Tire chains

More than likely what will happen is you will teach yourself. My suggestion, if you carry chains on your truck, take the time to chain up and unchain in your company yard. Just so you know how to do it. You CAN learn to do it, beside the road, in the snow and cold, maybe with traffic passing by way to close - BUT it seems to me like it would be better to LEARN to do it in a dry yard, without traffic and other hassles nearby.

Oh yeah, should a more "experienced" hand start laughing at you, just remember that you are trying to learn something. For YOUR sake, not of his.

 

The school most likely said that because there are different types of chains, different trucks, & different laws for different states. Once you're hired & find out where you'll be running & with what equipment then you'll know more about the chaining process.

Some company's use a chain for each tire & some buy double chains that will cover each dual. I worked for a company that used cables which were legal for where we were but have various limits depending on what state you're in. Then there's the issue of the truck it's self, single drive axle & tandems, different states have different laws pertaining to each.

 

See, even in Illinois I'd chain - at least enough to get the heck off the road someplace safe. Granted, I'd chain less quickly than I would here in Colorado, but I've lived there too, and know there are definitely times when chains are needed, just to get 2 miles down the road.

I am NOT going to stop in the middle of the highway (as I've seen some do)

 

Some states like Colorado require that you have chains on the truck on some roads during certain times of the year. You could have a very clear warm day and if it's within their time frame for chains you could come away with a nice fine. So I would hope that your "usually" is really never since it's you that will pay the fine.

 

I know the states. Most of the time I run strictly east of Denver. Rarely go into Denver. Most freight is Chicago to Texas or Florida in my area.

Sometimes ended up in CA, but mostly run I-40 or 10 if started in Dallas. In the big trucks I never ran north of 40 or west of Denver.

 

I think CO recently changed - if you are driving a rig in CO, you have to have chains. Need to check on that, though

 

The need to carry chains hsn't changed it's between MM 163 to MM 259 only & from Sept 1 to May 31.

The chain law warnings & chain up stations have moved East to the edge of Limon. If the chain law is in effect, you won't be able to proceed unless you're chained up but I see no law that says you have to carry them if there is no chain law in effect at the time other then between the earlier mention MM's.

 

You need to carry chains just in case and CO from Sept 1st to May 31st, it's the law.

 

Well, I should have gone through this whole thread before I posted mine.
A little repetition never hurt anyone though.

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize there were so many different options and different laws dealing with chains.