Choosing an auto transport company can be a great experience. There are some ways to locate a transporter the phone book and the internet are the most normally used resources. If you are moving, inquire your moving company for advices but do not feel compelled to use the same mover for your household goods and your car. Transporting a vehicle takes exceptional skills, tools and insurance, and your household mover may or may not be the best choice for transporting your car. You must also inquire your friends and family for references, as first hand experience is the best marker of the service you will receive. Make sure for Proper Transport Authority when looking for an auto transporter or car shipping, a few minutes of investigation, can save you from major problems in the long haul. All auto transporters or car shipping required to register with the Department of Transportation and must have an active DOT or MC number. To check the ID of a transport company, explore by their company name or DOT number at www.aaat.com. As well as verifying that their DOT or MC numbers are valid, check that the carrier specially credentialed to transport motor vehicles like auto shipping, car shipping, vehicle shipping etc. Confirm legal responsibility & Cargo Insurance Along with registered with the Department of Transportation, all carriers are necessary to have legal responsibility and cargo insurance. Although the amounts of coverage differ, you should ask for printed proof of transporter coverage before hiring them. You can verify insurance information on www.aaat.com or by calling the transporter’s insurance company. The insurance should be present or current and should passably cover the value of your car or your car shipping. Inquire about any confines on the insurance, and if it needed, ask for further coverage about auto shipping or car shipping etc. Review allusions and Evidences Keep in mind to explore the company’s experience with preceding customers. Make contact with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have filed against them and how those actions were determined. Make an effort to get suggestions from past customers, or call someone in a connected field like your car sales representative for a well-versed opinion about car shipping or any auto transport. You can also investigate the company s name online to see if there are any customer reviews obtainable. Verify Shipping Facts At last; ask about the company s exact policies and procedures for car shipping, auto shipping etc. How tangible is their timeline? What are the scrutiny, pick up, and delivery procedures? Are there any limits or restrictions you should know about? How can you best plan your vehicle for transport? Check to get a written agreement and review it carefully. Your car is, precious and worth the time wanted to select the right auto transporter for you. Thoroughly researching the status of a transporter allows you to feel sure in your choice and relax while your car shipped.

Shijina is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Auto transport. She has written many articles in various topics. For more information about Car shipping. Visit our site aaat.com/



Show My Shots

Winter often means snow-covered and icy roads. Experienced truckers know that the lighter the load, the less traction the tires have. But even trucks hauling heavy loads can lose traction in the snow and ice. That’s why many states will put chain law into effect. Chain law requires truckers to put tire chains on their tires in order to gain more traction. Usually, when chains are required for trucks, cars are also required to use chains or snow tires.

Chain law is publicized by road signs and state road condition portals- websites, road condition hotlines, and the like. You’ll usually only see chain law go into effect on mountain passes, but states can require chains on any roadway that encounters dangerous winter travel conditions.

Some states require that truckers carry the minimum required chains through the winter months, even if they aren’t planning to chain up. Many states may allow cables instead of chains, but most will require truckers to carry chains. Cables are generally frowned on for being less effective.

California Chain Law

Road Conditions: 800-427-7623 (in state) or 916-445-7623(out of state)

Cal-Trans: 916-654-5741

California Chain-up Requirements

California does not require truckers to carry chains during certain times of the year. However, when trucks enter a posted “chains required” area, they must be carrying chains. And when chain law is in effect, truckers cannot proceed without chains on their tires. Cal-Trans will set up “truck screening” areas when chains are required to make sure that truckers are carrying the minimum required chains, so that if they need to use chains, they will be able to install them.

Generally, California requires 5-axle trucks to have chains on all tires on the main drive axle, two tires on the other drive axle, and one tire on each side of the trailer- any axle.

California has three Chain Conditions they enforce.

R-1 Chain Law:

Chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires on at least two drive wheels. Chains must be carried by vehicles using snow tires. All vehicles towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must have chains on at least one axle.

R-2 Chain Law:

Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles under 6,500 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires on all four wheels. Chains for one set of drive wheels must be carried by four wheel-drive vehicles using snow tires.

R-3 Chain Law:

Chains are required on all vehicles without exception.

Colorado Chain Law

Road Conditions: 511 or (303) 639-1111(out of state)/877-315-7623 (in state)

Colorado Chain-up Requirements

Chain law applies to commercial vehicles- if the truck has a gross weight rating of 10,001 lbs and the combined vehicle weight rating (truck and trailer) is 26,001 lbs, if the truck has a weight rating of 26,001 lbs, or if the vehicle is designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver).

Drivers are required to carry chains on I 70 from mile marker 163 to mile marker 259 from September 1st through May 31st. If you are caught on this stretch of road during these dates without chains, you may be fined $50 plus $13 surcharge ($73).

New Fines! If chain law is in effect but you choose not to put chains on, you may be fined $500 plus $157 surcharge ($657). If chain law is in effect but you choose not to put chains on and you wind up blocking the road, you maybe fined $1000 plus $313 surcharge ($1,313).

Colorado has two levels of Chain Law they enforce.

Level I Chain Law:

All single-axle combination vehicles must chain up. This means if the truck has only a single drive axle (as opposed to duals), chains are required. All drive tires must be chained.

Level II Chain Law:

Chains are required for all commercial vehicles.

Idaho Chain Law

Idaho Road Conditions: 511 or 888-432-7623

Idaho does not require that truckers carry chains during winter months. However chains may be required to continue travel during winter weather.

Montana Chain Law

Montana Road Conditions: 511 or 406-444-6339 or 800-226-7623

Montana does not require that truckers carry chains during winter months. However, if you choose to travel without putting chains on your tires in a posted “chain area” and you get into an accident, you will have a large fine to pay. Montana requires that all tires of one drive axle be chained when chain law is in effect.

Nevada Chain Law

Nevada Road Conditions: 511 or 877-687-6237

Nevada Chain-up Requirments

Nevada has roadside signs that state “When Flashing, Chains or Snow Tires Required.” If the lights are flashing, chains are required to continue travel. Vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 lbs are required to use chains.

North Dakota Chain Law

North Dakota Road Conditions : 511 or 866-696-3511

There is no mandatory chain law in North Dakota.

Oregon Chain Law

Oregon Road Conditions: 511 or 503-588-2941

Oregon Chain-up Requirements

During winter weather, trucks are required to carry the minimum amount of chains they would need to don. Oregon doesn’t require that chains be carried between certain dates, but chains are required to be on the truck during winter weather conditions.

During a Conditional Road Closure, drivers are required to install chains on their tires to continue travel.

Oregon uses road signs to inform drivers of the chain-up requirements ahead. If the sign says “Snow Zone, Carry Chains or Traction Tires,” the minimum required chains for your truck must be carried on the truck. If the sign says “Snow Zone, Chains Required on Vehicles Towing or Over 10,000 GVW,” the minimum required chains for your truck must be installed on the tires to proceed. If the sign says “Snow Zone, Chains Required, Traction Tires Allowed on Vehicles Under 10,000 GVW,” the minimum required chains for your truck must be installed on the tires to proceed.

South Dakota Chain Law

South Dakota Road Conditions: 511 or 866-697-3511

South Dakota does not require truckers to carry chains but there are times when travel will be restricted for trucks without chains on the tires.

Utah Chain Law

Utah Road Conditions: 511 or 866-511-8824

Utah requires vehicles that are likely to encounter conditions that require chain-up to carry enough chains for one drive axle.

Washington State Chain Law

Washington Road Conditions: 511 or 800-695-7623

Washington Chain-up Requirements

All vehicles over 10,000 lbs are required to carry the minimum required chains from November 1 to April 1 each year on the following routes:

I 82 between Ellensburg Exit 3 (MP 3.00) and Selah Exit 26 (MP 26.00)

I 90 between North Bend (MP 32) and Ellensburg (MP 101)

Route 2 between Dryden (MP 108) and Index (MP 36)

Route 12 between Packwood (MP 135) and Naches (MP 187)

Route 14 (MP 18) to Junction 97 (MP 102)

Route 20 between Tonasket (MP 262) and Kettle Falls (MP 342)

Route 97 between (MP 145) and Junction SR-2

Route 97 between junction SR-14 (MP 4) Columbia River and Toppenish (MP 59)

Route 155 between Omak (MP 79) and Nespelem (MP 45)

Route 410 from Enumclaw to Naches

Route 542 Mt Baker Highway between (MP 22.91) and (MP 57.26)

Route 970 between (MP 0) and (MP 10)

Wyoming Chain Law

Road Conditions: 511 or 888-996-7623

Wyoming will sometimes shut down the freeway except for all wheel drive vehicles and vehicles equipped with chains or snow tires.



Photos Union

Restaurant food critics can be a valuable tool when choosing an eatery. In March 2008 the entire restaurant review industry came under scrutiny from court case arising from a brutal but honest review of Belfastian pizzeria Goodfellas by the Irish News, the review which criticised the food, staff and atmosphere led to the restaurant being awarded £25,000 in libel damages. This decision went somewhat unnoticed by many, however its outcome could have changed review writing, opening the door for companies to take action when they feel they have been unfairly ‘done over’ by a review. However, upon appeal the case decision was overturned on the basis that the original jury was unfairly guided by the judge.

This case has brought to light many questions as to the relevance and validity of reviews; the main being that a review is a persons personal opinion it is not a qualified nor a mediated evaluation- it could be said that to curtail reviews would be to limit a persons freedom to speech, further to this, as unfairly as it is a review published is often tailored to the magazine and its readership expectations- the New York Times food critic reviewer is renowned for being tough yet is this their true opinions or do they go with the most fashionable option or what is expected? When in fact their favourite nosh secretly comes from the Hard Rock Café? Looking at reviewers who perhaps give out too good reviews; suspicion would lead me to think that opinions are swayed by advertisers and investors.

Reviewers should not be influenced by any external factors their job is to act as an independent ombudsman of sorts providing advice and guidance on where we should dine. From all the press coverage of the ‘Goodfellas case’ there seems to be a total disregard for the benefit readers got from the review, the words may have been excessive but the fact remained that the food was unsatisfactory according to the critic.

If you go online there is abundance of blogs that can give you a variety of restaurant reviews, online reviews are a useful tool for obtaining a perhaps more varied and honest review; the reasoning for this being that often bloggers are not swayed by advertisers nor limited by their readers demographics. Much like the newspapers and magazines, it will be one person who is writing the review but people can add to it, posting comments about their own experience with a restaurant. Once a restaurant review blog gains popularity and people are regularly leaving comments then it becomes a valuable resource for varied and honest opinions. As people are attending the restaurant socially rather than with the sole purpose of reviewing it the result will be different experience altogether and the retelling of their experience, for example taking their four children into a quiet bistro, may be of relevance to someone considering going with their own children. Therefore restaurant review blogs are very different to the reviews you read in the papers; and overall more useful.



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