Automatic transmission with Jake's going down the hill

Maybe there's exceptions but so far in our 3 Kenworths with X15 engines with TX-18 transmission the jakes do not activate at all on cruise. Haven't checked to see if that's just another computer setting.....

 

That should be in the programming also. My 2022 with the auto was set to kick on at 3 over. The 2026 I drive now with a manual is the same, kicks on at 3 over on cruise.

 

I thought that was the case with mine, but then I noticed that going down a hill in cruise control that the engine brake would kick in once my speed reached 5 mph higher than the cruise control. I’d note that it took me a year in this truck before I noticed that!

 

So it would appear that drivers dont know how to go down a hill.
Its been my experience that I use my brakes going down hills. In my experience the engine brake will over rev the engine, So I brake going down. Slow down before you start down, maintain a slower speed right from the beginning.
I can stab brake, or light touch them constant without a problem, but would not depend on the engine brake to do anything but assist me.
But then what do I know I haven't been driving but a few short decades.

 

Why ride the brakes if you don’t have to? Especially with the engine brakes on emission motors? Even before that I somehow managed to get a lot of loads down a hill at 105k in the northwest without riding the brakes.

 

I dont consider using my brakes going down hill, riding my brakes. I use my brakes including the engine brake when I think its the best way to handle a situation. When I teach a new driver I dont even allow them the use of a engine brake for the first 4 weeks or so. They need to be taught how to control there speed without one.
I have never had a problem with my brakes overheating.
Most drivers are not paying attention and enter the downhill at to high of speed to start with,

 

I agree but also as Longfld notes different setups, loads, types of roads etc require different applications. I drive the rockies on many steep, narrow and windy highways (you want to test your skills drive US-50 from Delta UT to Fallon, NV..... 15-17 mountain passes with 3-12% grades. )..... My truck is 105,000-110,000 lbs on those and rarely am I getting over 20-24 mph on a downhill with sharp narrow corners. The jakes make a huge difference. Even driving down the 1 mile road out of the mine at 8-10 mph without Jake's and locking truck in lower gear will crank the rpms within seconds after applying foot brakes to get down to 5 mph in 3rd gear. But like everything else in being a professional driver..... There is no "one size fits all solution"..... It's going to vary from rig setup to rig setup, load variables, changing road conditions, driver experience etc. I get frustrated seeing so many people say "this is how you do it"..... There are common foundations of knowledge and listening to experienced drivers is important in learning but it's not always the best for a given scenario.

 

I agree completely, there is no one fits all answer, why it is so important for a new driver to learn how to use whats available.