CHAINING...are you ready?

Well...the comment about shutting down instead of chaining to get through the bad part....many companies are having their drivers do just that, shut down, then deliver on a new schedule. One could take that decision two ways:
1. The company does not trust their drivers to maintain their rigs/loads under such conditions.
2. The company knows their drivers have little or no experience in the bad conditions...it's easier to have them wait, than to teach them how to manage the conditions.

Either way...it shows that so many drivers aren't the "professionals" they claim to be. A "professional" learns to adapt to all conditions, and to find the way to get the freight delivered on time and safely along with completely intact.

To J. Michael...have you ever tried to drive with chains...have ever tried to throw iron? Chains don't do you any good on ice...but snow is another thing. My "distance record" running on iron was from Spokane, WA...ID, MT, ND, MN, WI, and we took them off just before Chicago. Most of the trip was actually at better than 55 mph...snow pack was perfect, temp was cold enough to offer steer traction, and the other 10 or so trucks were all capable hands with both their driving and their communication on the CB...fantastic trip....oh yes...my student loved every minute after the first hour when she found out it was good to go.

But, bottom line....it is fine with me if you guys/gals want to wait out the storm and the chains.....that leaves the hill open for myself and the other "professional" truckers....we only have to dodge the idiot 4 wheelers making their "new adventure" in the snow!

 

You forgot...coming and going...and sideways!

 

Actually...your #3 in my opinion is within my #1! Risk and trust aren't that different...from the consideration and decision process from behind a desk.

Yes...even the good and experienced drivers can become involved in situations that they just simply have no control over. That is why there are two types of "accidents"...preventable and non-preventable. Certainly anyone can place "preventable" on any situation...by taking the position of "you could have left 15 minutes earlier or later"...but we as drivers know this is the BS-CS stance, and is exactly that BS and CS!

Taking out another truck and road blockage...well that comes right back to experience, and getting experience, to understand that in these wintery/stormy conditions...additional attention to all of your "compass points" is critical. The good driver, no matter the experience level, understands, and allows for, increased safety separation and decreased speed in these conditions.

I would take this policy as an incentive to NOT GO...not necessarily a complete declaration that the driver needs to make a decision. Why go if you are going to get paid? Even though the chain zone will only last for 45 minutes to a little over an hour....total time including chaining on and off.

Snow I agree...ice...even I don't play with, not when I have forewarning of it being there.