Oh Mr. Professional Experienced Truck Driver

If he is going fast enough in a parking lot to "need" the Jakes , he is in over his head. You gotta be kiddin' me!!!!!!! Same would apply to spotting pedestrians in the same situation. If the low beams can't cover him in a parking lot at a reasonable speed , adjust them.

 

He said truck stop (parking lot) OR rest area. There are a number of Mountain State rest areas where slowing safely with a load would make using a jake smart. (All but the old, unmuffled design hardly make any noise, anyway.)

As for light, more is categorically safer. Parking lots are dangerous places. Here are some stats:

 

Nobody "needs" a jake going into a rest area, mountains or not. Slow down before you enter. I always figure these are new drivers, "See, look at me, I'm driving a BIG truck, and it's got a JAKE BRAKE!!"

 

or they are just forgetful!

 

I've seen drivers leave their lights on many times, and sometimes it is annoying, I figure they are totaly worn out. I don't understand why anyone would ever use a jake backing up, and it is impossible to leave the jake on while parked, it will kill the motor on older trucks and the safety shutoff will turn it off below 1000 rpm's on newer trucks. All these post made at 1:30 a.m. while trying to sleep sounds like your gown might be to tight.

 

I did that once, had been driving all night, pulled into a truck stop, forgot to shut off the headlights, killed the motor, crawled directly into the sleeper, woke up 8 hours later, truck no starty. Boy was I mad at myself.

 

I haven't left the Jake on but I have left my lights on after I was parked. The driver directly across from me gave me a little flash, I turned off my lights, did my best "sorry, I'm a rookie" pose to the driver and went on about my business....so did he!

 

This is something I do as well. I even do it in my personal vehicle.