AutoSock AS, the provider of an Alternative Traction Device (ATD) for passenger and commercial vehicles, today announced that its use has now been granted approval in British Columbia.
The announcement follows an amendment to the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act that changes the definition of “traction device” to include textile tire covers such as the AutoSock patented textile cover for commercial vehicles, including Class 3-8 medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
“We are pleased to see this amendment to the rules regarding traction devices in British Columbia,” says Bernt J. Rosli, CEO of AutoSock Operations AS. “Now, any truck or passenger vehicle can be fitted with AutoSock when traction devices are required by the province. For U.S. and Canadian motor carriers that travel in British Columbia, this change in the Act means AutoSock can be used as a legal and cost effective traction device.”
AutoSock is currently the only company providing a wide range of textile traction devices for trucks and is the only named approved product in Washington and Colorado. The product also be used in states that have no specific device exclusions when chain requirements are in effect, AutoSock says.
“This is fantastic news for our U.S. customers that travel into Canada,” says Chuck McGee, president of McGee Company, the U.S. distributor for AutoSock. “The popularity of textile traction devices is rapidly increasing so it’s nice to see the regulations keeping up with the trend.”
The AutoSock patented textile cover uses high-performance fibers and a specially designed surface pattern to maximize friction on snow and ice covered roads by making the total contact area exposed to dry friction as large as possible, the company says. The product can be installed in less than five minutes per wheel, minimizing a driver’s exposure to weather and traffic, and at less than 5 lbs. per pair provides a weight savings compared to a 50-lb set of traditional chains, the company says.
AutoSock says its product is easy to store inside a cab or tool compartment, and unlike tire chains, will not damage a vehicle’s fenders and exposed brake lines while in use. The product is fully compatible with ABS and traction control systems, and does not damage road surfaces, unlike metal chains, because its material is softer than concrete and asphalt, the company says.
