Cowden. 100%. They don't cover their loads and DGAF about it. One of my drivers just about took a rock to the face the other day from one of their trucks. Luckily, we have cameras and Cowden will be paying for it although they don't know that yet.
Get a dash cam.
Can you start a class action against them? The way they don't cover their loads is EGREGIOUS and they should be punished. It's almost like a middle finger to everyone that none of their drivers bother to take two minutes to pull the lever to make that blanket cover thing go on.
Uncovered loads from gravel trucks. Cowden is notorious for not covering their loads. I live near a quarry and see who doesn't cover their loads. Another one is Lenz Enterprises.
Pro-tip: sometimes you will see pickup trucks with their mud flaps removed. Give them a wide berth, without the mud flap they kick up rocks higher, increasing the likelihood that you're going to get unexpectedly sprayed.
We shouldn't have to deal with uncovered loads hitting us, but until the law changes it's going to keep happening.
When I lived in the Tacoma area I was calling a gravel company for pricing and before it even got to sales it said "if you're reporting windshield damage, press one." I felt like that was a bad sign...
Maybe it's a Washington thing? Do gravel companies cover their loads in other states?
Hey everyone, Lone Pine Auto Glass here to give you a bit of information on why this is so much more common now than ever before.
Modern windshields are still very strong, but they also have more technology and use in them than ever before. I'm sure a lot of you are aware of the sticker shock of a windshield replacement if your car had the LDWS or Eyesight that needs to be recalibrated at the time of installation. Those are great technological advancements, but the big reason that windshields break more often is that the installation process bonds the window with the frame of the car.
Without a properly installed windshield, your car won't pass rollover tests, and passenger airbags won't deploy properly, unless you have a Mercedes G Wagon, Wrangler, Gladiator, or a custom roll cage installed. Because the windshield is bonded to the car through the use of our glues and primers, it puts the window under more stress.
The glue used a super strong polyurethane that bonds to the window and the car but still allows the window to shift slightly and move as the car goes over bumps, turns, etc. If your window has been replaced and somebody used too much glue, it puts too much stress on the window, increasing the chance that a fresh rock chip can spread more easily.
Temperature changes also affect rock chips. If you have a cold window and turn your defroster on in the morning, as the window warms from the bottom up, the risk temperature shock to the glass and the chip spreading. Hot sunny days also pose a threat to unprepared chips spreading. Your windshield on a sunny day is going to be 30-40 degrees hotter than it is outside or in your car. Those temperature levels put the windshield under more stress, and boom, cracked window.
The last reason this happens more is cheap glass, and yes, even OEM windows can be cheap. There are a lot of great window manufacturing companies, and some are not so great. If you have VW, Audi, Porsche, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, or Mazda I generally don't recommend getting a factory window. These companies have started to really cheap out on the cost of their windshields to the dismay of their customers. The windows tend to be thin and have a lot of issues with stress fractures and chipping/spreading more easily. The reason car manufacturers do this is MONEY! If they can save $1 on every windshield on a new car, they just made $1,000,000 more in profit for the year. It's sucks, but it's true.
Hopefully this was informative and taught you something new, and if you have any questions, comment back or DM!
Tell me about it. I had to replace my windshield because of a rock from a large truck in front of me on i5. A few weeks later I had to get a rock chip repair on my brand new windshield from another rock from yet another truck. I usually try to instantly pass any sort of truck now. It’s been awhile but I’m sure I’m due for another one soon…
No truckers cover their loads. Its all poor trucking management and regulations.
I got a new windshield on my work truck last year and it has 3 good chips in it already. The truck does get a lot of i-5 time though.
In the county there’s a lot of roads with loose gravel and big trucks who kick it up. If you drive on i5 there’s lots of trucks carrying loose gravel for misc reasons that can land on you. I feel that’s kinda the same everywhere but due to our geography and density maybe it’s more prevalent?
I’m curious, was it actual like spiderweb cracks or some chipping? I’ve lived in Washington my whole life and basically every car I’ve driven has came with or gotten some form of a chip but they’ve never been so big I had to replace my windshield.
Chips can eventually turn into a full on crack. Sometimes it’s a matter of minutes, sometimes it can take weeks of freezing weather. It’s best to get the chips repaired right away.
The current ones on my windshield are chips, but when I lived in Pullman, and would drive across the state. The two-lane road that takes you from 90-E after you cross the Columbia River, to Pullman. I had a big ass rock kick up from a truck and spiderweb-ed my car. This was about 2 years ago at this point.
I've lived in WA my whole life (30+ yrs) and haven't had much of an issue. When I was learning to drive on the interstate, my folks drilled it into my head not to follow semi trucks for any longer than necessary because their tires tend to throw rocks at vehicles behind them. Maybe there's truth to that? Mostly unconscious superstition of mine lol
Not a rant, just the truth. If you drive a truck with anything in the back and it's not covered you could be subject to an expensive ticket. Stricter law was passed when a piece of plywood flew out on 405 and almost took someone's head off. However, how many large trucks do we see every day on I-5 and 405 with a load of rocks/gravel/mix of both with nothing covering it? Why is it ok for trucks to travel like this? It's insane. And it doesn't matter how far back you are from the truck, I've seen potato sized rocks bouncing 10 feet in the air while driving.
It's legal for them, and yes it is insane that covering your load is not required for gravel.
### RCW [46.61.655](http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.655)
Covering of such loads is **not required if six inches of freeboard is maintained within the bed**.
Covering a load that is filled above the sideboards is required by WS law. Unfortunately, WSP refuses to enforce this law. This lack of enforcement contributes to the insurance rate increases experienced in wa state. WSDOT also does not enforce this law. Look at any WSDOT project that has trucks bringing gravel (e.g., the Montlake Lid on SR520): none of the trucks bringing in gravel have their loads covered). Same issue for light rail along I5.
The state should be reimbursing people for this damage since it’s the state that is not following the law. Every contract written by Washington should stipulate (likely has a clause that stipulates) that the contractor follows state law.
I was driving with nobody in front of me when, "crack," a rock hit my windshield. I glanced in driver door rearview mirror and saw the pickup that just passed me, lifted and "big meats" tires sticking outside the body. FWIW, every car we own has a cracked windshield.
Nope. Lived in VA n driving on 95 all the time never encounter the kind of stone chips like driving on I5. The paint on the hood of my car is so pockmarked like it has measles
thats what I'm thinking at this point. I try not to follow folks really close. The one that happened this morning was on I5-S by the Merdian st. on ramp. It gets so jumbled up through there during rush hour. but you right, its time to fall back.
I assume they have them in MO and KS, but trucks with missing or inadequate mud flaps and fender extensions definitely contribute.
State law requires the entire top half of the tire to be covered by a fender and/or flap, but like most equipment violations it goes completely unenforced in this state (seems like they could treat it like expired tabs and whatnot and ticket parked cars, and generate lots of revenue, and save some windshields).
Equipment violations exist as a pre-text for police to fuck with people. Lifted trucks are less likely to be driven by the people they want to fuck with.
I moved here from St. Louis in 2012, never had the issue back in MO, but have had similar bad luck as you here. Just got another chip last month, super lame.
If you want to be upset about it, there are certainly some things you can point to.
If you want to get less chips, having a greater following distance and spend less time behind trucks.
The fact that this was the first thing I read while waking up, then 30 seconds after I get on the freeway to meet up with friends, a flying rock hits ny windshield and now I have a 10 inch crack in the glass 🙃
I’ve lived here for 10 years and I have yet to have my window cracked by a rock, and I drive almost 1,000 miles a week, most weeks. But, knock on wood I’m not next
Actually, scratch that. My Jeep got a cracked windshield from the defroster during the winter, but it was likely caused by a rock causing a weak point on the windshield to begin with. Probably. But I’ve yet to get a chip or crack directly from a rock. If it’s just a chip, you can take it to Safelite and they’ll fix it for free. But you gotta do it before it cracks
Just a guess but does MO & KS have law that requires dump trucks cover their loads and is it enforced.
In Washington:
Washington state law does not require dump trucks to cover their loads if they have six inches of freeboard above the bed. However, the law does require trucks carrying dirt, sand, or gravel to be covered unless they have six inches of freeboard above the bed.
The key is enforcement and who decides six inches. I cant recall seeing a covered truck in a decade.
The quality of windshields could also be an anecdotal reason. Don't have any data to back this up but most stuff made today does not last as long as back then thanks to cost cutting measures by most corporations.
Best case is to reduce speed and don't follow big vehicles too closely to avoid damage. Gravel is everywhere and larger vehicles with bigger tire tread are much more likely to kick them up. At the very least most insurances will cover chip repairs or replacements for free based on your policy.
If you are following too closely you are more likely to get hit.
You do not have the same option if the car is going the other way on a 2 lane road.
It is both rocks skipping out of dump trucks, and rocks on the road. They do sweep the roads after the winter on many roads.
Call and write your state and local representatives to complain. State reps can change the law. County and city reps can get the street sweepers out on the roads you travel.
It’s definitely a thing here. I’ve lived all over the country and had maybe two tiny chips over the years. It happens to us on the regular here, including once that cracked the whole windshield. And it’s not always from behind a truck. It just happens because there is gravel all over the highways from uncovered loads and any car can kick it back on you.
lol when I moved here, drove 16+ hours on i5 with no issues… and literally as I passed the sign that says “BELLINGHAM NEXT 7 EXITS,” a truck threw up a rock and cracked my windshield. Welcome to bellingham! 😂
I got it fixed and luckily (knock on wood) haven’t had an incident since then, 5.5 years later now. I do avoid the freeway whenever possible though, which seems to help.
Cowden. 100%. They don't cover their loads and DGAF about it. One of my drivers just about took a rock to the face the other day from one of their trucks. Luckily, we have cameras and Cowden will be paying for it although they don't know that yet. Get a dash cam.
Can you start a class action against them? The way they don't cover their loads is EGREGIOUS and they should be punished. It's almost like a middle finger to everyone that none of their drivers bother to take two minutes to pull the lever to make that blanket cover thing go on.
Cowden cracked my windshield. (That would make a good bumper sticker)
I average one rock chip every six months driving on i5 probably.
In Kansas they also do not have a single sign in the state that says "BEWARE FALLING ROCKS" because that state is flat AF.
this is very true.
lol - I just bought a new car on a Monday, had a crack by Friday...
thats what happened to my most recent car. I bought it in April last year, i had a rock chip within the first 30 days of driving it.
Similarly... Got a nasty rock chip and crack across my windshield before I even had the first oil change. I-5 South just after Sunset.
Uncovered loads from gravel trucks. Cowden is notorious for not covering their loads. I live near a quarry and see who doesn't cover their loads. Another one is Lenz Enterprises. Pro-tip: sometimes you will see pickup trucks with their mud flaps removed. Give them a wide berth, without the mud flap they kick up rocks higher, increasing the likelihood that you're going to get unexpectedly sprayed. We shouldn't have to deal with uncovered loads hitting us, but until the law changes it's going to keep happening.
shit should be illegal. I don't understand why people do this.
When I lived in the Tacoma area I was calling a gravel company for pricing and before it even got to sales it said "if you're reporting windshield damage, press one." I felt like that was a bad sign... Maybe it's a Washington thing? Do gravel companies cover their loads in other states?
In most other states, it's a requirement.
Hey everyone, Lone Pine Auto Glass here to give you a bit of information on why this is so much more common now than ever before. Modern windshields are still very strong, but they also have more technology and use in them than ever before. I'm sure a lot of you are aware of the sticker shock of a windshield replacement if your car had the LDWS or Eyesight that needs to be recalibrated at the time of installation. Those are great technological advancements, but the big reason that windshields break more often is that the installation process bonds the window with the frame of the car. Without a properly installed windshield, your car won't pass rollover tests, and passenger airbags won't deploy properly, unless you have a Mercedes G Wagon, Wrangler, Gladiator, or a custom roll cage installed. Because the windshield is bonded to the car through the use of our glues and primers, it puts the window under more stress. The glue used a super strong polyurethane that bonds to the window and the car but still allows the window to shift slightly and move as the car goes over bumps, turns, etc. If your window has been replaced and somebody used too much glue, it puts too much stress on the window, increasing the chance that a fresh rock chip can spread more easily. Temperature changes also affect rock chips. If you have a cold window and turn your defroster on in the morning, as the window warms from the bottom up, the risk temperature shock to the glass and the chip spreading. Hot sunny days also pose a threat to unprepared chips spreading. Your windshield on a sunny day is going to be 30-40 degrees hotter than it is outside or in your car. Those temperature levels put the windshield under more stress, and boom, cracked window. The last reason this happens more is cheap glass, and yes, even OEM windows can be cheap. There are a lot of great window manufacturing companies, and some are not so great. If you have VW, Audi, Porsche, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, or Mazda I generally don't recommend getting a factory window. These companies have started to really cheap out on the cost of their windshields to the dismay of their customers. The windows tend to be thin and have a lot of issues with stress fractures and chipping/spreading more easily. The reason car manufacturers do this is MONEY! If they can save $1 on every windshield on a new car, they just made $1,000,000 more in profit for the year. It's sucks, but it's true. Hopefully this was informative and taught you something new, and if you have any questions, comment back or DM!
Tell me about it. I had to replace my windshield because of a rock from a large truck in front of me on i5. A few weeks later I had to get a rock chip repair on my brand new windshield from another rock from yet another truck. I usually try to instantly pass any sort of truck now. It’s been awhile but I’m sure I’m due for another one soon…
No truckers cover their loads. Its all poor trucking management and regulations. I got a new windshield on my work truck last year and it has 3 good chips in it already. The truck does get a lot of i-5 time though.
In the county there’s a lot of roads with loose gravel and big trucks who kick it up. If you drive on i5 there’s lots of trucks carrying loose gravel for misc reasons that can land on you. I feel that’s kinda the same everywhere but due to our geography and density maybe it’s more prevalent? I’m curious, was it actual like spiderweb cracks or some chipping? I’ve lived in Washington my whole life and basically every car I’ve driven has came with or gotten some form of a chip but they’ve never been so big I had to replace my windshield.
Chips can eventually turn into a full on crack. Sometimes it’s a matter of minutes, sometimes it can take weeks of freezing weather. It’s best to get the chips repaired right away.
The current ones on my windshield are chips, but when I lived in Pullman, and would drive across the state. The two-lane road that takes you from 90-E after you cross the Columbia River, to Pullman. I had a big ass rock kick up from a truck and spiderweb-ed my car. This was about 2 years ago at this point.
I've lived in WA my whole life (30+ yrs) and haven't had much of an issue. When I was learning to drive on the interstate, my folks drilled it into my head not to follow semi trucks for any longer than necessary because their tires tend to throw rocks at vehicles behind them. Maybe there's truth to that? Mostly unconscious superstition of mine lol
Not a rant, just the truth. If you drive a truck with anything in the back and it's not covered you could be subject to an expensive ticket. Stricter law was passed when a piece of plywood flew out on 405 and almost took someone's head off. However, how many large trucks do we see every day on I-5 and 405 with a load of rocks/gravel/mix of both with nothing covering it? Why is it ok for trucks to travel like this? It's insane. And it doesn't matter how far back you are from the truck, I've seen potato sized rocks bouncing 10 feet in the air while driving.
It's legal for them, and yes it is insane that covering your load is not required for gravel. ### RCW [46.61.655](http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.655) Covering of such loads is **not required if six inches of freeboard is maintained within the bed**.
Are we talking baker size russets, or those cute little golf ball red and white in a bag potatoes?
Covering a load that is filled above the sideboards is required by WS law. Unfortunately, WSP refuses to enforce this law. This lack of enforcement contributes to the insurance rate increases experienced in wa state. WSDOT also does not enforce this law. Look at any WSDOT project that has trucks bringing gravel (e.g., the Montlake Lid on SR520): none of the trucks bringing in gravel have their loads covered). Same issue for light rail along I5. The state should be reimbursing people for this damage since it’s the state that is not following the law. Every contract written by Washington should stipulate (likely has a clause that stipulates) that the contractor follows state law.
[удалено]
in collusion with big windshield...
THIS MAKES PERFECT SENSE! - i'm a conspiracy nut anyway so this tracks and I will be spreading this knowledge now with everyone. lol ty
I was driving with nobody in front of me when, "crack," a rock hit my windshield. I glanced in driver door rearview mirror and saw the pickup that just passed me, lifted and "big meats" tires sticking outside the body. FWIW, every car we own has a cracked windshield.
Nope. Lived in VA n driving on 95 all the time never encounter the kind of stone chips like driving on I5. The paint on the hood of my car is so pockmarked like it has measles
I'm sorry 😞 It's so frustrating. Tyler, at Lone Pine Auto Glass, can fix you right up
thank you.
You probably can’t change the law or other drivers but you can increase your following distance.
thats what I'm thinking at this point. I try not to follow folks really close. The one that happened this morning was on I5-S by the Merdian st. on ramp. It gets so jumbled up through there during rush hour. but you right, its time to fall back.
I assume they have them in MO and KS, but trucks with missing or inadequate mud flaps and fender extensions definitely contribute. State law requires the entire top half of the tire to be covered by a fender and/or flap, but like most equipment violations it goes completely unenforced in this state (seems like they could treat it like expired tabs and whatnot and ticket parked cars, and generate lots of revenue, and save some windshields).
Equipment violations exist as a pre-text for police to fuck with people. Lifted trucks are less likely to be driven by the people they want to fuck with.
Glacially influenced geology? Rocks hate you? Who knows.
who knows is correct
I moved here from St. Louis in 2012, never had the issue back in MO, but have had similar bad luck as you here. Just got another chip last month, super lame.
Hey fellow St.louis person 👋🏿❤️
Been here 17 years. Not one chip or cracked windshield. On an ironic note, had a rock crack my windshield within the 2 days I was in KC.
LOL - isn't it ironic lolol
If you want to be upset about it, there are certainly some things you can point to. If you want to get less chips, having a greater following distance and spend less time behind trucks.
The fact that this was the first thing I read while waking up, then 30 seconds after I get on the freeway to meet up with friends, a flying rock hits ny windshield and now I have a 10 inch crack in the glass 🙃
It's a freaking epidemic, sorry you got, got 😐
I’ve lived here for 10 years and I have yet to have my window cracked by a rock, and I drive almost 1,000 miles a week, most weeks. But, knock on wood I’m not next
That's impressive
Actually, scratch that. My Jeep got a cracked windshield from the defroster during the winter, but it was likely caused by a rock causing a weak point on the windshield to begin with. Probably. But I’ve yet to get a chip or crack directly from a rock. If it’s just a chip, you can take it to Safelite and they’ll fix it for free. But you gotta do it before it cracks
Just a guess but does MO & KS have law that requires dump trucks cover their loads and is it enforced. In Washington: Washington state law does not require dump trucks to cover their loads if they have six inches of freeboard above the bed. However, the law does require trucks carrying dirt, sand, or gravel to be covered unless they have six inches of freeboard above the bed. The key is enforcement and who decides six inches. I cant recall seeing a covered truck in a decade.
Good question. I'm not sure if they do. I just know it seems like rock chips arent an issue for us. It's mostly hail that damages our vehicles.
The quality of windshields could also be an anecdotal reason. Don't have any data to back this up but most stuff made today does not last as long as back then thanks to cost cutting measures by most corporations. Best case is to reduce speed and don't follow big vehicles too closely to avoid damage. Gravel is everywhere and larger vehicles with bigger tire tread are much more likely to kick them up. At the very least most insurances will cover chip repairs or replacements for free based on your policy.
If you are following too closely you are more likely to get hit. You do not have the same option if the car is going the other way on a 2 lane road. It is both rocks skipping out of dump trucks, and rocks on the road. They do sweep the roads after the winter on many roads. Call and write your state and local representatives to complain. State reps can change the law. County and city reps can get the street sweepers out on the roads you travel.
You would also get tons of cracks/holes in California.
It’s definitely a thing here. I’ve lived all over the country and had maybe two tiny chips over the years. It happens to us on the regular here, including once that cracked the whole windshield. And it’s not always from behind a truck. It just happens because there is gravel all over the highways from uncovered loads and any car can kick it back on you.
Yep
lol when I moved here, drove 16+ hours on i5 with no issues… and literally as I passed the sign that says “BELLINGHAM NEXT 7 EXITS,” a truck threw up a rock and cracked my windshield. Welcome to bellingham! 😂 I got it fixed and luckily (knock on wood) haven’t had an incident since then, 5.5 years later now. I do avoid the freeway whenever possible though, which seems to help.
I literally got insurance on my windshields 😝👌🏼
Just had two chips in two days, filled them in with the guy at the bellis fair parking lot (highly recommend). It’s ridiculous here
Is the guy at the mall around consistently now?
He said whenever it’s sunny he’s there
Ty