Driving To The West Coast!?
Topic 1872 | Page 1
The only bump you might hit would be Donner's Pass but if you're heading to LA then you won't be going on 80. So I wouldn't worry about tire chains.
I can't wait to hear your reaction to the speed limit. Haha!
My advice - I hope you'll be ok with not listening to the radio while in LA. The only music playing is either Katy Perry or music you can't understand.
Congrats on that load though!
If you are going through Colorado you better be carrying chains....it's a $500 fine if you don't have them
Well I am a Schneider driver, so I am quite use to sitting in the right lane watching the rest of you drivers zoom by me! lol. I'll have to make sure I have plenty of audio books so I don't have to listen to Katy Perry.
Well I am a Schneider driver, so I am quite use to sitting in the right lane watching the rest of you drivers zoom by me! lol. I'll have to make sure I have plenty of audio books so I don't have to listen to Katy Perry.
Last time I was there I heard her new 'Roar' song 5 times just in the morning. No joke, haha!
Im 8n Cali now about to head to Maine. Gotta love l9ng runs. The only issue I've encountered out here is 5pm traffic on the 15 tonight... that sucked. And I drive for Prime so I see EVERYONE pass me hahaha.
Gratz on the 2800 mile load! That's awesome. But I have a question on the tire chains. Isn't the company supposed to provide the tire chains if you are going to be needing them? If so, would you be picking them up at a terminal close to where a pass is? Just wondering...
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Gratz on the 2800 mile load! That's awesome. But I have a question on the tire chains. Isn't the company supposed to provide the tire chains if you are going to be needing them? If so, would you be picking them up at a terminal close to where a pass is? Just wondering...
Yes the company will be providing them. When you have the chains you keep them on the truck, you don't give them back. It's your responsibility to make sure you have the required amount and you will be picking them up from a terminal. Pick them up first thing don't wait. If you don't have chains you don't move because even though you might not need them yet, you are still required to have them on your truck in most states. The chains you receive you will keep for a long time. My goal this winter is to never chain up. I won't drive if it ever gets that bad. Safety first.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
^^^ Good to know, Daniel. I remember when I was stationed in Medford, OR. We sometimes went to CA for whatever the reason was. But anyway, going over the pass from OR to CA was in snow when it was a pleasant winter day at lower elevations on either side of the pass. I remember seeing chains hanging on the side of trailers where they could easily be accessed. I also remember the 'chain up' areas where the trucks would gather before negotiating the pass.
I am originally from Northern IL and in a 4-wheeler I have no problem driving in snow. As a matter of fact, I would usually make fun of the drivers in more southern states that, for lack of a better word, came to almost a stand-still because of an eighth of an inch of snow on the ground. They just do not know how to drive in the snow.
That being said, once I get in a truck, I may be like the southern 4-wheeler drivers in the snow. It scares me just thinking about driving a truck in the snow. I am sure that sooner or later I will have to face that demon and not fear that 1/8" of snow. But like you, Daniel, will probable pull over if it gets too bad or try to find another route which will probably be impossible anyway.
As of the first of October or so, most western states REQUIRE that you carry tire chains. The ticket for it is huge....Steven the pass you were speaking of is the the only one on I 5...but it can get really bad really fast. Alot of curves on that mountain pass....
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I looked at my Qualcomm earlier today before leaving the truck to go home until Monday... and I have a load to California! Will be going 2800 miles from New Jersey to Los Angeles.
Do I need to have tire chains? Do I need to smoke pot before arriving in California? Does "dude" need to be every other word that comes out of my mouth when speaking?
Seriously though, any advice for a first timer going out West?
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.