For those of you who DON'T chain up...

[TruckerChris]

Who do you drive for?

Basically, I despise having to chain up. I don't feel comfortable driving with them on even though everyone says that I will get used to it. I want to run for a couple years with a company that is ok with drivers not chaining up and not giving the driver a service failure for doing so.

Who do you drive for?
Does your company want you to chain up, but your dispatcher let's you sit it out?


So far the only company I know of that wants you to park it if the chain law is in affect is Marten and that's one of the reasons why I want to drive for them.


Big Jeep on 44's and others who chain up, thanks, but don't give me a hard time, it's not for me!

Chris

[Uturn2001]

Every company I have ever driven for has left it up to the driver whether or not to chain up, and most would rather you did not if you have any choice in the matter at all.

The only 2 companies that I have on my work history that hires in your area are Swift and Knight.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Who do you drive for?

Basically, I despise having to chain up. I don't feel comfortable driving with them on even though everyone says that I will get used to it. I want to run for a couple years with a company that is ok with drivers not chaining up and not giving the driver a service failure for doing so.

Who do you drive for?
Does your company want you to chain up, but your dispatcher let's you sit it out?


So far the only company I know of that wants you to park it if the chain law is in affect is Marten and that's one of the reasons why I want to drive for them.


Big Jeep on 44's and others who chain up, thanks, but don't give me a hard time, it's not for me!

Chris

You will find that all the Big carriers like Swift ,Schneider,Werner ,Crete,Knight ,CFI ,Gordon , And so on will not force you to drive if the chain law is up ,and you tell them you feel the roads are unsafe to continue travel by your judgement , Because insisting you drive opens them up to liability issues ...Oh and always use the qualcom for documenting these instances ...But you have to sendf the messages stating you will be sitting due to weather ,and give an updated ETA ...If you just sit ,and don't communicate you situation and reason for delay then you get dinged .

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

[Windwalker]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

I don't know who this company is, but "They're going to charge you $500 for being late because of weather?????"

The difference between a smart driver and an INTELLIGENT driver is:

The smart driver has the knowledge and experience to know how the truck will handle in the weather conditions, what the conditions will allow him to do, and how to get through the bad weather conditions. He knows what he must do to survive the trip and make it to his destination.

The INTELLIGENT driver knows when to quit challenging Mother Nature.


Safety is the drivers call. Dispatch is sitting behind a computer and talking on the phone. It's the driver that's face with the conditions and driving on it. And, the driver is also the one that had better know his own limitations.

Back, before Burlington went bankrupt, I had a load of PHOSPHORUS TRI-CHLORIDE, and North Carolina had their worst snowfall in recorded history. I decided to park it at the Flying J on I-40/85, about 50 miles from the customer. Dispatch wanted me to keep running. I asked them if they wanted to be responsible in case of a mishap. They asked what the UN number was, and I told them. A few minutes later, they told me to do what ever I thought was best. It's corrosive and an inhalation hazard with a 5-mile evacuation area down wind. It MUST BE REMOVED, it can not be washed away. A spill could have cost them from $100,000.00 to well over a couple of million. I mean, add in a "wrongful death" because the fumes would have burned out someone's lungs.

It's not the worst chemical compound out there, but having to watch a 20 minute video on just how dangerous it is before you're allowed to leave the shipper ranks it right up there. When the customer was unloading it, I asked what on earth do they do with this stuff. The guy laughed...

"WE MIX IT WITH ANIMAL FAT AND A FEW OTHER INGREDIENTS, AND SELL IT TO HELENE CURTIS for MOISTURIZER FOR MAKE-UP..... Now picture all the women lining up at the cosmetics counter at Wal-Mart, Penny's, Macy's, and others to put it on their faces..... :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Uturn2001]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

I know they would not be charging me a dime. As soon as they started talking that BS I would have been gone.

[matcat]

That is nuts, I drive for Swift, and a simple 'its not safe' over the qualcomm and you dont have to move.

[COLT]

Sometimes, it's better to stay put. :shock:

4 wheelers on ice....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMzeiMJQrvk

[Skywalker]

"Chains"??? What are "chains"???

We do not chain up. Seems there is a distinct "prohibition" against chains on chemical tankers. Besides...since the tanks are "non-baffled"....chains are virtually "useless"....and would slide right off the road when the first "surge" hit you.

Even when I pulled a box.... "I" was in charge of the truck, and the load was "mine"....if "I" declared the weather to be "unsafe"....the truck got parked. I really could care less about what a "dispatcher" had to say about the load moving. Truly didn't.

I have chained up in the past.... didn't like it, and generally only did it to get to a safe parking place.

[Roadhog]

"WE MIX IT WITH ANIMAL FAT AND A FEW OTHER INGREDIENTS, AND SELL IT TO HELENE CURTIS for MOISTURIZER FOR MAKE-UP..... Now picture all the women lining up at the cosmetics counter at Wal-Mart, Penny's, Macy's, and others to put it on their faces..... :shock: :? :P

That shipment is intended for Northern Michigan. It takes some Industrial grade Jelly to wipe the ugly off these Beasts up here. :?

...of course it don't work. Pumice stones sell out a lot too.

[Sizzle]

I left my company last year looking for the "perfect job". Guess what there isn't one. I decided to go back to my company because I knew that I would get a brand spanking new truck and I did. Along with some of the best benefits in the industry. [Only $150 deductible for Medical.] If I'm going to be out for weeks at a time I need a nice "place" to stay!!! I have terrible asthma and need a truck which is pet dander and smoke free.

The only two companies that I spoke to that said I had to chain were Interstate and May Company. That makes sense since both of them are located in the North West. I guess they wouldn't get their freight in and out without that stipulation.

Although, it's my understanding that once a driver claims that it isn't safe the company is not supposed to force someone to chain and move. I'm sure doing that a few times they'd catch on to your "little ploy"! 8)

[geeshock]

of course he could move to the east cost and stay east. No chaining east.

[Fredog]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

.


so when do you start?

[SilverWulf]

Keep something in mind if you use the 'it's not safe' qualcomm message.

Now, first of all, if it truly isn't safe then you should stop until it is!

If there are chain laws and you just don't feel like chaining, so you decide to take a break and claim it isn't safe here is what your dispatcher is going to be doing...

To start with they will check the internet for the weather in your area, followed by a phone call to that states automated line to check road and travel conditions. Most of the areas where chain laws and bad weather would stop a truck have webcams now, so the dispatcher can pretty easily see what it looks like where you are, or at least very close to you. (yes, not all areas have this)

They will then start watching your companies trucks in your area to see how many are stopped and how many are running. For instance, if you have stopped and they check on all the other trucks and see that most of them are stopped as well you are good. But, if you have stopped and they see that the majority of the fleet is getting through the area ok, you'll get a service failure or worse.

If you really want to run the western states during the winter there are times when chaining makes more sense than stopping. There are many times that throwing iron and getting over the hill will keep you moving, but if you stop you'll be there for a few days waiting. Quite a few hills on major routes have chain laws in effect most of the time during the winter.

It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to chain up the tractor and throw a drag chain on the trailer. Do it right and don't drive like a moron and there won't be any problems.

If I stopped every time a chain law went into effect, or every time I saw a snow flake like some do, I'd be lucky to get 500 miles a week.

My opinion... stop whining, grow a set, and learn what it takes to drive in the winter.

[Lunker]

The only two companies that I spoke to that said I had to chain were Interstate and May Company. That makes sense since both of them are located in the North West. I guess they wouldn't get their freight in and out without that stipulation.

Don't know when you spoke to these companies, but Interstate's policy says it's the driver's decision whether to chain and run or sit and wait it out. They also bragged how since they made it manditory that you chain IF you decide to run in warranted conditions, they've had zero accidents.

[Fredog]

"Chains"??? What are "chains"???

We do not chain up. Seems there is a distinct "prohibition" against chains on chemical tankers. Besides...since the tanks are "non-baffled"....chains are virtually "useless"....and would slide right off the road when the first "surge" hit you.

I never thought of that, but it makes sense, our company doesnt even own any chains. oh gee, what a shame...

Even when I pulled a box.... "I" was in charge of the truck, and the load was "mine"....if "I" declared the weather to be "unsafe"....the truck got parked. I really could care less about what a "dispatcher" had to say about the load moving. Truly didn't.

I have chained up in the past.... didn't like it, and generally only did it to get to a safe parking place.

[carlos64030]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

Uhhhh.... did you quit yet?!!!

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

I know they would not be charging me a dime. As soon as they started talking that BS I would have been gone.

Yep ,but they are a120 truck company who claims to have the driver in mind ...Heck they charged a driver with truck abandonment when he quit , But he dropped the truck off at their terminal...WTF in 2 days of orientation the cops showed up a few times for wage disputes over wrongfully with held wages...after my termination at werner it's harder to get a job ,But this company just gave me the feeling like I could be commiting DAC suicide by working for them ...So run I did.

[Fredog]

I did orientation last week with a company that insists you must chain and run provided the roads are open ,And if you don't and the load is late they will charge you $500.00 for the late to be taken out of your check, And if you should slide off the road oer be involved in an accident they charge you the $1500.00 deductable for their insurance heck if you damage a tire they charge you $500.00 so if I slid on the ice ,and damaged the side wall I just spent $500.00 ...I laughed so hard I almost crapped my pants .

I know they would not be charging me a dime. As soon as they started talking that BS I would have been gone.

Yep ,but they are a120 truck company who claims to have the driver in mind ...Heck they charged a driver with truck abandonment when he quit , But he dropped the truck off at their terminal...WTF in 2 days of orientation the cops showed up a few times for wage disputes over wrongfully with held wages...after my termination at werner it's harder to get a job ,But this company just gave me the feeling like I could be commiting DAC suicide by working for them ...So run I did.

might I ask what happened at Werner?

[Sizzle]

Silverwulf

They will then start watching your companies trucks in your area to see how many are stopped and how many are running. For instance, if you have stopped and they check on all the other trucks and see that most of them are stopped as well you are good. But, if you have stopped and they see that the majority of the fleet is getting through the area ok, you'll get a service failure or worse. Well, first of all let me say that I have NEVER SHUT DOWN IN 40 MONTHS OF DRIVING. The first 21 months as a driver I hauled trucks to Canada for 19 of those months in ice and snow. Sometimes I bobtailed up there. So I'm definitely not the type of person to shut down arbitrarily.

If you really want to run the western states during the winter there are times when chaining makes more sense than stopping. There are many times that throwing iron and getting over the hill will keep you moving, but if you stop you'll be there for a few days waiting. Quite a few hills on major routes have chain laws in effect most of the time during the winter. I have never known any passes to stay closed for days. I live in Colorado-never seen it happen. They are too concerned here about getting the revenue in from the tourists who come skiing. Went over every major mountain pass out west: Donner, Cabbage, Eisenhower, Vail, I-5 through Oregon and Washington, Snoqualmie, etc... Where on earth do they close for days?!? It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to chain up the tractor and throw a drag chain on the trailer. Do it right and don't drive like a moron and there won't be any problems. You must be a much faster chainer than I am. It takes me about 5-10 minutes a tire with the bungies etc...

If I stopped every time a chain law went into effect, or every time I saw a snow flake like some do, I'd be lucky to get 500 miles a week. Wow, you must have been on different passes than I've been on. I have a friend whom/who is headquarterd in Sparks, NV [Reno-for those of you in the Mid West and East]. She diligently watches the weather and plans her trips accordingly. She had to chain for the first time in 8 years last year here in Denver when it had snowed for days. She had to chain to get out of the T.A. on 270. Hence, being stuck for days and driving 500 miles a week? UM... Do you do dedicated over Snoqualmie or what? To my knowledge she has never shut down due to the mountain passes either. UM!!!

My opinion... stop whining, grow a set, and learn what it takes to drive in the winter.Frankly, as a female I don't want to grow any. But thanks for your suggestion.

8)