There’s just something about trucking that you don’t find in other fields.

There’s camaraderie. Some would argue, with validity, that in recent years, that feeling of “us” has dissipated. But there’s still an “us” in the trucking world that an outsider just doesn’t get to see. We’re all out here doing the same job- trucking, flat bedding, car hauling. Essentially, all kinds of truckers are out here traveling, away from our homes and families, and rarely appreciated for what we do. You may hear two truckers arguing on the c. b. radio and threatening to fight, but, as the trucker stories go, those two are likely to get out of their trucks in a rage and wind up headed in to the truck stop restaurant to grab a meal together. Some of the things that make trucking special are our language, our way of acknowledging one another, the code we live by, and our appreciation of common courtesies.
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Tags: Trucking, Flat Bed, Car Haul, Truckers

Winter often means snow-covered and icy roads. Experienced truckers know that the lighter the load, the less traction the tires have. But even trucks hauling heavy loads can lose traction in the snow and ice. That’s why many states will put chain law into effect. Chain law requires truckers to put tire chains on their tires in order to gain more traction. Usually, when chains are required for trucks, cars are also required to use chains or snow tires.

Chain law is publicized by road signs and state road condition portals- websites, road condition hotlines, and the like. You’ll usually only see chain law go into effect on mountain passes, but states can require chains on any roadway that encounters dangerous winter travel conditions.

Some states require that truckers carry the minimum required chains through the winter months, even if they aren’t planning to chain up. Many states may allow cables instead of chains, but most will require truckers to carry chains. Cables are generally frowned on for being less effective.
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Tags: Experienced Truckers, Chain Law, Road Condition, Winter Travel Conditions