20 year driver, newbie to snow chains!

I asked my trainer several times to show me how to chain up. For one reason or another he never showed me. No big deal. After I got off the training truck I spent about four hours watching a bunch of you tube videos on chaining. Some of the videos were very good and informative. Then I practiced a few times in the yard. First time I chained up was at the summit of Cabbage Hill Oregon. Took me about two hours to chain the truck up. Got it done and got down cabbage safely.

Lessons I learned.
-Have extra chaining tools and gloves.
-Have a good set of coveralls.
-Layer your clothing. It gets warm when chaining the truck.
-Stay hydrated
-If you use bungie cords get the spider type. I liked these and I kept them in the cab in a plastic tote. That way they stayed pliable. My company reimbursed me for these.
- Some states have different chain laws. Know the laws for each state. If you go into Washington State and do not have enough chains in the truck its an issue.
-Of course drive slow and check the chains for any adjustments that need to be made.
-When driving in conditions that require chains always remember to check your tires very good during post trip and pre trip inspections. Your tires especially the trailer tires will pick up busted chain links on the road and will cause flat tires. I found this out the hard way from DOT in Idaho. Live and learn.

Driving in the snow and slush of the NW was not to bad once I got used to it. However if the roads got covered in ice or blowing snow like in Wyoming I would stop at the first safe haven and notify my dispatch I was shutting down. Its up to the driver. The bottom of Cabbage Hill is like a graveyard for flipped over trucks in the winter. I saw one truck where the cab was in the Columbia River and the trailer was sticking straight up in the air like a tombstone. I did not want to be one of those guys. Drive slow and stay safe.

 

Don’t recall anyone ever asking how to hang chains. I have only used chains if they are mandated on certain seasonal ice roads. Usually early season when contractor is still watering road to build up ice.
Chains not allowed on highways in Ontario

 

Good advice-how often do you have to chain up?

 

Snowqualamie and Donner are key passes that endure storms that can frequently last 2-3 days and only have 2-3 days of clear weather before the next storm blows in.

It's not unheard of on these two to have to chain headed west then unload and reload and have to chain headed back east.

But it's mostly a matter of dispatch and timing [luck or misfortune] for the national OTR drivers and how wet and cold a given winter season is in a given region.

BTW last I heard, the PacNW was expected to have a wetter and colder than normal 17-18 winter season according to long range forecasting models.

Last season Donner must have had commercial chain restrictions or closures up 1 out of every 3 or 4 days but I was lucky and didn't have to run much 80 last season.

Oregon I-84 is also a big problem area from Ontario to Pendleton and not any good options to avoid it.

 

I see you're another victim of our local Native American names for various locations in our state. No biggie, not trying to embarrass anyone. FYI, it's Snoqualmie.

Whenever I speak to a customer service agent from any particular company, they always get stuck on the name of my city (Puyallup). By the time we're done with the pronunciation lesson, they're usually laughing as hard as I am. Maybe I'll start a thread called "Weird names of towns and cities in your state"... hmmm.

 

On Oregon 84 last winter westbound I got stuck at Baker city unable to legally move forward unless chained. They have signs that light up. Everyone on CB was saying don’t even try it with no chains. So I sat, unwilling to get out an do it. Unsure of how. My company doesn’t allow it anyway. Oregon required chains on the entire truck, including the last axel on the trailer. DOT inspecting trucks going down the road so you had to comply. This year I am not going to sit like that again. I am ready.

 

Enumclaw is fun to watch people pronounce too.

 

Are you a local? Just wait until they see some of these...

 

I’m a native Seattlite. Born and raised. I have a wife and home in North Seattle. I’ve been OTR 18 months. Christmas is my next time home again.

 

I was stationed in Washington, try saying some of those names with a southern accent. lol

Pretty state