Washington Chain Law

Chains are required on all vehicles over 10,000 lbs. Must carry two extra also.

 

WSDOT - Chain requirement for commercial vehicles

 

Failing to carry chains will cost drivers $124. When highway advisories call for chains, drivers who don't chain up will face a $500 penalty.

 

Chains with you. 4 for the tractor, Or even 8 if you run duals, plus a spare and two for the trailer far rear axle outside tire. And a spare.

Ready at a moment's notice during Chain Season out west anywhere between October 15 to April 15. Cables, socks and anything else are not chain.

Just remember, if you are throwing chain winter conditions are so tough that they are not a gaurantee. You would be better off parked.

 

Had trooper tell 5 of us to go to next town or rest area. He said you got chains get out of here or calling wrecker at our expense. He said they need roads clear to plow correctly.

 

Unless you happen to drive for a "chain and go" company.

 

Thats just the thing. In the east there is nothing for chain. Its always barefoot and boss had the attitude was simply I hired you to drive. Stop complaining and get going, making me late again... etc etc etc.

I should have gone west a long time ago. But eh... such as it was.

Later on going west I did not have too much of anything on that truck. The most it would be was a set of cable chain which really just sat and rusted on that stack post. Much good they would be if that big FLD 120 lost her footing. (She didnt.)

IF you look closely to the ice below, you can see the existing damage from chain ahead of us... the black car was speeding at 70+ and lost it passing us near Sheridan WY about 1998 they buried themselves in the drifts to the right.

 

You don’t need 8, 4 drive tires and a drag chain for the trailer. Plus a spare chain. That’s all they require to carry. I had a set of 3 railers and a set of singles and never got bothered for the 10 years I ran out there exclusively. If you have them hanging on your truck or trailer where they can see them you won’t get bothered about them.

 

f) All vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) must carry a minimum of two extra chains for use in the event that road conditions require the use of more chains or in the event that chains in use are broken or otherwise made useless.

 

I’m aware of their law, I’m saying what I carried. From 04 to 11 running the NW exclusively with maxi flat and then again from 17 to mid 18 doing the same thing I was never asked to show what I carried because mine were out in the open.