Q&A - Tire Chains on Commercial Vehicles

The last time we drove up the Coquihalla from Hope we saw that the plow trucks had not taken care to plow out the chain-up pull-outs for commercial trucks. How are these commercial drivers expected to put on their tire chains safely?

The trucks are all lined up along the right lane of the road, thus forcing regular traffic into one lane.

This may be ok except now a semi wants to start up the hill and realizes too late that the single set of tire chains he/she put on will not go and now stops the second lane until help arrives or more chains are installed.

I don't mind being corrected here as I don't sit there observing all day but it appears that most of the truckers are trying to get by with only one set of single chains.

I thought that at one time they were illegal and triple chains were required and, clearly, on the Great Bear Snow Shed nothing short of these triple chains, and possibly on both rear axles, will help keep the traffic moving. I would expect this of buses as well.

So now the next question is, why are the truckers not, at least it appears that they are not, being monitored and told they must put on their tire chains before they are across the highway blocking all traffic? Like maybe at the first pull-out.

I believe the commercial drivers need some help and support here with cleaning out the chain-up areas and making those areas larger to accommodate the volume of trucks hitting the hills.

The Path of Least Resistance

Generally, I think that you can count on people taking the easy way out. A set of singles is easy to install and if it's enough to get you up the hill, take the path of least resistance. Sometimes they don't have enough experience to realize what is needed in the circumstances.

Requirements for Winter Tires and Tire Chains

Winter tires and traction devices

208 (1) For the purpose of this section, "winter tire" means a tire that meets the standards and specifications prescribed for winter tires.

(2) The minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act may, by public notice or by placing signs, prohibit any vehicle or a class of vehicles from being driven or operated on a highway, unless the vehicle is equipped with chains, winter tires or traction devices, or a combination of these, that the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers adequate in view of prevailing road conditions.

(3) A public notice or sign under subsection (2) may provide differently in relation to specified dates, prevailing weather conditions or any other criteria the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers necessary or advisable.

(4) A person who drives or operates a vehicle in contravention of a prohibition made under subsection (2) commits an offence.

Rule Amendments - September 2019

The Motor Vehicle Act Regulations have been amended to include when and where commercial motor vehicles must carry chains. The link also shows where commercial vehicles are not required to carry chains. 

That said, you could choose to carry them anyway in case you need to get yourself out of trouble.

In addition, the required installation of chains has been specified:

• Chains on light commercial motor vehicles
• Chains on heavy commercial motor vehicles without trailers
• Chains on heavy commercial motor vehicles with one trailer
• Chains on heavy commercial motor vehicles with more than one trailer
• Chains on heavy commercial motor vehicles with trailers and super single tires

A look at the MOTI web site finds a page titled Commercial Vehicle - Tire and Chain Requirements.

Enforcement

Should there be a CVSE or police officer present at all chain up locations in the province to keep an eye on traffic? Practically, no. In times of out of the ordinary conditions, maybe. Depending on whether drivers have managed to stay on the road and not run into each other, they may have time to do this instead of providing emergency response.

Highway Clearing Priorities

I have no experience with cleaning the highways, so I can only guess at this. It seems to me that clearing the chain up areas would be a good exchange of time. On the other hand, when conditions are really poor, all drivers should expect issues and have the correct equipment at hand while travelling at appropriate speeds for the conditions. One cannot expect bare pavement and 120 km/h travel with all lanes open when 25 cm of snow has fallen in the last half hour.

Inexperienced drivers that cause problems I have some time for. I have been there and occasionally still need a bit of practice. Lazy drivers who know better, not so much.

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