Just some questions came up after the I70 crash in CO.

Y'know, my first year on the road I did Donner, Grapevine, The Sisters, Vail, all the big hills and passes without any 'formal' downhill training and I'm still here to (mis)tell all of it. There were a couple that I smoked my brakes on but I was (just) smart enough that I didn't completely overdrive my skill. I've watched the cowboys and hotshots and those in a hurry not make it all the way down. (knock on wood), I've never had to take a ramp or put the truck in a ditch or on its side. I'm not always the brightest bulb, I've hit 85-90 coming into Wy heading east. I've "let it roll" a bit too quickly down Monteagle more than once. I credit my guardian angel with my continuing ability to breathe and put one foot in front of the other. All the gods know the mega that put me on those hills when my cdl was still fresh don't deserve any.

 

What did ATA say about this? Nothing. Because they are personally putting money in certain Politicians pockets to push the CDL age requirement to 18 years old.

Soon you will hear something like this in the news. “18 year old truck driver crashed. 100 people dead.”

 

Monteagle is a whole different story. All trucks pull into an extension of the rest area at the top, a cop (or somebody) looks at your brakes, day or night, and once released, I believe the 25 mph speed limit is strictly enforced and heard they time you, and if you hit the bottom too soon, they come after you. I've seen trucks stopped after the hill.

 

I've never seen anyone other than the drivers checking brakes at Monteagle. Of course, I seldom see anyone stopping at that brake check area.

 

Yeah, it's been a while since I've been through there, that's how it used to be anyway. Probably another budget cut, and that will be the scene of the next crash. At least there's no city at the bottom.

 

I don't worry about little eagle. It's a nice hill. But just a hill. Set the truck proper and get on down.

Anyone smoking it or screwing it up is not yet a trucker and in need of remedial training.

 

I started in 2006 and never seen any official checking anyone’s brakes or timing you.
It’s 45 mph for trucks going down it and the eastbound has a sign recommending lower speeds for heavier vehicles.
And some trucks skip it and I’ve seen trucks pulled over for skipping it.
And I’ve seen all kinds of trucks smoking their brakes and a few parked on the shoulder at the bottom with blown tires.

 

I never have understood the mystique around Monteagle other than it's in the south. However when I first started OTR I took the short cut off US 64 and went through the small town of Monteagle on whatever highway that is. I'm guessing that's where the legendary status comes from. Switchbacks and STEEP. Lol. They where having a marathon when I went through and will never forget seeing joggers pass me.

 

There is a trucking movie that invoked that mountain or maybe a country song, I forget at the moment. Fuzzy memories. I blew off that particular mountain in my last post however it demands respect when one of those ordinary ice and sleet storms coat the place and you realize that the leaning of the pavement in some parts might just slide you sideways into the mountain or off it. If your speed was in a certain range (I think about 24 mph) or better you were able to counteract the leans.

I had mountain school with Cass Scenic Railroad in WVa where we took on 11 to 12% up to Spruce and back. The engine did a very excellent job on that grade in the light rain that day as a teenager. I received my first downgrade braking instruction from a brakeman in our passenger car. Each car had a staffer controlling the brake wheel. Easy on easy off considering the demands of gravity.