Engine brake - trainer never told me what is it

Since I don't have half the experience others here do, I won't muddy the waters (so to speak) when others will be along to answer your questions much better than I.

I will say, however, that the typical place to use your jake is on a grade, don't use it in icy conditions and...

I have no idea if all trucks (newer maybe?) are like this, but when I used mine in a Cascadia, the jake would somehow illuminate the brake lights. My Cascadia was an '09 if it helps to sort it out.

 

Some inexperienced driver trainers tell there students to not use the engine brake because thats what they where told, this why I say companies like CR. England, that allow 6 month driving experienced driver train is a mistake, I never turn mine off, it's always on, On the highest setting, I just dont take my foot off the go pedal all thr way when shifting, A experience driver should be able to control his truck even in icy weather, Been driving some 23 years, and have never slid off the road, or jackknifed trailer.

 

When I was in training we were going down a mountain, my trainer was in the sleeper and yelled at me to not use the brake, it was snowing so I wasn't supposed to use the Jake either. So, how do you slow the truck down without using a brake or a Jake? How I survived I'll never know, I guess it was just by the grace of God.

That interlock is very helpful since the axles twist over rough ground. Just had to use it a little bit ago to back up a hill over uneven terrain. Just remember to disengage it once your done. Sometimes the drive axle comes completely off the ground.

 

there thoughts are to be in the right gear and speed before you hit the hill, but this doesnt teach you how to slow down on a hill with the added help of your jake/engine brake, used properly and you can safely slow down with them and with out smoking your brakes

 

1. You don't use the engine brake in icy, snowy or rainy conditions unless you want to talk to your safety manager.
2. Why would a truck run into you if you were going slow down a hill? Your engine brake usually won't prevent the need for your trucks brakes to be used down that hill. If you're going super slow, your four way flashers should be on anyway.
3. The reasons tanker yankers use it a lot, is that anything that will slow down the surge in the tank is helpful. The surge from an unbaffled tank can shove a truck out in the middle of an intersection if the stop is too sudden. This video is an example of surge. [ame]http://youtu.be/NYfuzDo7Am0[/ame]

4. Before engine brakes, the tried and true method for going down a hill was to start out down the hill in the same gear you climbed the hill with. Obviously this still works if you don't have an engine brake.

 

I do not use them on ice, or in the rain. Others can do as they wish.

 

Ok going downhill in good weather use the jakes if you want. you should have learned to use your trans and brakes to control the truck properly. Its nice to have another system to back you up. Now if you have been doing this for a year in canada yes you are a rookie and yes you will learn more. so don't be offended by some of the harshness of people. its just what makes the world go round.

an easy way to learn the use of jakes is to try them in dry clear weather on a small down grade. set it on its lowest level and see what happens to the truck when you take your foot off the pedal. then step it up a level and do it again. and so forth soon you'll see whats going on how it works and as everything in trucking you will make the best decision for YOU! I hope all of this jibberish helps as I'm sure someone will flame me for the way I explained this.