Out of Control Semi Slams Into Several Others Saturday on I-5 South of Ashland

Thanks for the info everyone...it's always best to ask for answers rather than just sitting here wondering. I'm a pretty intelligent person...but I don't know if I could digest all the info needed to be a good truck driver, sounds pretty overwhelming...I think I'll stick with my 4 wheeler and leave the dh to do the 'big' driving.

 

because if for some reason you can't get 'er in gear... you might as well look up to God rather than at the road... because on a 3 mile long 6% grade at 100 mph.... your day is done. Never shift once you start down a steep grade. Be in the right gear at the crest of the hill in the first place. And that's usually one gear lower than what you climbed the hill in. Your jake will NOT hold you back on a steep grade unless you're in the right gear to begin with.

 

down shift going down hill ?? NO WAY.I HOPE YOUR NOT BEHIND ME DOING THAT

 

Well I guess you could be partially right because there are downgrades that are not constant and sometimes you do have to shift up or down depending on the grade but for the most part its a good idea to be in the gear that you want to be in before you start down the hill so you dont get into trouble, weather you are scared of downshifting or need more training shifting or not. That specific hill has signs at the top saying what speed you should be going. Not all trucks have jake brakes.

 

here are The postings at the top of the hill. Cut and dry, they may not be able to weigh you and hit you with the radar at the same time but in situations like this if you are going 20 over the limit for your weight they will make careless stick!

Too many guys will get ####y and try to do stupid things for stupid reasons, and this is the outcome. Think about what you are doing then think about why you are doing it.

 

Never learning to downshift on a grade insures you will eventually cook your own goose if you run mountian grades enough.

While the DOT wants schools to teach this and other things (like blinding the **** out of a driver with your brights when they complete a pass) it is wrong.

Our students learn to downshift on a grade...thankfully.

If you are unable to/incapable of downshift(ing) on a grade......You DO NOT have control of your vehicle.

Federal Guidelines for training truck drivers are KILLING people.

 

Well he couldn't do much than what he did i guess.

 

Nice pic - I haven't been down that hill in a long, long time - I don't remember seeing a sign like that telling you your speed at the weights. I don't know what driving schools are teaching people, cause I never went to one, but if they aren't teaching how to navigate grades, it's a useless school.
I've taken 10% grades fully loaded with the engine brake on and never tapped the brakes - was just experiment with whether you could actually going down a pretty good grade, with the right engine, and actually make it to the bottom like that. Problem? The truck was going 10 mph all the way down in 4th gear. lol.
I do believe the first few times you actually have to take a steep hill on by yourself is a pretty scary venture.