Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

And the winner is.....
Donner Pass in California which is 40 Miles at 6%

The Runner ups.
Snoqualmie in Washington along interstate 90. That's 18 miles at 5%
Tehachepi in California which is 14 miles at 3% to 6%
Cumberland in Maryland which is 13 Miles at 7%.

However length is not the only problem. Contrary to popular opinion, size matters.

Here's the top Grade mountains

Sandstone and Grassy Meadows top the chart at 7%, but they only run five miles.
Lewiston Hill in Idaho is also 7% at the idaho/montana state line on I90.

There are steeper grades out there, but as far as Steven's mountains, these are the largest major mountains, and all of them will count as your two mountains. (depending on the direction of travel)

I've been down some 10% grades in Vermont that were short, but interesting.

For those that don't know, the percent of a grade is a calculation of how far you drop to how far you move forward. A 100% grade would be at a 45º Angle. A 200% grade makes your brakes ineffective, but usually is descended at 32 ft/second.

 

WGcarver, thanks for the clearing up of the stab and snub, they both start with S, and I know what I mean, applying gentle pressure to reduce speed, then release, repeat, until you reach the bottom. With the old asbestos brakes, steady pressure kept them from catching fire, as it kept the oxygen away from the heat. The new brake material cools off much quicker, and that is why snub braking started being taught.

Quick point, if you ever over heat your brakes, do not release them, but keep pressure on them, not allowing air into the heat and ignition, until they cool. If you can keep moving slowly, they will cool faster. It is always easier to just start down the mountain slowly, and reach the bottom relaxed, in control, and safely.

I am glad you teach the method that stevens suggests. Mine is real world experience that works for me, and is safe. Students should start with the lower gear.

Interstates are supposedly limited to 6% grade, but there are a few, I68 in maryland that has some 7%. Now PA has some 10 and 11% grades that are not on the interstate, and are quite interesting. Always be careful when planning your own route, and check to see what those mountains are like.

This summer Stevens had some veteran drivers run i70 across colorado, Vail, and Eisenhower, and report back. Have not heard what the decision is yet, but students and 1st yr drivers will not be allowed on this section of I70.

Most Load assignments tell you the gross weight, so you know going in how much the load will weigh.
There are some locations we are told to go in with no more than 1/2 tank of fuel, due to the weight. You go in with more, and can not haul the load, you will loose the load, and sit and wait for a load light enough for you to pull, or be deadheaded a long distance for another load.

I always go to a Truck stop, or to a hotel when at a meat plant and waiting. A company driver can not go to the hotel, as they must stay with the truck. As I pay the insurance on the truck, I can go to a hotel, and get a nice shower, and a good nights sleep.

Now there are some so called trainers that do not teach the student how to go down the mountain without a jake brake. I know I had one. He was more worried about miles, and miles. He actually taught me nothing, except how to break the rules.

 

Donner pass is long, but is not 6% for 40 miles. There is one section for 3 miles that is 6%, and 4 miles of 5%, and the rest is 2 to 3%. It is the steady drop from 7200 to 900 ft in elevation over the 40 miles that get drivers into trouble. Average grade for the 40 miles is 2.9% 6,300/211,200 (drop in elevation/40 miles(40*5280)) To be 6% for the entire 40 miles, you would need to start at 13,000, Think Mt Rainer in Washington state, for a visual of a 6% grade for 40 miles. Makes a great ski slope, but not much fun to drive down.

 

No, 1st pick up was Verona Pa (Lamagna Cheese), then the proscioutto from Freeland PA(Citterio USA) and then Carol Stream IL (Cheese Distributors Something).

We are now in Checotah OK on I40 waiting to see if we can be re-powered. Call your DM's now if you want to go to Austin to see family!

 

You were about 25 miles from my homestead

 

I've done the pass one time. The inside lane was gone, due to construction and the road was really narrow. One wrong move and there's a nice free fall. I was always told to snub brake and had never heard of your method till now.

I sure could have used that method. I was really getting worried about my air by the time I came off Donners pass.

I70 through Colorado is beautiful.

 

I'll try to remember to ask about chains, though I see it's been answered as well. So far most drivers I've gotten to talk to are friendly and fairly open if you catch them with the time to chat.
Miles are there for those who run them and deliver on time. Most say they are getting less than they could handle or less than they want, but only a couple have said they aren't getting enough. At least so far I haven't talked to one who says he wishes he could get his hands on the owner and throttle him anyway.
There is a small building here for the drivers lounge next to the building with the school inside, and us trainees are not allowed inside it or to bother drivers around it, so I'll talk to one who's coming or going or standing around outside with a cig, so I often end up talking to a driver who is waiting for his family to pick him up for his days off or one who's coming back from time off, or one who's sitting around while his truck is being checked or repaired.
You never hear "too much freight" and you don't hear "all the freight you can handle"
You do hear "I'm getting enough" and "Enough but I could use some more" and only once have I heard "I'm not getting any loads" but then, that driver was almost certainly of the variety "I'm not going there" or "I don't like that load" and is probably being given light duty because he's hard to work with or trust with loads.
You should know right now that Stevens does not let you take your truck home on your days off. I've heard the rumor that if you can prove you have a fenced/locked/secure location you can, but otherwise you secure your rig at a Stevens or other trusted yard/facility and drive/ride home in your own vehicle.

 

STEVENS TRANSPORTATION chat thread.
How about we put up a thread where general chat and such can be held like the Central Refrigerated guys have done, somewhere better than in instead of under the Bad Trucking Company thread here?
I'll even go start it if you guys think it's a good idea, then come back and post a link to it here.
If anyone else starts one in a more fitting location, please put the link in this thread.
Seems like a good idea if you ask me for everyone to keep in touch and chat it up. Lord knows the Central Refrigerated thread is probably one of the longest on this forum and one of the busiest as well.

 

I'm with you Smokr head it up and I will follow. If you don't have time to head it up then I will. I will also see if Jerry C and TLeaHeart will follow as well. Jerry C and TLeaheart are two trusted lease operators which are full of good information. Thanks for the feed back Smokr. Let us know where you are in training and how's it going so far. Hope to hear from you soon. Also, are you training on 8 speeds or the 10 speeds. . .

 

go and start the thread in the favorites area. I was planning on starting one like the crete year in review thread on the first of the year, to let drivers discuss how their weeks are going, and such.

And hopefully the moderators will NOT merge it with this thread, or another one, like they did with Fozzybears thread.