Freightliner auto transmission on steep down grade

Lol. I'm starting to think this technology hasn't exactly been perfected yet. No wonder I have been noticing some many fresh tire ruts on runaway ramps. I think you auto guys are half out of control and don't even know it. Lol

 

Those grooves are to keep you from running off the runoff ramp.

 

I'm curious to try the cruise control on mountains. But what I've always done is, keep it in auto mode. Keep the rpms within 200rpm of 2000rpm. This will keep you between 50-55,40-45 ect. And then use the level of jake to keep me within the 5mph window. Applying service brake when needed to maintain the 5up 5down window. No more than 20psi at a time. Take most major mountains never had an issue

 

How low can you set the cruise and the jake hold it there?

 

The DT12 has a decent mode. Put the jakes on medium or high, set the cruise and key the truck hold you all the way down.

 

You turn on the cruise control. Then set Jake to stage one. Then use the regular brakes to slow the truck down to any speed you want, as low as 30MPH. The next part people mess up I think. Take your foot off the brakes and SET the cruise control. This will lock in that speed and the engine brakes will come on more to stage two or three and it will probably downshift to hold the truck at that speed. It will go down hill at 2,200 rpms if needed.

All you have to it make sure you don't let it run over 2,400. It can hold most load back at the speed you set it for. I say set the Jake to stage 1 at first because then the computer and switch 1,2 or 3. If you set for stage 2or 3 from the start I could be to much braking power and your truck will keep slowing down even pass what you set the cruise at.

All the computer and transmission is doing is down shifting then it switched between stage 1,2 or 3 to keep the speed you set it at. When you use decent mode the cruise control is locked into the speed you set it at.

 

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My company has manual mode disabled. I think I will start looking for another company....

 

Another unqualified dumb #### died today on Wolf Creek Pass.

Semi driver dies after truck crashes down mountainside on Wolf Creek Pass

 

Absolutely wild... always driven manual trucks. Never let the Jake/rpm go above 15k rpm. Always shift between 12 and 14k rpm. First time I drove an auto cascadia and used the Jake braking downhill I thought I was going to blow up the engine seeing that needle hit 2200rpm. Crazy I tell ya.. ..

Never had a problem braking downhill and I don't even touch the brakes most often. Just use the Jake on high, set the correct hear and speed for the descent and off I go cruising on the Jake at 14/15k rpm steady.