What is your take on this ??????

Don't you think that the snow has something to do with it? Again, obviously, there was too much weight pushing the tractor whereas the trailer did not have enough traction to stay behind you. If you are referring to me being overweight, then view my recent photo please.

 

Are you serious? If you are then you need to join the real world and know that no one gets under the truck to check the thickness of the brake pads. Sure you look but actually checking the thickness is unreal.

Most of us know that this driver most likely made a mistake and failed to check his brakes or was going to fast. But that's not the issue at hand. Should he have taken the escape ramp or continued on? It doesn't matter what the outcome of his actions are in points or fines he did the right thing. Just look at the outcome he may have suffered if he would have passed the ramp and went on. He would have caused an accident and then he's liable for that. I would rather take any points or fines instead of looking at manslaughter charges or living with the thought that I killed someone. Even if there's no fatalities it's going to be messy. CHECK YOUR BRAKES THE RIGHT WAY before it's too late.

 

What gear were you in ? Were you riding the brakes ? How much mountain training have you had ? What did your company mechanic say was wrong with the brakes ?

 

"Those that have and those that will."

I have had 2 brake modulating valves fail. By the grace of God, I was going slow in both cases. It is interesting, just before they failed, they worked......Even as sharp as I thought I was, I could not prevent it....Something to think about for all the guys that like to tailgate. I cannot imagine running over a family in a 4 wheeler or a couple on a 2 wheeler.....

Back in the day, before spring safety brakes were invented, if your air got low, you were freewheeling. Boy could I tell a story on that one......

Do not ever count on your jake brake. It should be there just to give a warm fuzzy, impress everyone in little towns with "NO Jake Brake" signs, and save break wear under normal driving conditions.


Riding a motorcycle, set your speed before going into a curve. On a rig, set your speed before going down hill.....

Before our company would buy jakes, if I had to use the brakes, I would always use the trailers, and then I always had cool tractor brakes as a back up. Then I would stop after out of the hills, and adjust the slak adjusters on the trailer. I figured it was better to find out that I had over heated some of the brakes, than to find out they were all smoked. I know, not the approved method....

 

stone express,your last paragraph made no sense at all

 

Snowblind,

Sorry, I thought maybe that would be over the top. What part would you like me to expatiate?

We had hand valves for the trailer brakes, and I know that some companies will not spec their trucks with one.

Any need for brakes except for unexpected contingencys, means one is going down in the wrong gear, so there was not much braking going on.

I understand it is difficult to imagine operating in big hills without a jake brake, but some of us actually survived and never had to use the sand trap....

SE

 

oh im sorry you have been driving how long..........never mind

 

Take it easy, man. My point was....did he even look at the brakes before heading out? I dont measure my brakes either.....chill.

 

Started driving with an O/O in September 1973, in a 1969 Pete, with a jacked up 335 Cummins a 13 speed, 24 in. hard, bias rubber, and 4.44 gears. First trip, MI, Pheonix, to LA and back. 22 years old, and fresh out of the Air Force, and it almost seems like yesterday.

Had never been to a driving school, as they were just in their infancy, and he did not give me a driving test, when I was put in the seat, and he crawled into the bunk in MO at night......Started double clutching, and he leaned out of the bunk, and said "Oh ya, I forgot to tell you, I don't use a clutch, so try and not use it either." And so it was. Whoa, by the time we got back to MI, I thought I was a big rigger!

Sorry, now you got me ruminating...., but thanks for asking.

 

well my mistake you have been here little longer than me.still think your wrong bout trl brakes,and yes i have driven trucks without jakes out west to.