winter driving, little nervous

If your fuel registers ¼, consider it empty.


And the reason I keep that dog fed is to keep the meat fresh.

 

Washington can and has done a chain check during any level inspection if it's in their "chain season"

California is the only state that I have seen do a check point, where all trucks are required to pull in and show at least the minimum requirement on hand. I guess Nevada does it too on their side of I-80 at the border with CA.

 

I second the part about Road Condition phone numbers in the Road Atlas.

Most of the states have some really detailed road condition maps online, with cameras, and sensors. Some states more detailed and high tech than others where you can filter in or out various road conditions. You can start at the state's DOT web page.

I have a specific folder for web links related to weather forcasts and road conditionds for each individual state. This is the time of year I update them, as I have found in the past, the states either improve their systems, or re-orginize their websites.

Here are the two main maps I like to get my weather picture from

http://www.weather.com/maps/news/forecastsummary/floater6_large.html
This one is a 48 hour outlook... It gives you the rain and snow spread over the next 48 hours.

http://www.wunderground.com/severe.asp
This one gives you the current NOAA weather warnings. you can click on the counties and it will give you the watch/warning reports.

 

Oh, last thing... Keeping an eye on traffic from the opposite direction. It can give you a good idea of what kind of winter weather is ahead.

Keep an eye on windshields, grills, and other pieces of equipment for ice and snow buildup. If you dont have any snow and ice, and the guy heading in the opposite direction does, its a good chance you are heading into some winter weather and probably need to check the forecast or road report.

Also, the drives on the tractor will throw snow, salt, and sand in almost a rooster tail fashion on the trailer. You can get a pretty good idea what the roads are like based on the color (level of dryness especially with road salt/sand mix) of how soon you may be entering deteriorating road conditions. If its wet and icy, it might get dicey.. dry and faded, not so jaded.

Of course some trucks may have just come off break and not through any weatheer, so its a good idea to keep an eye out for multiple examples.

Stopping for fuel or breaks at busy truckstops not only give you a chance to check the reports, its a pretty good slice of drivers traveling in either directions. If a guys truck has got some buildup of ice or snow, it might be a good idea to ask him where he came from and how are the road condtions. I garauntee someone will probably ask you the same, if you just came through some weather... or happen to be ahead of it.

 

http://www.safetravelusa.com/ Pretty much a one stop shop for state road condition websites.

 

gravdigr, You have enough info. here to make a book, everyone is a great help. NOW GET-R-DONE.

 

It's been a bit hectic for me the past 5 days or so, but It's great to read all the advice and experience from the seasoned drivers. And as someone suggested, this would be a good thread to be "Sticky'ed" watta ya think Moderators?

I've heard of a many companies who they don't require their drivers to roll if they feel it is "unsafe." Including the use of chains. Heard some say that if you have to use chains then it is unsafe and you should shut down. I'm sure there will be times that it's relatively "safe" to roll even with chains, but I certainly know that it can be a game of Russian Roulette out there on the ice and snow. I'd hate to be one of the carcasses laying on the side of the road or worse!

But like I have mentioned, I will be out with my trainer during this winter so if he is a good teacher and has the experience than I should be alright.

 

heres another one if you do a search for state traffic cameras it can be extremely helpfull
http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp
HINT: if you click the cities button on the top you can hit almost every large city in every state good luck

 

Colorado is Sept 1st til May 31st!!!! I have chained up on Mothers Day in Colorado, twice in 14 yrs.

 

Well out here in the NW if you can't throw iron you may not drive much.
We have so many mountain passes to cross here that sooner or later you'll need to chain up or sit on the side of the highway for ?????????days?
I chained 3 times last Winter so it wasn't too bad but all three times there was little choice,no place handy to go, just the side of the road.
There are a lot of these places that are remote so it's a long way from anywhere and there's no telling how long the snow might last.





No truckstop with a shower and a hot meal here......