Big rigs once again blocking South Lake Tahoe area roads

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The minute each winter I80 closes to tractor-trailer semitrailer combinations, many seek other ways to make it over the Sierra. US50 at Echo Summit is a common goal, as is SR88 at Woodfords.

If Echo Summit is the ultimate goal, many of the big rig drivers will go straight at the US50/SR89 intersection at the "Y in South Lake Tahoe instead of taking a left onto US50. As we wrote in January, many truck drivers turn to their own mapping apps and not the specific trucker app that shows where trucks are allowed.

On Monday morning at least two semi-trucks were stuck on North Upper Truckee Road near the intersection with Mt. Rainer, as well as another one at North Upper Truckee and US50, blocking road crews from plowing and sanding the roadway. Other semi-trucks were stuck on SR-88 on both sides of Woodfords.

On SR88 near the state line, the truck does not have chains and is over length for the Sierra. It has a 53-foot trailer, and if it is connected to a large, overnight-size cab, it goes above the 65-foot limit (normally the day cabs that don't have a sleeper are within the maximum length allowed). The other CHP incident on SR88 is to the west of Woodfords and the truck is blocking all lanes.

The American Trucking Association has standards professional drivers are supposed to follow. But when road controls go up or I-80 closes, a large number of big rigs can be seen making their way to the South Shore to attempt going over Echo Summit on US50. They will then be turned around since staff is in place at the base checking for maximum chains.

"Big rig drivers break the law all the time in snow conditions," said CHP Officer Ruth Loehr. "It is not uncommon at all as truck drivers are trying to avoid chain control by going through neighborhoods."

All stuck trucks face a large tow bill, but it could be a long wait as local tow trucks are busy during snow conditions, and not all are equipped to help heavy big rigs. They also face large tickets and can be charged for several things, including failing to read signs, failing to have chains, and impeding or blocking traffic.

Loehr said GPS apps can be used two ways, one in commercial mode, and one in normal travel mode. If the trucks use the commercial mode they will know where to travel.

Current road controls and issues can be found https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ in California, and https://www.nvroads.com/.