Jake brake etiquette

Cooperation, what a concept!! Jim, that is positively the best post I've seen on this site. Jakes in the truckstop, especially at night?....there i never a need for them. As to the governed truck drag races, the one being passed could simply drop speed by 1 mph, that's all, just 1 measly mph, let the other complete his pass, wait until he's far enough ahead, then pick your speed back up. Total lost time can be counted in seconds. There are just sooo many problems that could be avoided simply by showing a bit of courtesy and cooperation.

 

Trucking is a service yes. But it is more than just a service. It is the life blood of our Nation like our red blood cells carry oxygen to keep us alive.

To the other poster, Ive had tractors come around or try to before the trailer thinks about it. Wife had a tractor break loose on ice in the west of Knoxville once. We got it back (I was on the dash and moved the wheel just so before she had a chance to do anything and told her to freeze everything, whatever power she was on that right foot etc.) Number two got it back. But three through 7 did not. They poured into the median canyon between the west and eastbounds. A bad day all around.

With the Ravens in Louisiana during the rain time each year it usually tried to slide around to the right when empty. It got to the point I no longer stressed about it. Just another day in the Gulf.

 

Jake brakes are a blessing to truck safety and should be considered by those whose comfort is being disrupted by the sound. Having them on creeping through a truck stop is ridiculous. At the end of the day, common sense should prevail.

 

Thanks, Toothpick1. Very good thoughts and comments, I agree completely. 1mph - it makes a big difference in the right spot.

So many drivers complain about "respect," and driving conditions, and how trucks are so often targeted for enforcement....I wonder how many of these people are littering, throwing their piss bottles out the window, intimidating other vehicles by tailgating and cutting in, dumping trash, driving unsafely. I do, I wonder. In my life, so many times I've seen those who complain the most are often the worst offenders. Who knows, maybe these people didn't get enough attention as children and never got over it.

There's a nice saying from somewhere "be the change you want to see." I love that. If you (anyone) want better conditions, less enforcement, more respect (whatever that is) be safer, more legal, and more cooperative yourself. And don't whine about these things until you do step your game up. My $.02.

 

Starboyjim is right. Throwing piss out the window onto a mountain of piss in the front row center trash can for the car people to see and smell is a deep loss of face and a dishonor to our entire Industry.

I recall my piloting, navigation flying days and we kept a special purpose built man's and female pee bottle to dispose of liquid and contain it sealed off from the environment until properly disposed of. I think once I was on the Ambassador sitting at customs gate taking a moment. Detrioter Truckstop stop was not enough that day, too much fluid intake and tension of customs. But he was cool.

At some point there might have to be a small corner in the rigs built so humans can learn to manage waste properly and actually gain some advantage closer to a RV situation when laying over extended time in the sleeper.

 

At a large DC making a delivery and this jackwagon here keeps meandering around the lot going no more than 5-10 mph with his jake brake on. One of the unmuffled, loud as you can possibly make em deals too. Exactly why people get pissed and pass ordinances against them, totally unnecessary and annoying...

 

Some people respect other peoples piece and quiet while others don't we have a supermarket down where i live and nearly ever morning at 5:20 am someone with a reefer comes down there with their motor roaring can't tell you how annoying that is. My rule when i drove through a build up area was no jakes between 10 pm - 7 am.

 

I run through Killdeer, ND, a small town with small town cops. It's downhill no matter how you get into town.. but I always burn my brakes instead of blaring the engine brake. Truck stays nice & quiet. People are happy. I am happy.

 

On the lighter side of this story; I had a route for a few months that took me right past a primary school. The kids would line up on the side walk and put their hands to their ears. They loved the blast of the duel air horns and the rip of the jake. When my timing was right, I always gained a little speed just for them; then, hit the horns and the jake at the same time. Hey, those little people loved it. I didn't give a rat's butt about the adults complaining.