Snow chains

Most companies wont force you to chain up, although in places like CO, if you get caught in a freak storm, you can only stop for 45 min to chain up, you cant wait out the storm. DOT may force you to chain up and go regardless of what KLLM says. Im not a KLLM driver but I have never seen a KLLM driver chained up out west. Many companies, (probaly including KLLM) say chain up to get out of trouble, but not to get into it. Call your safety department and i'm sure they can answer it for you.

 

It should be a gut feeling, if you need to chain up to get out of it then do it, But I have a Policy of "What are Snow Chains"? But that is just me! Thanks.

 

Remeber that chains are to get you to s
A Safe harbor not to get you all the way to your destination. Tell that to your DM if there is any issue then get in touch with you're safety manager and document on your equal com. Communication is the key word here.

 

I always think that if the weather is bad enough to require chains...it is bad enough to drive at all. It will be up to the company, but with tougher DOT/FMCSA laws and fines almost any mega-carrier won't force you to use them, but by law in certain states you will have to carry them with you and most companies have "chain banks" in strategic parts of the country where drivers can pick them up. I personally have never used them nor carried them in the truck. However at one point I shut down near Dodge City, Kansas due to severe winds with light snow. My trailer was empty and it was a risk to go drop it at the shipper which was 7.5mi away from my location. The safety person asked me to go drop the trailer anyway and bobtail back. My response was "If it is too dangerous to drive the trailer empty under this weather...What make you think it will be safer to drive it bobtail under the same conditions?" that was the end of the conversation...Always do what you think it's safe, remember that no load it's worth your life or that of innocent travelers.

 

It is not up to the company, it is up to you. Its always up to you. If you get fired for not running in bad weather im sure there are tons more that will hire you because they see ur a safe driver.

Who cares what KKLM's policy is...you do what you the driver think is safe.

 

First, they are called "tire" chains.
Second, they are typically only used for a few miles at a time to go up a steep grade. You can drive on most snow covered roads just fine without chains just fine, provided you use care and provided there is not too much traffic that would cause problems.

Tire chains are not for driving a 700 mile day. Also, keep your speed below 25 with them on.

You'll find yourself with the option to chain up for 10 miles to get over a pass and continue on the rest of your trip without chains, versus playing "the I don't chain" game and having to sit for 4 to 5 days until the road is clear of snow. I know what I will do.

 

Yea, what rocky road said spot on!