May orientation out of Phoenix, training questions.

2_4 weeks...
Yes
Depends. I teach my students to never touch the brake while going down a mountain. Proper gear and jakes on never gotta touch your brakes

 

Unless it is a snow covered mountain. Then you don't want to use the Jake brake. I made that mistake in December and almost went into a jacknife. Lucky I made it out without wrecking.

 

Very true. Ill still have my jake on low. Usually 5 low and very gently apply even pressure on my brakes to 5mph below my comfortable speed and repeat.

 

Much Agreed!!

 

Once again .. Much agreed !!

 

I like to say in that situation "jake before footbrake" there are three different kinds of jakes/####### and the idea is so attempt to slow compression were as the foot brake attempts to literally stop the wheel. That being said that if you lose traction with the jake on you would have for sure lost it hitting the service brakes. The idea is not use either! believe it or not not that long ago many trucks didn't have a retarder.

I have a goal every day and that is to only hit my brakes on a pre and post to check stroke distance and lighting. If your operating the rig right and your timing traffic and lights correctly you should never have to hit your brakes EVER! you should be able to slow to a stop with out the service brakes and time the lights so that everything is smooth and fluid. Gliding almost like your floating on a cloud! LOL