversation with a tow truck driver in Denver that services the surrounding areas. He said just dont chain, he’s tired of pulling out dead bodies. Told me a story of a driver that went off the road with chains, found him 2 days later after the blizzard half frozen, the driver lost his feet and fingers to frost bite trying to get 20 more miles down the road.
CEO Nardone Enterprises says
Great observation and very true but it is the law as well as a choice. Use chains don’t use chains it’s up to the drive and situation. But please stay in the truck stop if you’re not going to DRIVE!
Glenn says
Pleas ,stay out of Colorado.
September to May requires a set of chains.
When you don’t feel safe to drive in the weather,
OSHA will back you up, just make a complaint and sue your company for driver harrasment. By then, those who can drive, will.
Safely.
Alex c says
Good job dan my man, I believe that theory too
Douglas Kirk says
Ever see somebody have a wreck that was caused by chains?
I didn’t think so.
rob says
Wrong joe, his usage of “your” was correct. You are wrong but I am glad you can chain up in your “sierra nevada’s” and deliver all our loads safely. Thanks.
Alex c says
Rob u must a been an English teacher, before u became super trucker
Just Me says
Agreed- but Swift is better off parked when it’s chain up time.
Robert says
You are an idiot. Chains required means its to bad to be driving. I would rather park safely and huddle in my bunk than end up in a ditch with a wrecked truck, destroyed trailer and no job. Plus I could lose my life. Sorry I don’t care about the load. There isn’t enough a load can pay to make me drive in unsafe conditions.
As for the swift driver leader, should be fired for that. There is no reason for telling drivers you have chains, we can’t be late.
Karl says
Wow and the darwin award goes 2u
Larry Watson says
Hey joe, yes, lower case intended. Have you ever driven period? I mean like a car, or have gotten farther from your basement than 5 or 6 miles?
Alex c says
Driver leader some college boy ,never drive a,semi ,but knows it 2 inches away on map
Chris says
Having a BA or Associates or Masters. Never could hurt
Only beneficial to ones life
Makes a person more well
Rounded
Analogous to getting outside your borders
Chris says
So. As Fareed Zakari would say. Here s my take
Early 60s now. Doing this since early.92….at the end of the day. 8 months of experience or 38 years…….the driver is the one who calls the shots when the decision is made to chain or not
Nobody. A husband or wife or fleet manager or CEO
Or dad or daughter or buddy can make that decision for him or her
If you continue on over the pass with chain law in effect. And you dont chain
You risk huge fine
Arrest or perhaps worse
But if one wants to sit it out as it were
And continue on post chain law being cancelled…..that’s his or her prerogative……I’ve chained enough to know …..its a “young man’s or women’s ” task. And I choose not to deal with it any longer ….I’ll wait it out
…
..and anyone using the Testosterone laden. COWARD term. Is a tragic individual
Warren Kennedy says
Lmbo, I never have put on chains. If the chain law is in effect I park. 99.9% of the time if you need chains then the shipper or receiver is already closed. You must be a true company man
Lol
Douglas Kirk says
Where do you park? On the side of the road? Or are you 150 miles away from the storm with the rest of your pantywaist buddies?
Alex c says
Go home joe, stay in truckstop
Jeff says
I get paid salary so all you big tough super truckers chain all u want.I get paid the same if i drive 200miles a week or 3500
Robert Allard says
look you all is it really necessary to hain up when you in a blizzard ?? yes I agree to chain up just to get out of being stuck but not to drive in the storm with reduced visibility and wipers freezing upin windshield and if you maade it on time the receivers yard iss unplowed and you have to wait 3 to 5 hours before unloading what is the sense???? you all super drivers give an answer.
Mrs. C says
😂😂 William Chapman…. I don’t think they’re catching your point!!
Larry Watson says
Hey Moe, from one driver to “another” , You need to put your big boy pants on and quit trying to prove yourself with this “look at me, Look at me” crap. You are just a number regardless of the “family” crap. One day you’ll remember this text.
Alex c says
Tim seems like the idiot here ,seems he the,driver in truckstop with no panties on
Larry Watson says
Lets try this again, …. after you prove yourself as a worthy driver, you will be quick to realize that you are just a number. Yeah but they are a family business. Bullcrap! Your are nothing but a means to get freight from point A to point B. If you die from “proving youself” , it’s business as usual. Just another driver opening.
Timothy Jones says
Yep!
Alex c says
Great a name calling post ,awsome
TexasJester says
And people like you is why I shut down when the roads get slick. I can drive fine – 35 years, 4+ million miles safe driving – but you fools who think you HAVE to go make it dangerous for those of us who actually know whet we’re doing..
Douglas Kirk says
Texas is part of the problem
Alex c says
Cheap freight there too ,many cheap companies hauling cheap cheap, cheap trucks, easy to buy em out there
rob says
Shut it Jerk Douglas, you talk to big for your panties.
Douglas Kirk says
Quit crying, Robbie…..it will get better eventually
Timothy Jones says
Well said. It’s all about mitigating the knuckle heads.
James D. Smith says
What is the point of changing for 30 to 45 minutes to drive 30 or 40 miles at 25? Your are either highly paid, owner operator or just stupid. stoping the truck because someone feels it unsafe for them does not make them any better than you. The load will pay the same if you chain or not.
Bryan says
I never stopped for weather. Couple close calls made me much more cautious. I only HAD to hang iron a few times, light load with high wind or just flat out ice. But after I ran once with chains I ran them much more often, safer all over.
Still it is a risk driving on ice and packed snow even with chains. Just because you have your end under control doesn’t mean some knuckle head wont lose it just in front of you. I don’t want to be in an incident regardless of who is at fault
KB says
Probably the same swift “driver- leader” who sent that one truck you see into the middle of fields or low bridges
Dan says
Don’t mess with Mother Nature she never loses
Larry Watson says
Parkay margarine found that out. I hope you’re old enough to remember or I’m sounding like an idiot.
Alex c says
Let that long haired big nose Italian deliver the,freight faggio
Brock says
Bunch ah dadgum girlymen out thar tryin turn our little boys into sissys!!
Yep better let the men navigate the Snowy icy conditions and all them foriegn newbees snuggle up in da sleeper clogging up the rest stops!
And stoppin wid this political correctness junk is goin to blowback so smokem if u gottem!
Vlad Puppetmaster says
I wish I was a real He-Man like Moe
Alex c says
For,6 bucks,u can join him in snow bank
Karl says
Don’t ask Kevin Rutherford on road dog radio. He would tell you it’s an east job, and to stop crying 😢. Just another corporate schill.
Rawdog says
Well you’re the one who pays money and wastes time listening to them
Alex c says
I don’t listen to him or that road,crap radio too many whiners, like here making comments
Alex c says
Kevin a,Yankee he prob can toss iron drive like Mario andretti and sell Pittsburgh power products
Alex c says
Collects big money Karl dude ,and says what they want him to say ,but collects the check, get it my man
GREG A HOAGLAND says
New breed of drivers now days. Can’t drive in snow rain or night time. I think the part about “a.s long as we are safe” is the main point.
“If we can drive, we will- whether it be 5 mph or an appropriate speed as long as we are safe. Its trucking, it’s the job, lets do it. Thanks all”
Rawdog says
It’s not the road conditions that make me stop… it’s the idiots on the roads
Rayzer says
Amen to that! Smartest thing I’ve read on here yet.
CEO Nardone Enterprises says
I agree with you. Smartest statement thus far. Stay safe all but the rest is fun to read lol
Jason Turner says
10-4!!!!!!!
Sean says
Maybe that is why companies can’t get drivers. Go back to the old days when loads where relayed across the country instead of one driver coast to coast….the railroads still relay and they can haul for less regardless of the price of fuel.
Robert says
Some companies still do relays. In certain areas like I-90 in New York where they run triples. Most of those companies do some type of relay.
Larry Watson says
Railroad is okay for freight that doesn’t need to be there any certain time.
Douglas Kirk says
Relay? Trains don’t move unless a crew can be found with enough hours to run, same as trucks.
Back in the old days? Last week? I’ve had a commercial license since 1977, and the only time I ever switched loads was to get a driver where he needed to be for a specific reason. Everybody wanted to do the long ones, because load/unload once a week beats twice a day…..hands down
scott A says
This is completely true, the old way was much better.
Alex c says
With out elds,and other b.s. like csa and other bs
Jason Turner says
This ISN’T the Good ole’ days. Nobody has time to slow down and eat a good meal, neverless find a damn parking space.
Larry Watson says
5 mph? Really? And you haven’t figured out that the guys that wait it out will not be far behind you with hours to spare. And how long you been driving?
Karl says
WOW you win the Darwin Award
Larry Watson says
Thats cool , I cant keep up with this format.
Alex c says
Dead men tell no tales
Joe says
New breed are a bunch of weak,cowards
Larry Watson says
How long have you been out there?
Jeff says
Go get em tough guy
Glenn says
huzzah! Well said Greg.
rob says
A.s. long as you bend over for the man with the money, you will be fine Mr. Hoagland.
kc says
Over zealous moron. NO FREIGHT IS LIFE OR DEATH until someone makes it that way.
Rawdog says
Soooo … did they change the law? Somehow your legal to use chains on the highway now??? I’m obviously not talking about mountain passes where it’s required but last I checked you can’t just throw chains on to bounce across the New York thruway… nor should ya
Shamus P. Cella says
28 years of driving OTR……I chained once……ONCE!!! Think less of me as you please. I may not be half the driver as some of you. But hear this…..every thing in life is a calculated risk. From bending over to tie your shoe, getting into a tub to shower with no mat…..to utilizing chains when weather demands it. Better to side with caution rather than doing something you do not believe is more important than the risk. Did I forget to mention…….I only chained once……
Karl says
Amen brother
Joe says
You are broke, I chain at least 100 times a year and make money you would be jealous of but you’re weak and a coward. Never will make what I make
Larry Watson says
Ewe hav never chaned en yor lyfe.
Larry Watson says
You must just be a Sacramento to Reno driver for that to even be possible, and that is still hard to believe.
Timothy Jones says
Lol. My thoughts exactly. It’s probably a Sparks to Reno dedicated route. Haha!
John says
I’m jealous Mr. Big Bucks
Alex c says
I’ve never chained ,and never will my man ,I’m a tropical kind of dude
James D. Smith says
I have only chain once myself I 70 in the Vail in 0 below I will never do it again was not worth the risk versus time lost I was paid then same regardless…
Charles Sheridan says
Larry and Curly
John says
Response to Moe’s comment,
Hey super trucker, there is not a load of freight that is worth losing someone’s life over. I’ve been otr for 12 years, worked hard for what I got.
I’m just several months away from having my truck payed off and I’m not going to lose what I have because someone sitting in a climate controlled office behind a desk tells me a customer needs the load. I’ll park my truck till the roads are better.If I’m late, they’ll still need the load.
Joe says
12cyears to pay off a truck??? You sorry, broke fool
Larry Watson says
Joe can’t even figure out how to drive a 4 speed Datsun.
John says
Hey Slow Joe, I didn’t say it took 12 years to pay my truck off.
I said I been otr for 12 years.
Grow a brain
Alex c says
Brains expensive trucks cheap
Larry Watson says
I know the type, I’m sure you know we’re on to him. Kinda funny that he just went away.
Larry Watson says
He knows, I meant.
Glenn says
The driver is the captain of the ship when it comes to
safety. If you don’t feel safe, don’t do it. Plain and simple.
Our insurance companies, teachers, TV, media, desk jockies, and such
would have you believe life is safe.
You can stub your toe and break it getting out of bed. Better to stay in bed than to put chains on your toes, for lack of traction.
Alex c says
Ask captain kirk
chrissy says
Those mega carriers have high turn over and push push push.. I worked for one..they don’t even train new drivers (and neither does the school on how to out chains on a semi.. Or the required chaining pattern, per state, per weather conditon. They don’t give a rats patootie whether you live or die.
John F. Belcher says
I chained once in 15 years. Regretted it every since. Nothing bad happened but I just made a mistake in doing it. If it’s so bad you need chains….get off the road.
Douglas Kirk says
That’s a garbage statement to start with. I’ve driven thru stuff that would curl your hair with no chains and never spun a wheel. I’ve also had to chain- by law- on mostly dry roads. Take it or leave it, but the anti-chain attitude so prevalent out here is 99% lazy a**. Plain and simple.
rob says
Jerk Doug can you just please shut up !!! You are such a loser and di** you must be a company paid shill. I hope you end up in a ditch, chained wheels turning as your trucks smokes and you wonder where it all went wrong.
Alex c says
Rob u and him can. Co drive together in ure cascadia
Douglas Kirk says
I work for myself, Little Boy Robbie…..
I do what I want, when I want, where I want.
You will never see my chained truck in a ditch, because chains keep you on the road, retard
Craig Carter says
Sounds like something my company would say out of context and not explain it thoroughly.
Larry Watson says
I’ve chained a few times and the older I got , I got wise to the “urgency” of the freight getting there on time. It’s all bullstuff. Believe me, nobody is gonna die from waiting it out. In more ways than one.
Dave says
Well I think if that dispatcher had a cdl maybe they would know the problem is a lot of dispatchers it’s not drivers and then I educated to know when is it a situation where you need changed maybe you should not be driving throw it out I was told if it’s a dangerous situation or you don’t feel safe you should not be driving at all and then maybe they should come out and move the load they selves if they do have a CDL or they just talked about the crack of the ass and make them move the load and get it where it’s going that’s why I don’t go over the road no more I did that for 15 years and will never do it again just because of those situations because you’re getting bad areas that got snow and ice down we have to chain up and you can’t drive no more than fifty nifty miles up and down the mountain chain on train off no driver have time to do that and listen to getting paid by the hour last I checked over-the-road drivers are getting paid by the mile if it’s a safe you parked a truck to save your CDL because of the end of the day you still went to that company with a CDL and you go home with one and nobody is hurt and you go home safe
Dave says
Swift you have been in trouble since day one and still in trouble if you didn’t learn you ain’t going to learn your some of the sickest people that I know it’s all about that green yellow going to get pushed but your drivers have to go home safe and everybody else on the road have to go home safe that’s more important than moving your load just like every company say Safety First or was that a lie
John says
My older brother told me when I first got my cdl “YOU DRIVE THE TRUCK, THEY DON’T “. I never forgot that.
Joe says
I chain if needed, could care less about being on time
Larry Watson says
So if you don’t care about being on time, you chain just for the fun of it?
Mark says
The remark by Quast seems to infer that your driver leader can actually be reached. Me Quast needs to get out there and see what its like to deliver some loads. I was never able to reach my driver leader when I wanted to. Communication in that respect was definitely a one-way street.
7th Gear says
I love my job if you’re a trucker it’s always entertainment listening to drivers debate just do what you feel & be safe we all have family.
Runner says
Chain for mountain passes when needed not to run the interstates for hundreds of miles.
Sami says
With Swift’s history. Their trucks need chains 24 hours a 7 days a week
Joe says
I chain when needed, I dont sit unless road closed, never been in a wreck.
I make way more than you crybaby, excuse makers
Bullfrogg says
Spit out a number big boy. You keep talking smack about how much you make. You probably get paid by the hour driving your boss man’s day cab.
Jigga says
See its greedy mofos like Joe that allow these pencil pushers behind a desk to make all these new rules and regulations for the drivers. No wonder this profession has continued to get worse over the years. If u want to risk ur life for ur boss (owner) so he/she looks good while u still make the least amount of the pot ur the fool. It just makes it harder for the rest of us independent thinkers who cherish our families and our lives over money and ego.
Charles Stevens says
If you ever have a dispatcher tell you to do ANYTHING unsafe, just say sure, let me clear that with safety, and their tune will change very quickly.
James Jonas says
The system needs to change on how driver managers are paid. Until there pay is not based on driver miles this bs will not stop. Every contract has a weather provision. There is only one reason they push you, more money in there pocket. There will be managers out there that will say we have always done it this way. Well we used to own slaves, thank god that ended.
Karl says
Well said
Samiullah Henderson says
Amen.
Douglas Kirk says
Mileage pay isn’t the issue, moron. Never has been
rob says
Dougie gets a kick back for speaking for the billionaire owners, so never mind his filthy mouth and mind.
Douglas Kirk says
You have an overactive imagination, Little Boy Robbie. I’m not a billionaire, and I only speak for myself
Bad Inflience says
I don’t know what the big deal is, chaining up when you get caught in a mandatory chain up situation to get to next safe place to park is no big deal. In 38 years of driving I think I’ve chained up maybe a dozen times to get somewhere to wait it out. Most of my chaining was done going through Truckee,CA to get to Reno,NV. Experienced or not snow chains are no guarantee that you won’t end up in an accident. Play it safe no need to push it, freight isn’t worth your life or anyone else’s.
waynesworld says
I’ll only chain to move from a location that I parked to be safe to get to a actual parking spot, I refuse to chain to drive in bad weather don’t care who thinks what or if I’m a rookie of 21yrs lmao, now for the best I’m very entertained by these comments on punctuation which almost got me distracted from the damn actual purpose of this article which was about safety in bad weather lmfao smh
Sandford Hall says
A good trucking company that is really looking out for the driver would have said if its unsafe do not drive because your safety is first. If you do not hear that I would be looking for another company to work for.
Tommy Molnar says
Spent over 20 years chaining in the Sierra’s. It’s no fun, but it makes travel possible. I would just stop, bundle up, get out, hang the iron, and take off. Never did much more then 25 mph. Pulled doubles all over the west during the winter and never had any trouble with that. The company paid me to chain up, and paid me to UN-chain. I never bad mouthed anyone who didn’t want to chain and just stay put. MY company expected me to chain up, and I did. What I DID know was that once the weather got that bad it was no longer a question of making it on time. It was a question of just MAKING IT.
Larry Watson says
Good comment from a seasoned driver.
Chowhound says
I’ve been driving 21yrs all otr. I’ve only chained 2x. Once to get the experience under my belt and 2nd trying to get to the truck stops nr Battle Mountain Nevada on 80. They turned the lights on just after I passed the turnaround. Didn’t have any problems. Just my gloves was weak LOL!
Hazmat Trucker says
All great stuff, especially the English grammar and punctuation comments!
Kudos to the safer posters and comments to encourage the new drivers. A bit of history…
Once on haul at night up California 299 (EB) during the winter, the highway disappeared completely, fully under a blanket of newly fallen snow. All I could see were the telephone poles, so I kept her between the poles all the way. Had to pu a load of sticks at a mill in Alturas. Pretty tough going back then (1980s), but I safely arrived, got a load on, tied her down and headed for Stockton railyard. During the ride in, there were hundreds of trucks parked, I used no chains, just controlled driving, thankfully I made it.
Jason Turner says
Pat on the back….what’s your point?
Less vehicles on the road and it was safer. You just made the point. It’s NOT what you can do. It’s what the four wheeler spinning out of control will do to YOU.
Cris Cannon says
PTL is also notorious for threatening their drivers if they won’t drive with no time left or refuse to pull unsafe equipment that will not pass a DOT inspection. I have screen shots of these messages from the Qualcomm if someone has heartburn over this comment. Bring it.
Seamus O’Lynch says
If you’re in an area where drivers are doing 70 in blinding snow, chains won’t help. That 50 car pileup is just minutes away.
Terry Barron says
In my 25 years of driving out of Reno and Portland and Medford Oregon, if the road is open we had to go!!! Many times we get half way out and the road would be shut down and we would end up on the side of the road for days!! LTL trucking sucks with a two Axel piece of crap With no sleeper and with the engine with a two minute shut down at idle.
Larry Watson says
As a former Estes driver, I know exactly what you are talking about! Crap is an understatement!
John says
I worked at swift just nice to see it has not changed they told me “your under a Costco load it can’t be late they charge us $1000.00 per hour get your chains on and over donnerpass”. Hours later I called back they closed the pass multi car pile up pass shut down.
royce says
I wouldn’t even really be offended by that dispatcher message. I know my capacity and limits. You could send any number of messages to me and eventually the sound button on the Qualcomm is getting turned off. But then, I don’t work for lunatics. Lol, I generally am still evaluating my odds on safe delivery well after dispatch has thrown in the towel. I have to admit though last winter was a whopper of a snowfall. It seemed like danger lurked around every curve or hill and the snow just didn’t seem to stop. I thought maybe it wasn’t going to end! This year, I have played hooky. I’m not going to work until 2020. 2 months maybe 3 months of cold and snow is enough!! I started to lose track of all the seat cushion moments last year. And to top it off, Donald Trump kicked me right in the balls for my effort. No thanks!
MT Pockets says
The Grammar Police are lurking here, and no, they’re not a boy band.
Welcome all the Einsteins here as well, no relation to Epstein, and no, he didn’t kill himself.
You can have 88 yrs experience and millions of miles OTR like I do, but if you got short-changed in the common-sense dept you’re in for a rude awakening eventually. Ive chained up many times on Donner Pass, the 3 Sisters, and others, but that was yrs ago & those were different times. Back then you had professional drivers out here & I never worried about other drivers back then. Nowadays, it’s a whole different animal out there & I trust NO ONE behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, much less a 4-wheeler. Waaayy to many fools on the roads in good weather & bad weather playing on their damn phones while they’re driving. Unless Im carrying a heart transplant & the roads/weather suck, I’m parking. They’ll get their load whenever I get there & there’s not a damn thing they can do about it because I’m the captain of the ship(ment) and Im not going to drive or chain up because some desk jockey looking at a computer screen says otherwise or ‘I’ll be in really, really big trouble’. Use some common sense sheeple With the breed of drivers out here now, I’m nervous in good weather being on the same roads & docks as some of these cementheads. So, mark me down in the no-chain-no-drive column when the weather gets that bad. Not bad using one finger typing this, with my other hand behind my back WHILE IM DRIVING on the Loop in Chitcago! High five!
PS. I climbed out of the truck last year and don’t miss the madness one single second. Seasons Greetings to all the pro’s out there amongst the fools, stay safe, keep it between the ditches & keep the shiny side up. It’s almost 4pm Fri, I think I’ll have a Bloody Mary & toast to you small percentage of drivers left who know what the hell they’re doing out there. Cheers \_/
JoeB says
If the busses are rolling we have to roll too. 25yrs chained one time a few years ago on Donner. When I was regular freight, Id wait it out. To each his own.
Samiullah Henderson says
In 7 years of driving, I have never chained up. My trainer said if you have to chain up, that means you shouldn’t be driving. The roads are not safe for you to drive on. It is common sense. I have never risked my load to deliver or pick up a load and I never will. I have had to have some choice words for dispatchers and so called driver leaders who sit behind a desk all day.
Larry Watson says
Yes, You could save a family member’s life or your own. Is that really what life is all about? Good man! Freight? lol. Nobody will die if it is late, and nobody has died because it’s late.
Douglas Kirk says
Chains are not inherently unsafe. Typically, they aren’t needed for hundreds of miles. Not chaining for 7 years just means you chickened out; doesn’t make you superior in any way
Jigga says
And just because u didnt chain dont make u a coward either it shows people still use intuition and common sense. So whats ur point?
rob says
Our best friend Dougie is a mountain man with huge testes. I hear Paul Bunyan once fouled his pants in chance encounter with Dougie as Dougie’s amazing masculinity makes every man feel like a natural woman.
Alfred Birk Adams says
The driver leader was right,his original message was accurate,I drove for 45 years in all conditions and unless the road was blocked or closed you chained up and keep moving,it’s called being a professional.
Larry says
Wow. I hate putting on chains. But sometimes they are needed. If I can’t safely go 45mph. I feel I am better finding a place to wait it out. (Assuming destination not 50 miles or less)
It depends on conditions, anticipated future conditions, type of load… If 5mph is top speed, I want to park. (Unless it’s a very shot area, with better conditions close by)
I drove a interstate @55-65. I got on highway 30 was IMO top safe speed. But only 15 miles, no chains, no big hills… I didn’t agree with Swift report mentioned here. But you do have to encourage folks to go beyond comfort zone.
70f, clear, dry roads, light traffic, wide loading docks with lights, clearly marked, painted lines…. Anyone could drive a truck.
Harrison says
I run the Midwest for 13 yrs. My brother run nearly 40, he told me he had chains never used them. If it’s that bad stay off the road so the plows could do there job. I agree no load is worth taking a chance of killing yourself or maybe a lot of other people! Call me wuss or what ever you want but I am alive and didn’ t hurt anyone else.
Slipper says
This isn’t just swift all the mega carriers have driver’s so scared of losing their jobs. They’ll drive until they end up in an accident. They’ll end up in the unemployment line and a new guy will replace that seat by the days end.
Gunsmoke says
For Pete’s sake. No one is and idiot for choosing to drive with chains on, assuming they’ve been trained (like those of us who live and drive in mountainous regions).
No one is a coward for choosing to wait out inclement weather while others choose to press on.
The only fools are those who don’t know what they’re doing. Unless we’re going to start telling the plow drivers they’re foolish for plowing the roads, WITH THEIR CHAINS ON, too.
Don’t judge me for knowing how to safely handle the snow, chained, as I don’t judge those who’d rather be at a truck stop and in their bunk.
Common Sense says
I’m trying to understand why the drivers claiming they do this or have done that are making comments. What ever the situation was you did it because you wanted too. All situation are different. You’re going to mislead some young driver/s with this non-trophy bs and cost him/her their lives. There’s nothing scientific about trucking. If it’s bad weather get to a safe haven. There’s nothing behind you that’s worth a life. Driver/Veteran/exRanger
Gunsmoke says
“No one is [AN]…”, for those concerned about spelling mistakes.
Jim__N says
I have been a driver for over 30 years and have only chained twice only to get off the road. That was with in the last 10 years. I have driven through 2 hurricanes several blizzards and 1 fire storm Just to mention a few. I was a heavy hauler so some of that involved permit loads . As I get older I realize how foolish I was. I have the bragging rights but I am also lucky to be alive.I have the experience to say I don’t recommend anybody do what I have done . Don’t let your macho supper truck attitude put your ass on the line. Companies will find a way to encourage you then cast you aside when you become old broke and worn out.
Adam says
It should be up to the driver to determine if he or she feels safe to proceed. I’ve been driving the lower 48 states with 50% of it in the upper plains, Rockies and PNW for over 20 years and have never stopped unless the roads were shut down or I just got tired and wanted to sleep. Chained up hundreds of times and actually feel 10 times safer with the chains on. But I don’t agree with the dispatcher forcing anybody to drive in what they don’t think is safe.
Daniel says
I’m a relatively new driver. A couple nights ago, it was snowing and even when I was empty, I had zero tire slip, skid, slide; no traction control or ABS interruptions – absolutely no drama and I was only losing 2-3 minutes over 30 back and forth. I could have pushed even harder, but I wasn’t losing anything to warrant being a knob.
I would love to have chains, but I don’t feel like I need them on the road. I need them in our yards when chit is frozen to the ground. 😉
Adam says
I don’t want to tell you anything that will get you in trouble with your company, but a set of chains will save you a lot of time and frustration even if you just need them to get in and out of lot. Once you run them for awhile, you’ll learn to put them on and remove them quickly and you’ll never need bungees once you learn to do them correctly. As far as driving in snow and ice, just take it easy. The transition between dry, wet, ice and snow is the worst time that catches most people off guard so pay attention and don’t be in a rush to be number one. In years of driving the back roads of the Rockies and upper plains, I can honestly say that a lot of times I’ll still run 60-70 mph on snow packed roads especially if the temps are below 15F and there’s no other traffic around, but the times I’ve slipped and almost lost it, were always during the transition and being caught off guard. Although most people don’t use them as much anymore, and if you’re running back roads you may not see anybody for hours, but still a CB can still be useful during the winter. A lot of times guys will give a heads up long before you hit the nasty roads so you can be prepared and focused for the transition. If you’re driving Van or Reefer, be really careful with side winds. Snow ruts are another problem and in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming the wind frequently causes white outs but that can happen anywhere. Good luck be safe.
raymond m atkinson says
mmmmmy dispatchers were always smart enough not to put it in writing, at least, lol.
Tom says
That’s why I no longer work for these 3rd party companies! These idiots who try to get you to run on chains….. OK!! PAY ME!!!! No pay, No move!! I could care less about the load being late.
Douglas Kirk says
3rd party company? There are always 3 parties to moving freight: shipper, truck, and receiver. If you meant something else you should work on your communication skills
rob says
Well Dougie you can never improve on your flawless intellect. It must be a burden to be so amazing and have to lower yourself to our level just to say how fu**ing great you are and how much a He-man you let on. I know you are just covering for your inadequacies at home with your wife. Its ok, I hear there are pills now Dougie.
Douglas Kirk says
You must have an enormous amount of self-loathing, Little Boy Robbie…..
It kills you to see that there are people out here who know whereof they speak, and have the experience to back up our statements.
Now, tell me why you have such a hard-on for me…..please
Steve says
So now they’re calling Dispatchers “driver leaders”? They keep changing their name for some unknown reason.
Daniel says
Yeah, I get feeling they want to make drivers feel like dispatchers are their superiors. I don’t care what you call them – they’re my teammate, not my manager. We work in tandem – pun intended. 😛
Alex c says
I thought they were driver coordinators, dispatch is passe
Larry Watson says
Never forget that most, and I say most of the dispatchers have never driven much out of route from their home to the yard. They might have some bullstuff degree that has nothing to do with the real world or trucking, or anything else for that matter, but I guess thats all that matters in this world.
butters says
Damn, when did truck drivers get so sensative?
Daniel says
Millennials.
John says
I personally don’t have any issues with chaining-up and driving. It’s really not that difficult. But if you are one of those soft, lazy drivers that confuse driving safe with driving scared…then yes, stay off the road.
Daniel says
They’re not wrong. Late loads lose contracts. Just ignore silly comments. If every stupid thing management and dispatch said to me was taken literally, I’d be upside-down in the top of a tree. Any time I receive instruction or someone quotes a stupid policy, I just ignore them and do it the right way. Stupid rules are meant to be broken.
If ever something goes wrong or I receive a violation for what I’m doing, I accept full responsibility. On the other hand, when someone tells me not do something that makes sense or to take a trailer combination that is wrong and puts me over-length or overweight, I do it right and know I’m doing what’s right, regardless of what they think.
Just ignore what does not make sense, but don’t ignore the point they’re making. Get your chit together and plan for weather so you can make your deliveries on time.
Kelly says
But way late unloads and loads do nothing to the contract right??? One sided only works for one side Daniel.
Douglas Kirk says
Anybody that’s afraid to use chains shouldn’t be driving. Period. Ever notice how CA, OR, WA, CO, UT, WY, etc mandate chains at times? Do you think they would if they were a hazard?
Chains aren’t the problem. Snow isn’t the problem. It’s drivers who have no skills, then panic the first time they see a cloud in the sky
Jigga says
So thats even more reason drivers should just pull over if it feels unsafe. Not just for their safety but the safety of others as well.
Sheriff John says
Wow! I had no idea I was in the presence of all of these “Super Truckers!” No one should drive outside their ability/experience. Period! Rain, snow, ice, fog, etc…If you choose to drive with chains, good for you. If you choose not to, good for you. However, the trash talkers on this thread who have spoken the loudest, probably have the biggest driving issues. ‘Nuff said
Kelly says
Bravo!!!!
Steve Hughart says
Swift you better get them chans on that truck and get rolling
Kelly says
This job is sooooo easy sitting in a warm office at a computer screen. Hate this F*#*ING industry!!! Out in January! HALLELUJAH!!! 11 years is enough!! Good drivers w/common sense be safe and God bless! Super-trucker who uses his macho tone to cover that they are ‘balls less ‘ when it comes to taking a stand against management………..you are the future……and ya’ll deserve each other. Ciao
Ether Bawny says
So typical a come back..”Oh we didnt mean drive unsafely” Yes they did mean that exactly. Many drivers who refuse find themselves starved out of their jobs for failing to understand the SAY one thing but MEAN another language. If a murderer tried that tactic theyd be indicted. Swift owned Central Refridgerated and that was a common practice. What Swift was really saying is they had a new dispatcher who hadnt learned how to speak the double talk. He was a newby just saying the truth. Its a method that our nation has allowed and averted its eyes to the truth. A method that has been a fundamental scape goat for companies that have mauled the trucking industry with trickery. Pretty much a practice by all the dishonest and dubious companies that have dragged the entire trucking industry into the gutters.
Bill says
The entire country, if not the world!
Timothy Jones says
Ditto!
Bill says
5 mph at 40 CPM = $2 an hour. How is that worth even thinking about doing, even if there were NO risk?
Cherokee says
Fortunately I’ve never needed to put chains on anything other than a yard tractor to clear the driveway. There’s been a few times I’ve thought seriously about slinging iron but got out of the weather before I found a safe place to chain up. I’ve been pretty lucky for the past 25 yrs. I’ll never allow a desk jocky to tell me whats safe.
Younus Chowhan says
Don’t worry if driver get hurt or die all company consider a new driver. All these people Setting inside to give order.
Just do it.driver
James D. Smith says
What is the point of changing for 30 to 45 minutes to drive 30 or 40 miles at 25 mph in road conditions that are dangerous to require them? No load is worth your life period…my rule is if the road requires you to use chains you should not be driving though it but getting out to find a safe place to park.
Jim Getten says
Today’s truck drivers can’t operate on snow and ice because they haven’t been trained to. Swift is notorious for running the new people through a limited training course and then sending them out with ‘trainers’ who have only been on the road about six months. They reap what they sow.
Steve says
Chains are ornamental objects, time to chain time to stop.
Kev says
I wish MN would allow chains. Sucks driving in blizzard conditions without chains. Around here if you dont drive in snow you would be out of work for 6 months a year.
Drifter says
Bottom line, chain up for a few miles or sit a couple days. Your choice. If you feel confident, go for it. If not, park and let dispatch know. YOUR there, dispatch is not.
Jeff says
C,mon Ppl put some Iron on the concrete. We had to put them on Thanksgiving weekend in Redding California/Oregon border.Do company drivers get paid to chain up?? Been driving for myself since 98,,Chain’s have always been part of the job. I didn’t realize it was such a hot button.Stay safe
Snookfish says
32 years experience here and I must say I’ve heard a lot of thataboy’s and a lot of what the hell was you thinking. One will say you should have the other would say you shouldn’t have. I say when I’m driving a truck if I own it or someone else I don’t care if it’s a 5 truck company or a 5000 truck company if I feel safe to do it I will if I don’t feel safe I won’t. I do my job Well enough to not give A dam what dispatch or other drivers have to say if I decide to set a storm out I’ll set it out if I hear static about it when I get back to the office I will hand them the keys and walk away there is no problem finding a driver job if it’s another driver and he pressure’s you into doing something you have done told yourself not to then you probably shouldn’t be driving anyway.
Ether Bawny says
Agree and its a decision process using your own judgement and most definitely has nothing to do with some illusion of mastery behind the wheel. Its simple intelligent judgement.. Ive driven in tons of massive storms and extremely dangerous icy condition with and without chains. I made the decisions one way or the other.
Mario says
Fire the guy how many more things he is telling drivers to do when you can’t in person ,he got busted here that’s why too many accidents out there let’s be safe for the next person
bruce says
If any of those drivers were stupid enough to put chains on those tires then they deserved the consequences they got. I used to work for Swift out of Jonestown, Pa and this does not shock me at all. You have no idea how that terminal dogged around new drivers and that is also the area where the majority of Swift drivers abandon their trucks because Swift will not give them EZPass.
Michelle says
5 mph? Anything under a 50 mph average better be paid hourly wages! Any day a driver can’t average over 50 mph, s/he would be better off flipping burgers.
Sounds like somebody looking for holiday commission was doing so at the expense of those who don’t even get holiday pay.
Phil says
I concur and I’ve plenty of experience in snow and ice too. It’s ok to back it down once in a while due to bad weather, but you work smart not hard. Beware of heros.
george r shelton says
just remember on snow go Slow on Ice No Dice
ron s says
i stopped driving in 1995, too much bs in the trucking industry for me…everyone wants to tell u what to do, where to drive, and allways wanting to give u a ticket if they could…..as for bad weather, i allways pulled over into a truck stop, went to sleep until it was over..its not worth, going 15, 20 mph in bad snow, cannot see good, and could possibly cause serious accident….drive 4 hours at 15mph….totally not worth it..
Mark says
Wtf chains to get out of trouble? Try driving a real mountain grade on the regular. Damn flat-landers.
Mike says
I lived in Alaska for 16 years, in the winter if you didn’t run chains you couldn’t run. Get north of the circle you would be sitting for 4 months if you did not run chains when needed. Properly installed chains you can safely move right along.
Groo says
Everyone that read that message knew the guy was a twerp. Why make a big deal out of it?
ps. I worked for SWIFT for a few months unfortunately. They didn’t think twice about lying to me and didn’t give a crap about my safety. It took them 4 tries to fix my power steering. they told me to “just pop out the lower window to recover an abandoned truck without warning me that it was glass. constantly ran me through residential areas with their outdated crap directions. I told them I was sick and needed to get back, and they gave me the run-around, added delays, and even made me take a piss test while I was dehydrated. 3 days to move me what should have taken less than 1. I was foolish to hang in there that long, but once I got written up for not hitting the brakes while going down hill, BELOW the posted speed limit, it was too much. I gave my notice.
Grim Reaper says
AGAIN!!… Glad to be retired and away from all you steering wheel holders.
I chained when I HAD TOO! An ya know what? I only did it 3 times in 35 years. Now, some clarification : I was not always running west, and I never had to back on the “dirty side”, so stop crying and pull your big boy pants up & get with it
Mark says
Chain up, drive 10 mph for .50 cents a company mile, make $5 an hour. Plus as an added bonus you always have the chance of landing in a ditch. Just park, watch some TV till the salt trucks pass, live another day.
rboan says
Probably an ex super trucker driver forced off the road by to many violations .
rboan says
They were predicting a major winter storm not just a snow event.
Casey says
Tyson Foods works on a points system. They force their local drivers here in Missouri and Arkansas to chain up and keep driving. If you say no they will give you a point as a form of punishment. If you get to many points you could lose your job. They have been reported but not gets done. They have no regard for human life. All they care about is the chickens getting from the farm to the plant no matter how bad the weather
Wvtravlr says
That’s exactly how people get into trouble…hurt themselves or somebody else..
If your not comfortable don’t go…there are other jobs..that probably pay better..
Says the guy with 39 yrs exp.
And never had one in the snowbank..
But I have ruined some underwear..
MW says
Being as though my experience with trucks is varied
I was always taught by the old salts
Toss iron when ya need to
It’s never when ya want to
I’ve chained up in mud, snow , people’s yards on beaches off landing craft.
But
I’ve never been stuck, blown off the road , or tossed down a mountain with chains on.
The job most have is one that most are taught in a classroom.
Some, like myself
Were taught outdoors with practical experience and solid teachers.
It’s only called work
It’s completely voluntary
And
It’s nobody’s job to judge
Keep it real ya pavement princesses
Phil says
I never had that problem with SWIFT pushing us in bad weather. In fact I got the opposite which was a good thing considering all their green drivers. They forced me to shut it down a couple times when I was willing to keep going. I’m a northeast guy and don’t mind the bad weather if I can at least move at some respectable speed. FedEx would have us go out even when the roads were shut down. It’s ridiculous to waste hours crawling down the road at 15 mph. Leave that business to the supertruckers.
Kevin Coble says
Well I have and can thrown iron, but unless I get caught needing them where I can’t park, I won’t use them anymore. There are too many nuts out there that don’t use them and drive, have four wheel drive and think the are invincible and guys that drive to fast with chains on, etc. I’ll park and let the road crews clear the road, and yes even if I was a hundred miles from the house headed home, I would still park. No matter how good you are or think you are, being on the road these days when the roads are bad enough for chains, you are still putting your life and others at risk. It isn’t just about you and your driving.
Charles Eubanks says
agree 100%
Thomas Mason says
A driver’s safety only comes first after someone makes a mistake in the way they word a message. Everyone in the trucking industry should have experience in driving a truck in all weather conditions in every part of the country before being put in charge of telling someone who does drive what to do.
Deek says
It appears that I am working for a great company. Our company owner said ” if you put chains on my truck you’re fired. Park and wait.”
Charles Curtis Eubanks says
Driving on ice is not the issue . Stopping is the issue, chains or not. Speed and following distance are the biggest safety factors. Unloaded you have less traction ; loaded you have less braking power.Chains give you more traction to go up hill, but not much help going down because they get loose and tear up your fenders or break and come off. Remember stopping is the issue but if you loose too much momentum or stop going up hill, you are are probably stuck in the traffic lane so the bottom of the hill is the time to put on the chains.
Mountain Man says
I’ve driven the I 70 core door in between denver and Glenwood springs every day for 10+ years driving a fuel tanker I’ve seen some of the worst storms and accidents. Most truckers and even 4 wheelers have a hard time keeping up with me in a bad storm. I’ve driven it so long they don’t even fase me anymore. This being said when ever we have a new driver I always tell him/her to be safe and go at a speed at which you feel comfortable and if you don’t feel safe then pull over no matter what its not worth your life or anyone else’s I want everyone to be safe out there no matter what condition you are driving in. Most importantly never let anyone else tell you how to drive your own rig just remember that you are in command not your driver manager.
prodriverjim says
Yeah, I ran Donner Pass and Echo summit going into South Lake Tahoe for 15yrs. Chaining up is part of the deal. I hated it, but I allways did it and got my loads delivered. That’s what I was paid to do. When Caltrans said the road was closed, turn the trucks around, ( which only happened to me twice in 15 yrs) I would have an angry CHP officer or Caltrans worker on my running board saying ” Hey! where are YOU going? You have to go up there! people live up there! fuel tankers ( of which I drove.) and grocery trucks have to go! the whole town needs food and fuel, ARE YOU SOME KIND OF IDIOT? ” I would ask why is the highway shut down, and they would say don’t worry, we’ll
pull you out if we have to.
Well, luckily, they never had to, but yeah, if conditions are that bad, and if you don’t have the experience or the training, you should have the right and obligation to protect the lives of others, and not drive in conditions that exceed your skill level.
This is not to knock new drivers, or inexperienced drivers, only an idiot would puff up their chest and say, ” I don’t know what I’m doing, so I’m going to do it anyway.”
As the real drivers say, you can go down the hill too slow as many times as you want. You can go down the hill too fast and come to a quick stop only once.
As for the ‘ driver leader’, yeah they have a job to do too, but the driver in the seat is the ‘ captain of the ship’ so to speak. Their word is law, the truck moves at the drivers discretion, no one else’s. I don’t think that someone who titles themselves as a ‘leader’, is much of one.
I agree with some of the posts that say this ‘driver leader’ ever hung iron, anywhere, and if they saw snow and were told to ‘Hang that iron’,
They’d run away. Allways, Allways, ALLWAYS do what you think is safe. And if anyone tries to argue with you in an office or drivers room, get up out of the chair, look the clown in the eye, and tell them, ” Profits come from loads delivered, not wrecked trucks.” Go out to your truck, safely deliver your loads, collect your pay check. Simple.
Bobbie says
Anyone dumb enough to STAY at not so swift deserves what they get. No problem if your just starting and need a little training but come on man ?!?!?
Brian Van Ausdle says
You get caught running chains in the Northeast you’ll be shut down. Chains are used by off highway ops, milk tankers, loggers, etc chains on the pavement big No, No. now also a State of emergency was issued and travel had been restricted when are the dispatchers going to learn the this isn’t “old school” trucking the law isn’t messing around anymore too many motorists inexperienced in winter driving to include Truckers.
Honeybadger says
Some of you that think you can just “not chain up and sit there” have never been stuck at the edge of a town on a freaking snow packed road with an empty trailer and NO traction to get up the hill and out… The weather was FINE, driving conditions outside the town were FINE. Except the town didnt salt the roads…. So, what do we do? Save a 250$ tow and chained that truck up long enough to get out of town. We even had a police officer help direct traffic around us as we chained up. It’s NOT difficult.