Downgrades in the snow

Want to test that theory? Park your truck and let the brakes get good and cold. Then, without ever applying more than 10 psi, get it up to speed...say 50 mph or so. Then, apply your 10 psi of brake pressure and gradually stop your truck. As soon as you stop, set the parking brakes, get out, crawl under the truck, and lay your hand on the drum. Hold your hand on that drum for a good minute, and then report back how many blisters you have on your hand.

The reason people don't believe you is because, at least in this instance, you're full of it.

Actually, there are a few ways, and "powering out of it" isn't always the best. If the drives are trying to pass the steers, throttling up may exacerbate the situation. Your best bet is to keep the steers pointed where you want to go, and have the drives start rolling at whatever speed they'd be rolling if they weren't sliding so that they can find whatever traction might be available.

You do realize that if you slow down just a little, running a gear lower, your jake will probably hold you 1600 rpm...or reduce your speed a little more in the next lower gear you might be able to head down the hill at 1400 or 1500 rpm without needing to touch the brakes. It isn't a race, especially if it's slick enough you're worried you "might" jackknife if you use the jakes.

A jake-induced jackknife will NEVER be initiated by the trailer trying to pass the truck. That happens when the trailer loses traction, which is highly unlikely if the wheels are free rolling. If the jakes are going to cause a jackknife, it'll be because the drives lost traction...and you aren't pulling anything out of anywhere if the drives don't have traction.

 

Well guess what...Guess how many company trucks have manual mode deactivated for the sake of stupid drivers and better fuel mileage. Yup. Blew my mind in my truck.

In snow and wet conditions with my limited trucking experience I’ve learned to play the auto and jakes in a cyclical manner because my truck doesn’t have manual mode. Going up and down never getting 5mph above my target speed. That’s the only time I use the service brakes. One nice push and the song starts over

“Snow on the Mountain, run, boys, go
Otters in the house of the rising snow
Swifts in the ditching a spitting out crow...”

-homage to the devil went down to Georgia.

 

There's a lot of drivers go blasting through the snow creating clouds blinding people every year and they don't slow down but they're going to kill somebody sometime

 

Yeah I realize some companies deactivate manual mode... Companies I will never drive for. I run I80 through WY every week, twice a week, 52 weeks a year... So glad I work for a company that has the drivers interests in mind.

At least you seem inteligent enough to figure out how to work with what you have been given... In the safest manner possible.

 

The brakes will be very hot at 10psi but they won't overheat and fade out.

Yes that true a tractor jacknife can't be powered out of, you have to get the wheels spinning. That one reason why you don't want use the engine brake. If you only use regular brakes and you get a tractor tire lossing traction. All you have to do is take you foot off the brakes and the wheel will start spinning is a very simple. If the trailer tire lost traction you take you foot off the brakes and if that not enough. You power up and pull the trailer.

No reason to use the engine brake and add more complex to the problem. If the engine brake make a tire spin. Now you have add power to get the drive tires spinning. If you add to much power your cause the tire to keep slipping and now you have let off the power. You don't really have or want waste the much time. The longer it takes to figure out and get control the more likely you to go beyond the point of revcovrr and you won't be able to stop the jacknife.

In 23 year driving I never had the brakes overheat to the point of failer. So you can ride the brakes all day at 10psi or less. This is something they knew 23 years ago it's because they know the drums dissipate heat. The secret is to not make more heat with the brakes them the drum can handle

 

Sorry. I just realized that post could be construed to be directed at you. It wasn’t. It was my distaste towards rounding the corners and putting foam on everything to keep the lowest common denominators from poking their eyes out.

I’m new, but I dress professionally, act professional, and do my damnedest to drive safe and professionally. I know I have a long way to go...and there’s no reason this can’t be fun. Thanks again for the words of wisdom.

 

Blizzard conditions from other trucks or even from a row of trees next to the road will happen. Just take it nice and easy, slow a little until you can see again, and get back up to your favored speed.

Pay attention to who is "blowing your doors off" in conditions that create mini blizzards. If it's a bull hauler or oil field truck I don't think much about. They know what they are doing. They go places off road that would melt your mind.

Then again, there are those running fast pulling boxes. I don't give them the benefit of the doubt. Those are the ones I expect to see jack knifed somewhere ahead.

 

Emigrant pass (OR) I - 84 they clearly have placed signs notifying drivers at what speeds to safely descend the mountain pass according to weight how many drivers do you think actually pay any attention to those posted signs? Oh just thought i'd mention the other day a driver was having a ball of a time so to speak when he was carrying approximately 44,000-pounds of industrial metal grinding balls from Seattle to Salt Lake City. He was still in Seattle when he made a wrong turn. When his GPS rerouted him onto a steep street, Herman’s truck had trouble getting up the hill.and subsequently all the metal balls came tumbling down the road.

 

by creating the hazard it's still careless and reckless driving

 

It's all in the observations of the driver at hand.

I'm an oil field driver. I'm used to driving in challenging situations. Let's say I'm in blizzard conditions on I-70 westbound east of Denver. Another truck driver is crawling along at 25-30 mph. I get into the hammer lane and pass at about 45-50 mph. Is that hazardous?

In my book I did the right thing. I got past the hazard (the ultra slow driver) safely and efficiently. Sure, THAT driver may even post a YouTube video showing my "dangerous" driving. But THAT driver is the one creating a hazard with dangerously slow driving.

By NO means am I the fastest on the road in difficult conditions. Far from it. I am trying my best to space myself out and have ample room in front and back of me. If faster trucks want to pass I ("GASP!) SLOW DOWN to help them get around me.

Everyone has their own level of comfort and expertise. I try my best to help EVERYONE get safely to their destination today, no matter the conditions.