Research and CMCA

One of the prime functions of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association is to provide technical assistance to members.  We do that by tackling issues that are difficult for one company but work well for the entire industry.  Here are several examples of our work.  We have devoted space on this website to discuss each.

 

Snow and Ice

Long cold, snowy winters are common in Colorado and bring their share of headaches for the trucking industry.  CMCA has sponsored a number of winter travel initiatives and describe them here.   CMCA has championed introduction of the European "AutoSock" into the U.S. and assisted in getting it approved by the Colorado State Patrol as an alternative to chains for heavy vehicles.

There is no easy solution to removing snow and ice from roadways.   The Colorado Department of Transportation has lately been using magnesium chloride as one tool in its quest to keep Colorado roads clear and operational.   Liquid deIcer has its pros and cons and we discuss them here.

I-70 through the Front Range is not only the primary route across the central Rockies, it is also the only easy access to the ski slopes of Colorado.  Unfortunately it suffers from serious congestion and potentially bad winter weather conditions.   One solution CMCA has assisted with the the CDOT Heavy Tow and Chain Assistance program that ensures stranded trucks are cleared from I-70 before they snarl traffic.

 

Crossing The Rockies

Interstate 70 across the front range of the Rocky Mountains is a challenging drive for professional truckers if they are not familiar with mountain driving, steep grades, severe weather, and mountain congestion.  Think "run-away-truck ramps" and maximum Interstate grades.  Imagine mandatory chain-up areas and winter conditions that can close the Interstate.  CMCA has created a mile-by-mile dialog narated by Cash McCall, a voice long familiar to professional drivers.  The DVD is available free from CMCA, but it can also be heard here. 

 

Noise Abatement

The famous "Jake" or engine compression brake is a godsend to mountain trucking, but also can be noisy and don't fit well into the high-end ski resort settings found deep in Colorado's mountains.  We're talking Vail, Colorado here and much has been done by CMCA and the Town of Vail to get a handle on heavy trucks coming off Vail pass.   Visit this page to learn about best practices for noise abatement and how to tackle a problem faced by many towns in the Intermountain west.