Chaining Up
Topic 7062 | Page 1
Interstate's policy is kinda vague. If the roads are open, they want you rolling, but only if you as the driver deem it safe to do so. Myself, I look at chaining as something I'll do to get past a trouble spot, but only if the weather has cleared out and it's just residual snow and ice on the road. If there's a major winter storm on my route and the chain law is up, I'm parking the truck and waiting for the storm to blow through. Give the road crews some time to get the salt shakers out and clean the crap off the roads a bit.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
I can tell you, if it's bad enough to chain up its bad enough to sit. I've done chains enough to know they are more trouble then anything.
GTI says to sit if you feel unsafe but if chains go on 20mph max. To me it's not worth the time to put all 6-8 chains on. Our company says on chain per outside tire. 4 out side drives plus 4 outside trailers =8..
Roehl is a no chain company they say if it is bad enough to chain then it is unsafe to operate
Roehl is a no chain company they say if it is bad enough to chain then it is unsafe to operate
I've found in any weather situation, I'd you feel unsafe to drive, whether in snow or high winds, then shutdown tell safe. ..
"a hot load cools off quicker in a ditch. No load is worth your life. "
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Out of idle curiosity (and with a storm getting ready to blowing the NE)...
I know many companies will pretty much say - if you have to chain - DON'T DRIVE.
Also know that many states REQUIRE trucks to at least carry chains - even if you won't/won't drive in chain-up conditions. As many states also have different requirements on WHAT has to be chained (both tires on front drive tandems , versus outside tires only).
Seems like there are as many methods for "throwing iron", as there are rules in states that require them (and all the purdy YouTube vids, show it on a nice dry sunny day - versus having to crouch down in freezing wet weather).
Does you company have a "chains = sit it out" policy? Are you given the option to chain-ip and continue on, or sit it out? WOULD YOU if given the option?
Rick
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated