Question regarding tire chains...

Autocar · Nov 3, 2012

cmc308 said: ↑

I was born and raised in Houston, TX, so, I guess it goes without saying that I am far from qualified to drive in such conditions! I have driven in ice only two times and, well, it was a hairy proposition. Furthermore, it was not in a big boy rig (CMV) either. I hope I don't sound like a complete wimp, but, I am reluctant to drive in those conditions unless absolutely necessary? Now, if I was to move into your area, and eventually grow that skill slowly? I can see where my anxiety would subside a little. However, still living on the gulf coast? I guess I will just get on the trusty Truckers Report and ask all you veterans how to cope and just drive really slow.
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Just one of those things that comes with experience.

cmc308 · Nov 3, 2012

Understood. No shortage of pecans here? I guess I want to make sure that I don't come off as an arrogant chump rookie? I have been around the trucking industry in a non driving support role for approximately 10+ years? Prior to that I drove Fire Trucks and Water Tanker trucks for said fire dept? So, going back the part that matters... CMV support role, I have seen guys who would be working in the yard with me, then 2 weeks later they are behind the wheel of more metal that they have ever seen, flexing their little boy muscles saying they are superman? Follow me on this.. I am all about confidence. But I am also all about respect. I respect weather, large chunks of metal on wheels and women.

cmc308 · Nov 3, 2012

FlexinTarzan said: ↑

Let me see.....the longest time I ran with chains on was from Muskogee,OK to Joplin,MO several years ago. Sure I couldve shut down along the way but going 30mph with chains on is still making a profit versus setting the park brake. At the end-of-the-day it is your responsibility to determine whether you feel safe and have the balls to tell whoever needs to be told what you will be doing. Each driver is differant and snow does not bother me.....its the BLACK ICE !
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Reverend Falstaff said: ↑

Most companies do yes. As they will say the load can always get there, but not if you guess wrong and wreck the equipment (the $$$ consideration you mentioned) by guessing wrong and chaining/going when you should have parked/waited. Most companies who do require chaining up will let you know during the hiring process that unless the roads are closed (that DOES happen sometimes) or very severe weather; you'll be expected to chain up if need be. Ultimately no matter what company you sign on to; the final decision to chain and go, or not is going to be yours to make...the driver has the final say. Because you have the final responsibility...if there's a wreck you'll be the one answering why you decided to go or not. All I do is message the company over the Q-comm that the roads are too bad so am going to shut down until it clears. Usually all they respond with is "Where are you?" then "OK let us know when you're rolling again". They may double check with the state's DOT for the latest weather/road conditions, but ultimately it's a judgment call...your's. It really does come down to what your comfort level is, personally if visibility is less than half a mile or so, or if it's at night, or the roads haven't been cleared in a long time or if I've been driving a long time (fatigue); then I'm shutting it down.

Unless it's clearly stated that you're expected to chain when possible, I simply won't do it. That went for the the other companies I drove for before current one. Your dispatcher/fleet manager/etc. may get annoyed if you're late on a delivery because you wouldn't chain, but they ain't the ones in the truck. And better a load is a day late than having to deal with a wrecked truck.
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Understood. Thank you.

LGarrison · Nov 3, 2012

http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=24359

If you plan to run Washington state you need to read this, has all the info.

cmc308 · Nov 3, 2012

Thank you.... I will study the material.

cmc308 · Nov 3, 2012

Excellent info source! Thank you! I am #### glad I asked this question. I really appreciate all you veterans so much for helping me out. I can't say I'm anxious to go drive in a slushy? But, if I must? I feel like I have at least enough knowledge to sit on the side of the road and think it through and analyze it for a few hours before I make bonehead decision. Its all you veterans that re-enforce the reasons why I want to drive just like my grandfather when he was trucking. Between our military vets and our trucking veterans and our military trucking veterans? There is no reason why any "greenhorn" should not have all the information resource he or she can handle. My hats off to you guys and gals! THANK YOU! This forum is fantastic! I am all ears all the time. Please send any info you can. I will absolutely read it.

snowwy · Nov 3, 2012

cmc308 said: ↑

Thank you.... I will study the material.
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that sucks. now we gotta carry EIGHT CHAINS. sheesh. i need to carry NINE. cuz the trailer is 24 while the truck is 22.

chains really help. no different then driving on dry road. there's realy no excuse for parking the truck and delaying the load.
unless the snow is deep. or it's all ice.

last year. 4 of us went into washington. 3 left on sunday. i left on monday. i chained up. delivered on tuesday. picked up. and went to the bottom of colorado. unloaded on thursday. went into denver. reloaded. chained up and was back in the yard on friday for money deliver in boise,

the other 3 trucks. got there loads delivered just before close on friday. they sat there during that whole storm all week long. and then sat there on sunnyt skies over the weekend waiting to pick up there next load. and of course, sat becuase another storm had rolled in.

for 2 weeks washing and oregon was in chain mode. and they felt the roads were unsafe. becuase they didn't want to chain up.

cmc308 · Nov 3, 2012

Don't get me wrong? I'll chain up? Of course I will! I just wanna make sure I have mentally prepared myself for something I have currently never before tried. I am prepared to face the fact that at some point, I will find myself doing something I have never done before. Sometimes, you get to study and ask questions, sometimes you don't? This is one of those times that I can look back on all my great conversations with you guys and say... I have done my best to seek useful information from veterans and prepare myself as much as possible, as well as study the critical State Law Information I must, in order to be as informed as best as I possibly can? OK, Let's roll. Like I said in an earlier post... I respect. That's all? I'm just a newbie trying to learn... now where's those chains?

LGarrison · Nov 4, 2012

I have never chain my truck or trailer, with no delivery time set for what I do. I can afford to wait until the chain law is lifted. But you can bet I have enought of them to keep the cops out of my pocket.

snowwy · Nov 4, 2012

like i stated, driving with chains is just easy as driving on dry road. only you can't go as fast.

this year i am packing some 4 x 4 wood i can drive the truck on. and lift the outside tires off the ground. i hope to chain up faster. last year sucked as i had low 22 chains for high 22 tires. they worked but was very tight putting on. time consuming.

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