CHAINING...are you ready?

Wow. I haven't chained in almost 6 years. I have AutoSocks now. Still new in the bags after 2 years. Chains required? Park it. Storm coming? Go the other direction or around it. Company don't like it? Find a new one.

 

Now I've got a serious mountain Jones.

 

Generally I don't have any choice in the matter, if the road is open, I better be on it, especially the run I was doing this last week where I spent 800+ miles on the crap. Generally, my boss leaves it up to me when it comes to wind, but with snow/ice, I won't drive it, I lose my truck and get back to a city cab.....that ain't happening.

 

Yes, usually at UPS, FedEx, SWIFT, Werner, CRE

 

i guess and some people never wear shoes

 

only when I have to, and even then only on my terms

 

This winter is turning out to be a doozy!!! This is not a bad thing either, even snow and chain laws on I-5 this season. Good times!

 

Here's the scoop on chaining CA style.....(after getting the tech lesson from the formerly known as teenager....smart phones aren't that smart if the user needs to contact a youngster for instructions!)
Stopped in to have a chat with the "powers that be" at Dunsmuir. Told them what we talked about here, that one driver was required to re-install chains from forward drag axle to rear drag axle....Sgt. Hermstad got on the phone right away with Truckee, and Truckee knows which CalTrans "checker" is responsible for the miscommunication and will be schooled about the regs!

Now the regs...don't go completely be the pictures, they could not show an "option of choice" with the shading of tires for chain placement. However, there is on the bottom of the inside fold, first inside page, the statement allowing either non drive axle for application. Evidently (the Sgt's words) staggering of chains is not a part of the program, but, a driver can opt to place chains on the inside tire of a set of duals......after saying this, and pointing at the picture, he just shook his head, and the other two officers started laughing.

Here is the current flyer with regs and applications....can be obtained at any scale (in snow country...Banning says they don't do that stuff!)
http://imgur.com/a/Ay3gM

 

On the third pic...and the second....at the bottom, it shows "acceptable on either axle of semi-trailers".
So...forward or rear axle.....and of course, inside or outside tires.....LOL....no staggering any longer!

 

That's cool we can chain the front axle. That rear one sucks with the mudflaps right next to them.

But, my post was about the staggering that was mentioned.