the unnecessary usage of j-brakes, why????

Allow me to try to answer your questions as best as I can.

1. A driver using a Jake Brake doesn't necessarily mean he is speeding.

2. Use of a Jake brake means you use your brakes much less.

3. Why did you move so close to the highway?

4. Jake brake laws are band aids that are dangerous to the sensitive people who live near highways.

Here is the deal. I run my jakes to save my brakes. It is that simple. I will not run my jakes in residential area, or the truckstop or anywhere I might wake somebody UNLESS there is a safety reason for doing so. On the highway I will run my Jakes even when there is a law against doing so. I do this for safety reasons. My safety as well as yours. If your wife, or child were to pull out in front of me, wouldn't you want fresh, cool brakes as well as an engine brake helping me to stop or slow enought to avoid them?

Yes, they are noisy and some are louder then others (un-muffled trucks) but they are a safety device and serve a very good purpose. The law should NOT discourage the use of Jake brakes and the enforement should go towards un-muffled trucks. That is your real issue.

I grew up 100 feet from BNSF main line between Chicago and LA. Believe me, you can learn to sleep through anything.

Your question reminds me of one of my nieghbors when I was a kid. He was always writing Burlington Northern and the local papers complaining about the train blowing its horn through the crossing next to his house. 10 years later they closed the closing. The trains still (to this day) blow thier horns when on approaching the old crossing.

 

The jakes (engine brake) are designed to slow the truck but not to stop the truck. This principle a few drivers do not make a connection with and the laws or ordnances are written to address these people.

I am with kc0rey in that I rarely use my jake, or retarder, in a residencial area unless I need the extra braking power. When in mountain driving and on down hill grades I have them on to keep the brakes from heating up, when you rolling 80,000 pounds it does not take much to heat the barakes up to the point were they are smoking and when the brakes start are hot the stopping power is vastly deminished and can be to the point were they are useless.

I also live in a rural area and the highway is a major route for logging trucks, so I can sympathise with you, I can be woken up with something as little as a neibor slaming a door or sleeping through an earthquake.

The best advice I can give you is either go with better sound proofing or lern to live with the extra noise...

 

Oh but that is such a sweeeeeet sound.

 

If it wasn't for those loud noisy trucks grunting down your highway you would be out killing your own wildlife for food; that you go out to the super market every day to fill your cup boards sir.

Think about that for a moment"" before you place judgment on all of us hard working truckers moving the products through out America so you can eat & keep your tummy full.

I suggest you move to the a desert location and try a nice juicy jack rabbit if you can't handle a minor --but very pleasant noise!

Are you a Man or a Mouse ??

Semper Fi 8)

 

I apolgize for those stupid comments I posted > about the desert and jack rabbits.......I take that back and shut my mouth.

Take care everyone & God Bless