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

I would suggest that the most productive use for your comments would be to insist that your state pass an "engine muffler-brake law". this will likely help out your problem. The trucking industry is growing at a rapid pace, because our poulation is doing the same. I'm sure other areas of your life are similarly impacted. I used to get to my warehouse from my house in twenty minutes. Now it takes 35 or 40. I would like to have this inconvenience removed from my life by somebody else, but it is just a product of our growth as a nation.
Peace

 

I have wondered about that myself even being a driver. I see several possibilities: 1. They think it is a macho way to announce their presence. 2. There leg is so fat and heavy they dont want to make the effort to use the normal brakes. It is flat stupid and inconsiderate to me to use a jake in a residential area. "Preserving the brakes" is pathetic BS excuse only a lazy moron could come up with. Who in hell needs to preserve their brakes in town ? Gives us a bad name and its plain inconsiderate.

 

Was cruising one day on my way to St. Louis with my Trainer. Couple trucks passed us and the last pete had 13' stacks pinched at the ends only about an inch hole left. He let off the gas and wow that thing just screamed, was the loudest thing I have ever heard. Trainer just laughed an said what a #######.

 

Long time since a post been made but I do have a story to tell that will enlighten this person on why Jake Brakes should be used.

I drove for a small Company in Georgia, I was assign a truck that did not have Jake Brakes. I had this haul I was on twice and it carried me down a mountain in western North Carolina on US 441.

Both trips I did lose my brakes coming down the Mountain. To prevent a fire, I kept moving letting the air cool the brakes, but I had to play the Hills to slow down and then watch the lights ahead of me. Yes Coming into Franklin, NC. It did not take long before I had my brakes back, but it was a scary ordeal. One trip I made it down within 20 miles of the Drop, still the brakes were touchy but would stop me. I had a JB Hunt pull out in front of me, I put the load Steel Coils through the Front of the trailer about an inch. If JB done that 50 miles sooner, I'll had gone through his Trailer. Not really smart on my part either.. But if I had a Jake Brake on that truck, I could have had them to use instead of losing my brakes coming down that Mountain.

 

You remind me of these idiots who always leave them on and while accelerating from a stop they let off the accelerator too quick and the jake comes on, makes it hard to get a gear, huh. I don't understand drivers who always keep them on. It is not that hard to raise that right arm and flip the dang switch. I see it as laziness.

 

Well that what I always tried to do, Just by the time I got to the bottom I had smoke coming out from the brakes, and gotten up to 45MPH at the bottom. Either that Blow the engine due to going way over RPM's. At the bottom of the Mountain, there was a small Hill I used to slow me back down, and I would then go no faster than 35 in a 55 to cool the brakes. What I should have done was take the longer way around. Taken I 75 to I 85..
As I said I was not perfect, and never would claim I was. I listen to the older and more experenced Drivers and learn from my mistakes...

I already had Blew the engine due to it's over heating, which was NOT my fault. I told the Shop it was running hot and they said No it's fine, it suppose to. After it blew, and they repaired it, I did not get down the road 5 miles and it blew again, same reason. Just a messed up truck. What can I say, it was an Ex Swift Truck. Left because of the Truck, not pay nor the company it's self beside not moving me into a better truck.. More about the Company later.

I like the Company for when I was able to run, I made money. Even got paid to drive the truck home for the weekend.

 

Ok Thanks. I'm no longer Dirving due to an early force retirement. Medical Problems. Least others will see and learn and that's what I hope to do here is help others learn from my experences and just to read what going on.