Don't like chains?

Yeah. I'm also afraid of other drivers (any type of vehicle) I've even witnessed police and highway patrol officers losing it and landing off road and getting stuck. I don't want to be on the receiving end of their bumper.

 

yep, the forerunner to this storm has been hitting Colorado since Monday afternoon and wave two is due to hit today. Expecting chain law to be up for the next two or three days on 70.

As my boss put it, if the road is open I expect you to be on it and moving. However, I also expect you to use your best judgement. If your comfortable driving in/on it based on the condition, then go, if your not comfortable, then park. In 14 yrs, I've only had two where I've parked and before hand. One was because I was too fatigued to try it, the second was recently, it was right around dawn, the way the wind was whipping the snow it was hard to see properly, the roads were fine, it was too much wind. Decided to park for an hr to wait it out, then they closed the road.

If I have to chain, I'll chain, doesn't bother me. I consider it a part of the job. If I wanted to drive a desk and stay warm and cozy, I would have gotten an office gig. I knew going into this career that sometimes life was going to be uncomfortable. Oh well, kinda like marriage, I wanted a super model, I got .......................

sorry for your loss, but, your more likely to be killed/injured unloading than you are chaining up. In the last 12 yrs there have been three truckers who've died in Colo. while chaining up. One from a massive heart attack, one was struck by a 4-wheeler while taking his chains off (he was not in the chain down area, the 4-wheeler was cleared), the other slipped and fell.

By comparison, since the beginning of the year, I know at least 5 incidents of truckers being killed while loading/unloading in Colorado. One was crushed by falling frieght from an over loaded forklift. One was hit by a binding chain on a FB that broke loose and almost took his head off. Third was hit by a forklift on a loading dock. The fourth is still under investigation by the state, by I understand it was a cross between a forklift and a broken binder strap.

Wyoming has a mandatory chain law as well, Utah, Montana and Idaho are heading that way.

 

I've yet to need to chain and only had to shut down for 12 hours or so on two separate nights on the same trip. I honestly don't know if I'd chain yet or not, but I know there are some conditions I might and some I won't.

I run team and our team loads usually have way too much time so I'm more likely not to chain. If time is on my side there really is no point.

My company won't force you to run with them but they say if 20 other of our trucks are chaining up through something they won't be happy about you not doing it. They also said they want you to throw the chains first then say you won't go further which makes absolutely no sense to me.

 

Oh i dont doubt that at all Striker.. i was just saying what happened to my good friend and how the car makers have given 4 wheels this false sense that they can drive over their heads..

 

thats one good thing about traveling by roller skates now ( see flos thread)...dont have a chain law!!!! ROTFL

 

in montana we just go over the hill, dont usually worry about chains. but it seems CA, Or, Wa. make you chain and fine you if you dont. i have no problem chaining up if its necessary. my biggest issue with it is, I dont like standing there on the side of a slick road with traffic going past, while im chaining...

 

I chain when reasonable (30-60 miles ok).

Couple of tricks for the newer crowd reading (the oldtimers know these).

I carry a set of rain pants with suspenders.. easy for kneeling down to chain up and stay dry. Also nice for pretrips in really bad weather.

I opened up my 5th wheel puller just a little ( 135 degree angle) and shaped the tip to more of a point. I use it to reach the chain and pull them through (between the tires).

I keep a box of latex gloves on truck. I put them on, then cheap leathers over them. My hands stay dry, therefor warmer.

Anybody else have some tips for the newer guys (including myself!!!)?

 

Left Denver around noon today, heading south... already started snowing, they were expecting 3-4" in the city and not sure if I heard right but 24" in the mtns... After CO. Springs it was pretty clear.

 

Yep duals on the drives and two singles on each trailer.