Canadian owner-op says speed limiters unsafe on downhill grades

First of all, i've driven trucks that behave exactly as you describe. But, I guess they fixed that on the newer trucks, because my 08 cascadia will rev to any rpm in neutral at any speed..tested it just for the hell of it a while back.

And yeah, it was your fault, but it sure wouldve been nice to have been in gear, eh?

 

Rpm's can be limited in the ecm at idle or at speed in any gear with a few keystrokes on a laptop. Just because yours would rev wide open doesn't mean his would.

 

Please send us all a photo of your speedometer that goes to 100 mph or 125 mph like you say.

I think my BS meter just got pegged.

 

A little violent effort on the gear shift would have put the transmission in gear then let the clutch out and let the governed piece of crap over rev most engines won't dropp a valve till 3000 rpm and the more revs the more jake

There is a cure for all this crap everybody have the I can't run flu for one week and things will change , but nobody's got the guts for that

 

The guy in the article is talking out of his exhaust pipe.

We've had limiters here for over a decade. Never had one "runaway" on me yet even with 85,000lbs in tow, Ive never had a problem slowing down OR burned my brakes out.

On the European trucks I drive you can set cruise control and your exhaust brake to operate automatically. The limiter stops us going over 56 mph on the flat but downhill obviously gravity and more importantly the load want to push you faster.

By knocking down the cruise control a couple of mph as you hit the crest and also having the exhaust brake set to auto it kicks in and maintains a safe speed. It doesn't over rev beyond 2000 rpm, you can always dab the brakes if required. I do appreciate we may not have the mountains but the principle constant.

Our speed is recorded by our digital driving cards or analogue tachographs (paper trace recorder) we can be disciplined by our companies for speeding on the evidence recorder and the DOT can use it against us too. So we have to stay within the speed limits, some companies granted dont hammer the drivers for speeding. The ones I haul for do.

Anyone who knocks a truck into neutral going down a hill is surely asking for trouble. Knock it down a gear, use the engine brake to slow the engine it is at its most efficient for braking in the yellow band at 2-2,500 rpm.

This article is scaremongering at its best.

 

I have a GPS unit that tells me my speed, altitude and direction.


I think you better invest in a better BS meter.

I have been driving trucks for over a year when this happened. I'm not saying that I'm the best driver in the world, however I can safely say that any vehicle I get into I can handle it with ease.

None of our trucks in the fleet apply the “Jake Brake” automatically while set on cruise not even the newer Volvos that we have. However I know that some trucks have that option.

My speed is seen within 10sec by the office.

They can see;
Speed of vehicle.
When we start and shut off the engine.
Open and close the doors.
Seatbelt fastened or not.
Check engine light comes on.
Open our hood.
Reefer turned ON or OFF.
If reefer shuts down when the driver is sleeping it sends the dispatcher an alarm.
If the vehicle is speed reaches over 70Mph it sends the dispatcher a warning.

The next system that we are implementing in our vehicle is a full engine management system. This would let the management see almost live;

Engine RPM, vehicle speed, throttle position, turn indicators, brake lights and also any warning lights that come up.

 

I was thinking that too, but he might have a GPS suction cupped on his speedometer like i keep seeing werner drivers do, and GPS can read triple digit speeds.

sometimes i pull my gps out and show that the top speed on it is 95 mph and try to tell people i did that in my truck.

 

One driver that I know did 100Mph with 80,000 pound load. I know because I was beside him in my car.

This particular steep descent and is almost 7 miles long with lots of turns. I do appreciate that you think that you know what you are talking about however your imagination is far from the truth.

 

How do you get your ego into the cab ?

A whole 1 years experience and you arent in gear going down a mountain ? My 23 years of clean driving record means nothing by comparison.

Volvos and most european trucks have an automatic exhaust brake switch that can be set to engage when you lift off the accelerator pedal thus immediately operating your first two braking options in an instant.

I wish you well but my greater wish is for the safety of the other road users in your vacinity.

 

What do you mean by "ego into the cab"?
I got my "Air Brake Endorsement" by going walking into the ministry and just for fun wrote the test. Only got 1 question wrong.
I got my CDL after spending 3 hours in the cab, the instructor asked me how long I have been driving for? So I looked at my watch and told him 20 minutes. Two more road trips and learning how to do pre-trips I was told that I was ready for a road test.

However I did fail my first road test because the trailer brake would not release. It was in middle of December and the road was covered with snow. By the time I realized that one wheel was not rotating it was too late. We set up another road test 12 days later and I passed with a perfect score.
January 2008 I bought a 1998 Century in Halifax Nova Scotia. I bobtailed it to St Catharine's Ontario during a snowstorm, other than blowing a tire I had no problems. Week later my first trip was Toronto to Miami with a reefer hauling 80,000 pounds through the Virginia Mountains. During the trip back it snowed hard through the mountains and I had no problems.

I have lots of driving experience;
I have over 1 million miles driving 4 wheelers, 540 000 miles on motorcycles, over 26,000 racing miles and about 500 hours of flying and I'm only 44 years of age.
Now I have over 160,000 miles driving trucks. All accident free.
I started a trucking company 14 months ago with one truck. Now I have a total of 9 trucks and trailers all paid for. Everybody told me not to do it, it's hard. Yes it is hard however I believe in myself and I know what I can and can't do. My biggest problem is drivers, I can't believe some of the stupidest things that they have done and this is with drivers that have 30 years of experience.

I don't have an ego. I must admit it has been a difficult road, I have made many mistakes. Never give up and always believe in yourself and most of all always, always have a positive attitude. Tomorrow is another day.