AutoSock -- a Good Alternative to  Snow Chains

Testing has shown that AutoSock is a good alternative to snow chains.  This story appeared in the March 23, 2009 print edition of Transport Topics.

Transportation officials in Colorado said initial feedback from commercial drivers who have used the AutoSock, a heavy-duty cloth covering for tires, has been positive, and it could become an accepted alternative to metal snow chains.

Colorado is the first state in the United States to test the AutoSock, which can be used on tires in place of the more traditional chains. Made for trucks and cars, it was invented by AutoSock AS in Oslo, Norway.

“We’re just seeing how it’s performing and talking with the trucking industry,” said Bob Wilson, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Transportation. “The information we’ve received so far is that they like it as an alternative to the chains.”  After limited testing last winter, CDOT put the AutoSock on what it calls “probationary approval” this winter, which allowed truckers to use it as an alternative traction device whenever the state issued chain-up orders.

CDOT Acceptance Pending -- Wilson said CDOT and the Colorado State Patrol would decide later this spring if the sock should get permanent approval as an alternative to chains.  Wilson said the device is already used in Europe and British Columbia. It slips like a hairnet over the drive-wheel tires and is made of a specially designed, high-friction polyester material that is a fraction of snow chains’ weight.

Benefits -- Being lightweight is a critical safety factor, said Greg Fulton, president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association. The weight helps cut the time it takes to put on the sock, compared with the time it takes to put on chains, Fulton said.

“When talking to our safety experts and insurance folks, a big part [of safety] is lowering your accident exposure,” said Fulton. “The AutoSock can be applied within four to five minutes on the wheels.”
Chains can take 20 to 40 minutes to install, depending on the skill and strength of the truck driver, Fulton said.

Several years ago in Colorado, he said, in one 18-month stretch, two truckers died in separate incidents while putting chains on their rigs.

“The most important element to us from the outset was safety,” Fulton said of the AutoSock.  So far, trucking companies that have purchased the sock for their trucks are providing positive feedback about it, he said.

Expanded Acceptance -- The next step, Fulton said, is to get other states such as California, Oregon and Washington — which like Colorado have strict snow-chain specifications — to test the AutoSock.  He estimated that 2,000 AutoSock sets are being tested on trucks in Colorado this year.

European Technology -- According to information supplied by the maker of AutoSock on its Web site, the device was the brainchild of Norwegian inventor Bard Lotveit, who in 1999 paired with Fred Olsen and his company Invento AS to begin manufacturing the device.

The theory behind the AutoSock, which the manufacturer says is made from a high-friction material, is to increase friction on snow and ice — much like throwing a blanket or rug under tires spinning in the snow.

“Ultimately, we’re hoping it does perform effectively because that’s our ultimate goal, to keep traffic moving on our roads and highways,” CDOT’s Wilson said.

 

Deicer As a Snow Removal Technique -- Pros & Cons

BACKGROUND -- For the past several years, the Colorado Department of Transportation has been using a liquid deicer during the fall and winter.  CDOT moved to a liquid deicer product both for environmental reasons and as a means to reduce road closures and improve travel conditions during adverse weather. Since its deployment, CDOT has steadily increased its use of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) during the fall and winter.

DEICER BENEFITS -- CMCA recognizes the use of MgCl2 has provided some benefits to mobility and air quality. Since the introduction of the liquid deicer, there has been a significant decline in road closures that may be attributed, in part, to the use of the deicer. We also, though, wish to recognize CDOT’s other actions, including more maintenance and snowplow personnel on the I-70 corridor, additional chain up areas, and improved traveler information that have also contributed to the reduction in road closures.

DEICER PROBLEMS -- Recognizing the above-noted benefits, we must also note the use of this product has created a number of problems.

The problems experienced by our members and others in the trucking industry include, but are not be limited to: accelerated and excessive corrosion to various truck parts and components (aluminum, stainless steel and electrical wiring are particularly affected); increased maintenance costs and warranty claims; wastewater problems caused by heavy metals within the deicer and the tailings from corroded parts; increased costs for washing vehicles; reduced resale value of trucks and trailers; and visibility problems. In addition, several members have expressed concern that the deicer chemical makes the roads slick during certain weather conditions and poses a safety problem.

The above noted problems have proven costly to our industry, as well as posing concerns about highway and vehicle safety. The corrosion of electrical and lighting systems can prove very hazardous. It is for this reason the federal government mandates strict standards be maintained for such equipment. Concerns have also been recently raised about the effect that MgCl2 mixtures is having on brake systems.

 

 

Heavy Tow and Chain Assistance

Started in 2009,  The Colorado Department of Transportation's "Heavy Tow and Chain Assistance Program" has proved to be a practical solution to keep I-70 traffic moving during winter months.

The idea is that heavy duty wreckers are strategically placed on standby along I-70 across the front range.  These tow trucks are then readily available to help remove big trucks safety out of traffic if they are stuck or jackknifes.   The wreckers are on stanby most all day beginning on Thanksgiving weekend and on weekends through the winter season (until April).   They are also on the ready during winter holidays such as New Years, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and President's Day when ski resort traffic is high.

The program also includes "Chain Assistance" where truck drivers can buy chains and services between Denver West Boulevard and Dotsero on I-70.  Two companies have been approved by CDOT to assist truckers at 21 different chain-up stations along I-70.  AutoSock traction devices are approved as an alternative to chains.

Colorado also has extremely stringent chain-up laws that require truckers to carry and use chains across the mountains on I-70.  Penalties are high for non-compliance.

To ensure chains are used, the State has provided several chain-up areas along the highway.

The CDOT program also includes free roadside assistance for four-wheelers through the state's Courtesy Patrol program.   This covers flat tires, jump starts and other small-vehicle helps to keep the roadways clear and assist motorists.

February 2011 Update:

So far this winter season, the Colorado Heavy Tow / Quick Clearance Program has save the state nearly $14 million dollars.

The CO Dept. of Transportation estimates it costs $800,000 / hour for closing I-70. Through mid-February, the program has moved 140 vehicles and cleared 150 lanes, cutting in half the time it normally takes to clear the road. Using these numbers, this program alone has saved the State $13,999,986.00 in less than 4 months.

This program is critical to keeping I-70 open, and should be considered an unqualified success. CMCA and CDOT, working together, developed this as a pilot program to determine whether or not it could make a difference. CMCA believes there is no question that the program should continue to be funded at or above current levels, and expanded throughout the US in other areas of weather –related congestion.