A New Concern Hit Me Today.

Being that I started driving in may and and waiting on my own truck this florida boy is really nervous about winter lol. My trainer said he never uses his chains that of the weathers bad enough he's gonna use em it's bad enough that he'll stop. How accurate is this? Also other than "when the wheels spin" how do you know when of you are going to need to chain up?

A lot of drivers won't drive if they have to chain. This will be my second winter, and I don't want to do it in a big truck - and I grew up in western Iowa where there's a lot of snow and ice. I might chain up this winter though, if it makes sense in the circumstances. But I might just decide to park it. No load is worth my life or someone else's.

The biggest clue you might get that it's time to chain up is as you're heading up a mountain pass or across the High Plains and the lights are flashing that the chain law is in effect. If it's really bad, the gates will come down and you'll have to exit the interstate.

Oh, wait, you're not on an interstate? It's snowing and blowing and the trailer is slipping and sliding? Pull over and remind yourself that next time you'll study the forecast and traffic cams and every other bit of information you can get about conditions on your route. That's the best answer I know - plan your route to avoid the weather whenever possible.