What do you do? urgent safety decision....

Should have chained up. Now you are stuck.

 

How steep is the grade? You might get hit coming up the road, but it won't be your fault at least. If someone hits you while you illegally pass FedEx and ends up sliding off the cliff, you're in big trouble. If you can safely make the pass, I think that's the better option, but you pretty much said you can't know beforehand if someone's coming in opposing traffic.

It's a no-win situation.

 

I would stop. I wouldn't be there to start with since I don't have chains. My view is what do I prefer to explain to safety. I don't want to explain that I into an oncoming lane on a prayer. If I go into that lane it's going to be with certainity it's safe to do so.

 

That is one thing I see out here today, few if any of these guys will use the CB radio. When I ran out West, if there was any sign of adverse weather, you can normally see it on oncoming vehicles, I would get on the CB and get reports. Normally, it would be broadcast for miles well before you got to the affected area. Not so anymore. If the reports were bad, I would pull over until I could get more info, or go and prepare to chain up. I have never thrown chains, and I do know how.

And yes, I have been caught in sudden squalls like you describe. I would not pass if I could not see what was WAY ahead. I would stop and get on the CB and let other drivers know what is going on. And if no cell signal, I would ask if someone could notify the authorities when they do get a signal. Back in the day, the CB was the only tool we had, no cell phones, so we all had to work together. And that meant if Bubba had to find a pay phone to alert the cops, that is what Bubba did.

Here is a tip, when running out West, or in areas that may have bad weather, turn the FM off and turn on the CB. Hopefully there is another driver out there that has the commonsense to warn other drivers of the impending doom up ahead. I know, it is rare anymore with all of the steering wheel holders out here. Plenty of YouTube videos out there that prove my point.

 

And this is exactly what part of the problem is today!
Lack of communication, most depend on signs to be their guardian angles when the real hero is the CB which should already be on, and communicating with others. Dry road or slick road, it's your best defense next to common sense.

Me? Most likely I would keep crawling in hopes of moving past the road block... IF, I honestly felt I had the room and the time. But once again, with good communication this may not be as big of a problem.
Y'all be safe out there and Merry Christmas to all of you!!

 

You gotta stop the truck. There are times when everything goes out the window and your life and the lives of others is the only priority. Trying to slalom down an icy mountain road in the oncoming traffic lane is the last option and Id only consider it if there was a four wheeler between my truck and the fedex truck that Im about to hit.

 

D. Pet the unicorn. Call the police and get the reward for that perp stealing that load.

FedEx, pulling TRIPLES, single lane, mountain road, jackknife. No shoulder. Heavy snow.

Has ANYONE ever seen a FedEx pulling triples on a two lane mountain road in the snow? Where is that you see triple trailers? If you see this setup in that area, it has been jacked.