| Winter often means snow-covered and icy roads. | | | | Idaho Road Conditions: 511 or 888-432-7623 |
| Experienced truckers know that the lighter the load, | | | | Idaho does not require that truckers carry chains during |
| the less traction the tires have. But even trucks hauling | | | | winter months. However chains may be required to |
| heavy loads can lose traction in the snow and ice. | | | | continue travel during winter weather. |
| That's why many states will put chain law into effect. | | | | Montana Chain Law |
| Chain law requires truckers to put tire chains on their | | | | Montana Road Conditions: 511 or 406-444-6339 or |
| tires in order to gain more traction. Usually, when chains | | | | 800-226-7623 |
| are required for trucks, cars are also required to use | | | | Montana does not require that truckers carry chains |
| chains or snow tires. | | | | during winter months. However, if you choose to travel |
| Chain law is publicized by road signs and state road | | | | without putting chains on your tires in a posted "chain |
| condition portals- websites, road condition hotlines, and | | | | area" and you get into an accident, you will have a |
| the like. You'll usually only see chain law go into effect | | | | large fine to pay. Montana requires that all tires of one |
| on mountain passes, but states can require chains on | | | | drive axle be chained when chain law is in effect. |
| any roadway that encounters dangerous winter travel | | | | Nevada Chain Law |
| conditions. | | | | Nevada Road Conditions: 511 or 877-687-6237 |
| Some states require that truckers carry the minimum | | | | Nevada Chain-up Requirments |
| required chains through the winter months, even if they | | | | Nevada has roadside signs that state "When Flashing, |
| aren't planning to chain up. Many states may allow | | | | Chains or Snow Tires Required." If the lights are |
| cables instead of chains, but most will require truckers | | | | flashing, chains are required to continue travel. Vehicles |
| to carry chains. Cables are generally frowned on for | | | | that weigh more than 10,000 lbs are required to use |
| being less effective. | | | | chains. |
| California Chain Law | | | | North Dakota Chain Law |
| Road Conditions: 800-427-7623 (in state) or | | | | North Dakota Road Conditions : 511 or 866-696-3511 |
| 916-445-7623(out of state) | | | | There is no mandatory chain law in North Dakota. |
| Cal-Trans: 916-654-5741 | | | | Oregon Chain Law |
| California Chain-up Requirements | | | | Oregon Road Conditions: 511 or 503-588-2941 |
| California does not require truckers to carry chains | | | | Oregon Chain-up Requirements |
| during certain times of the year. However, when trucks | | | | During winter weather, trucks are required to carry the |
| enter a posted "chains required" area, they must be | | | | minimum amount of chains they would need to don. |
| carrying chains. And when chain law is in effect, | | | | Oregon doesn't require that chains be carried between |
| truckers cannot proceed without chains on their tires. | | | | certain dates, but chains are required to be on the |
| Cal-Trans will set up "truck screening" areas when | | | | truck during winter weather conditions. |
| chains are required to make sure that truckers are | | | | During a Conditional Road Closure, drivers are required |
| carrying the minimum required chains, so that if they | | | | to install chains on their tires to continue travel. |
| need to use chains, they will be able to install them. | | | | Oregon uses road signs to inform drivers of the |
| Generally, California requires 5-axle trucks to have | | | | chain-up requirements ahead. If the sign says "Snow |
| chains on all tires on the main drive axle, two tires on | | | | Zone, Carry Chains or Traction Tires," the minimum |
| the other drive axle, and one tire on each side of the | | | | required chains for your truck must be carried on the |
| trailer- any axle. | | | | truck. If the sign says "Snow Zone, Chains Required on |
| California has three Chain Conditions they enforce. | | | | Vehicles Towing or Over 10,000 GVW," the minimum |
| R-1 Chain Law: | | | | required chains for your truck must be installed on the |
| Chains are required on all vehicles except passenger | | | | tires to proceed. If the sign says "Snow Zone, Chains |
| vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross | | | | Required, Traction Tires Allowed on Vehicles Under |
| weight and equipped with snow tires on at least two | | | | 10,000 GVW," the minimum required chains for your |
| drive wheels. Chains must be carried by vehicles using | | | | truck must be installed on the tires to proceed. |
| snow tires. All vehicles towing trailers must have chains | | | | South Dakota Chain Law |
| on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must have | | | | South Dakota Road Conditions: 511 or 866-697-3511 |
| chains on at least one axle. | | | | South Dakota does not require truckers to carry |
| R-2 Chain Law: | | | | chains but there are times when travel will be |
| Chains are required on all vehicles except | | | | restricted for trucks without chains on the tires. |
| four-wheel-drive vehicles under 6,500 pounds gross | | | | Utah Chain Law |
| weight and equipped with snow tires on all four | | | | Utah Road Conditions: 511 or 866-511-8824 |
| wheels. Chains for one set of drive wheels must be | | | | Utah requires vehicles that are likely to encounter |
| carried by four wheel-drive vehicles using snow tires. | | | | conditions that require chain-up to carry enough chains |
| R-3 Chain Law: | | | | for one drive axle. |
| Chains are required on all vehicles without exception. | | | | Washington State Chain Law |
| Colorado Chain Law | | | | Washington Road Conditions: 511 or 800-695-7623 |
| Road Conditions: 511 or (303) 639-1111(out of state) | | | | Washington Chain-up Requirements |
| 877-315-7623 (in state) | | | | All vehicles over 10,000 lbs are required to carry the |
| Colorado Chain-up Requirements | | | | minimum required chains from November 1 to April 1 |
| Chain law applies to commercial vehicles- if the truck | | | | each year on the following routes: |
| has a gross weight rating of 10,001 lbs and the | | | | I 82 between Ellensburg Exit 3 (MP 3.00) and Selah |
| combined vehicle weight rating (truck and trailer) is | | | | Exit 26 (MP 26.00) |
| 26,001 lbs, if the truck has a weight rating of 26,001 lbs, | | | | I 90 between North Bend (MP 32) and Ellensburg (MP |
| or if the vehicle is designed to carry 16 or more | | | | 101) |
| passengers (including the driver). | | | | Route 2 between Dryden (MP 108) and Index (MP 36) |
| Drivers are required to carry chains on I 70 from mile | | | | Route 12 between Packwood (MP 135) and Naches |
| marker 163 to mile marker 259 from September 1st | | | | (MP 187) |
| through May 31st. If you are caught on this stretch of | | | | Route 14 (MP 18) to Junction 97 (MP 102) |
| road during these dates without chains, you may be | | | | Route 20 between Tonasket (MP 262) and Kettle |
| fined $50 plus $13 surcharge ($73). | | | | Falls (MP 342) |
| New Fines! If chain law is in effect but you choose not | | | | Route 97 between (MP 145) and Junction SR-2 |
| to put chains on, you may be fined $500 plus $157 | | | | Route 97 between junction SR-14 (MP 4) Columbia |
| surcharge ($657). If chain law is in effect but you | | | | River and Toppenish (MP 59) |
| choose not to put chains on and you wind up blocking | | | | Route 155 between Omak (MP 79) and Nespelem |
| the road, you maybe fined $1000 plus $313 surcharge | | | | (MP 45) |
| ($1,313). | | | | Route 410 from Enumclaw to Naches |
| Colorado has two levels of Chain Law they enforce. | | | | Route 542 Mt Baker Highway between (MP 22.91) |
| Level I Chain Law: | | | | and (MP 57.26) |
| All single-axle combination vehicles must chain up. This | | | | Route 970 between (MP 0) and (MP 10) |
| means if the truck has only a single drive axle (as | | | | Wyoming Chain Law |
| opposed to duals), chains are required. All drive tires | | | | Road Conditions: 511 or 888-996-7623 |
| must be chained. | | | | Wyoming will sometimes shut down the freeway |
| Level II Chain Law: | | | | except for all wheel drive vehicles and vehicles |
| Chains are required for all commercial vehicles. | | | | equipped with chains or snow tires. |
| Idaho Chain Law | | | | |