Donner Pass

This is what is on the website. Maybe I am interperating it wrong, but it looks like a set of three rails on each side of the front drivers, a set of singles on each side of the rear drive axle and a set of singles on one tire on each side of the trailer. 8 tires in all.

What chains are required for an "18-wheeler?"


An 18-wheeler (typically a combination consisting of a 3-axle tractor and 2-axle semitrailer, but including other combinations and axle counts) is required to have chains on:


All four tires on the main (usually front) drive axle
The two outside tires on the other (usually rear) drive axle
One tire on each side of the trailer (front or rear axle, or staggered OK)
No chains are required on the steering axle

 

That Is correct. Except when they say minimal, then its a single set on the drives.

 

last year was a mess on cabbage patch. everytime i was lucky to pack a load up to seattle. snoqualmie sucked even worse. least cabbage was mainly packed snow. snoqualmie was usually ice. and some idiots were actually dumb enough to drive up without chains. THUS, literally shutting the road down.

 

oregon, washington, idaho, wyoming and montana also.

last year i got lucky and missed the big storms in flagstaff arizona.

 

the websight says "being screened for maximum chains in possesion. "

is that what you all are calling 8 tires? cuz to me that just interprets as "must carry chains"

it would be nice if google earth still have traffic on the pc software. like they once used too. and even more nice if they were tied into the highway cams.

 

I came over on the west bound side a week ago. Chains required for meecham / cabbage. Over a dozen vehicles crashed, 3 of which were tractor trailers. No problem with chains on. Took awhile to get em on though- mine fit snug on new tires.

 

OK, you drive for USX. USX does not require you to chain. If the chain law is in effect, you send a message to your FM and tell him or her that you are waiting it out. They will reply with "Stay Safe and let me know when you are rolling" You will NEVER get any push back if you say you do not feel safe. In fact, if you choose to chain, anything that happens is going to be on you. Since USX does not require you to chain, if a four wheeler slides into you when you have chains on it will be logged as a preventable accident since you chose to be out there. We run hundreds of Fedex Loads every day and we get no pressure to chain. I have chained and it really is not that hard but my suggestion is, if you drive for US Xpress, never chain.

 

last year we had me and 3 other drivers hauling a load to ellensburg washington. going through cabbage patch in oregon. i delivered my load on monday and picked up my load. went to some town in southern colorado close to new mexico. then deadheaded up the backroads to gypsum colorado (which is on top of the two passes on the 70) picked up for boise idaho. and parked in the yard on friday becuase of a really big storm brewing in idaho.

the other 3 drivers. waited for the chain law to lift. and delivered there load just in time for close on friday. they spent the weekend in washington. picked up there load on monday. and sat in oregon AGAIN waiting for the chains to lift which was wednseday.

so i got in and out BEFORE the really big storm hit. made some kind of money and was home for the weekend. the other 3 drivers basically spent 10 days between oregon, washington, and oregon again. drove a total of 400 miles. and missed there weekly hometime.

something to think about. work or a take an unplanned vacation.