the unnecessary usage of j-brakes, why????

We got paid by the ton & didn't have any scales to cross. Guess what we weighed?

 

About 1,000,000 pounds...

 

The jake brake is a tool to be used for a specific purpose and there is a time and place for them. A residential area is not the place unless for emergency purposes. However if you live beside a highway then your going to hear them, just like if you live beside a farm your going to smell it, and so on. The jake saves a lot of money on brakes and gives a truck the ability to slow down or stop a lot quicker when needed. I wish for the sake of noise there was a better design to muffle them, but until then we have to use the tools that are available to us.

 

As I've said before, my Jake/engine/exhaust configuration is about as quiet as can be. In other words, mine won't be heard for miles, much less in the can of the truck with the radio moderatly turned ul......

 

I love my Jakes. Use them majority of the time. I'm running dump trailers and triaxles, usually just under legal weight or just over the legal weight (although I never cross a scale and I know I can still get in trouble) I run them due to the fact that it slows me down and slows me down from putting my foot on that brake pedal. I don't exactly rely on them but I use them whenever I feel I should. If I'm rolling through a suburban area around 5:30 in the morning I wont use them but other then that I will hit the switch when necessary. And no I'm not one to just use them to look cool, its like a tool and I use it for its purpose.

 

There are two classes here, those that have powershift automatics(torque converter) and those that have manual transmissions.

I have a Class A and worked around trucks, but I have only experience driving motor coaches. I ALWAYS used my jake brake with exceptions. With an automatic transmission, I can and DID use the jakes in attempts to stop the coach with out using the service brakes. Loaded and empty, most motor coaches gross 40-55k pounds. With less weight its more effective, with an automatic transmission when the jake brake is applied the tranmission is programmed to immediately down shift 1-2 gears. For a Series 60, that meant 2,400 RPM jake braking and it slowed the coach down extremely well. Not only that, its much smoother for passengers because I anticipated stopping ahead.

There are some truckers that jake shift, which is not recommended and annoying. I've tried it and didn't care for it, as it cuts the throttle momentarily and you lose speed. Using the jake brake at a truck stop, rest area, residential neighborhood is probably not recommended. Have I used the jakes near a residentail neighborhood during the DAY? I might be guilty of that...

Finally, it does save on the service brakes and it increases safety.

I love the sound of the jakes. Really, they aren't as loud or on the same level as a crotch rocket, straight piped Harley, rice burning Honda with fart can, or straight piped semi. As long as the truck use the jake brake is muffled, its really not that bad, of course ideally I don't like to be disturbed with noise when I'm home. Let's face it, population is expanding streets are getting closer, its getting harder not to annoy anyone else.

 

Jake's are a neccessary part of the job. Most consumers would complain more if they went to the grocery store to buy their eggo's for morning breakfast with their cup of coffee only to find the shelves bare cause a trucker did not get the product to the shelf fast enough to make their life cumfy cozy. Sorry in advance if that ever happens to you. Eggo's rock and I like my coffee with cream and sugar!

 

My dads a trucker, you're a trucker you're a valuable part of the team. How ever, if the cashiers stopped checking people out America would stop too since no one could buy food at the store. If the mechanics stopped working on your truck you'd stop too. While most everyone appreciates the role of a trucker, there are certain things that you should not do to deliberately annoy others, although some annoying will happen. While you're important, you're not the most important person out there to justify to everyone else that jakes are a part of the job giving the option of listening to the jakes or go hungry. Be reasonable. Jake wisely.

 

I never Jake "unnecessarily", I only Jake when I wanna slow down.

 

I didn't read EVERY reply, but I scanned most and didn't notice any mention of oversize. I'm 111,000 lbs empty, and typically 230 to 260,000 lbs loaded. Some states REQUIRE use of jake/exhaust brakes on their oversize permits, regardless of local laws. Would you rather I can't come to a stop and run over your wife and children, or make a little noise and come to a safe controlled stop over and over?

I agree with the muffled/unmuffled discussion. My jakes are muffled, and I have a hard time hearing them, and I know they're in use!