down shifting on a downgrade

Not only that, what if there's an accident and traffic is stopped? Now, yeah, someone behind you WILL end up plowing through the traffic, it's inevitable, but at 80,000lbs going down even just a 6% grade, it's going to take A LOT to stop that truck without knowing how to downshift on those hills.

 

I agree I've done the commentary thing and its a complete distraction from your driving

 

Some trucking companies order trucks without Jake brakes, they say they don't cross the Rockies so they don't need them, all I can say is rutherfordton,NC 14% grade all cmv's use low range mandatory stop half way down to check brakes, notice I said low range not lower gear like it says at Mount eagle, tn they also say don't use Jake's in snow or ice. I've never lose traction using Jake's but I have locked up the drivers using pedal. I'm gonna use a phrase that has little meaning today, use some COMMON sense. Put the cell phone down, last the subway sandwich to side and pay attention. Most of us have families and so do those morons driving the four wheeler's beside us. To the new driver don't worry about what other drivers think, they were all new ounce upon a time. If you ask and experienced driver to help, they will, if you hit that same drivers truck, because you thought you had it you might get your ### kicked ( or at least threatened to be kicked) in 13yrs only seen two truck stop fights.

 

That would have been hard for the two hispanics I removed from my parking space at our service center today. No company and hardly even a truck. Guessing they are hauling our freight contracted out to go South.

 

{enters the room, looks around, clears his throat and then asks loudly enough for all to hear}

So, applying the comments previously mentioned to driving an automatic, does one hit the little button with the down arrow on it once our twice?

{scurries out the door to quickly make some popcorn hoping to return to watch a fun show}

 

I did a search for downshifting on a downgrade and came across pops question and everyone's comments. Very helpful. Thanks everyone. I am a rookie driver and will be looking for my first job real soon. I came across the question in the CDL practice test but forgot to check if my answer was correct...just want to be safe out on the road.

 

Very good goal... good luck

 

Thanks Mac

 

It's a iffy question, literally balancing the 18 wheeler on the downgrade.

Im a old driver, I can downshift in any downgrade no matter how steep and not miss it. There is no fear of missing that gear down.

With that said.. I suggest this.

If you are over 78000 and at or under 80,000 Mount Eagle's 6% profile sign requires you to be at 15 mph or less all the way down. That means when you leave that brake check area up there on top, you are at 15 mph in whatever gear.

MAKE SURE that your Jake will hold you at 15 at or near redline in that gear. IF it does not, increase the mechanical advantage of the transmission in your favor by downshifting a gear. You are probably already on the downgrade and are feeling it. Brake with the trolley until your speed RPM's are below torque, downshift the next gear down. Not much fuel, just a blip and ease your clutch out sllowly allowing your jake to kick in once you let up the fuel on the finish of the downshift. Get off that trolley and stay off.

You should have a point at which your jake holds the rig all the way down your RPM';s may vary around horse which is around 1550 or so maybe a little more but below redline.

You will DEFINATELY know that your rig is balanced on that mountain heading down when your speed drops close to 10 or even 8 and you let off the jake to get back up somewhere above 10 but below 15 for your weight. There are parts of that mountain where you might juggle power and add some or take away as needed, but in small amounts. No drama.

Notice I did not say a #### thing about your service brakes. You leave them alone. All the way down. That way they are cold and ready for battle. Meaning you WILL stop anywhere on that down grade ONE TIME. to save your life and others.

I refuse to get into a part of advanced braking where your thermal load is dissapated by the drums from your pads by the cold air flowing by and the metal of the drums draining the heat away while you are at light braking without a jake all the way down. First your trolley, then your tractor and trailer.

What I just wrote with errors or minor miscommunication is literally your mountain school Bought and paid for by over 30 years of blood sweat and tears.