Is Trucking Really For Me...

YOu didn't say where your from so i can't realy tell you for sure but SNI likes to keep people on the east coast and around the midwest. They put most of there west coast freight on the train. So i doubt you will see allot of real steep passes. Most of the one on the interstates are managable with experiance and good training. Just remember the secret to comeing down long steep grades is the set up at the top. If you don't set up right at the top it is real hard to change up in the middel of the mountain. Some of the worst i have been on is in the east. They are generaly not as long as the ones on the west but they are steeper. SO with good training and some experiance you will learn to control your rig and make it down them just fine. I have never come down a mountain to slow. DONT let any one tell you you are to slow. IF its comfortable for you thats the speed you need to be comeing down the hill. There are allot of rule of thumbs out there 1 gear lower than you topped out in. Steady brake pressure and stab brakeing. I personaly use stab breaking but thats the old school in me. I like it i trust it so thats what i use. and i have only once or twice smoked the brakes and then mostly at the very bottom where i could let it roll off with no problems. So don't fear the mountains. Respect them yes and do use caution. but don't be scared and make sure you check your brake adjustment every day.I know most folks use self adjusting breaks but i strill trust a set a brakes i adjusted better than the self adjusters.

 

I've only been driving for just over a year...at first those looooong down grades freaked me out...I too stab brake and SLOW is the word... let the brake burners go by you or let em follow but don't let em push ya faster than your comfort level remember the truck is built to do the job, and will if you do your part.

 

I am not a driver but the OTR life is one that I share with my hubby, and quite honestly if trucking is NOT something you really want to do, I would find something else to do to make a pay check.

As others have stated dont let other drivers push you, let the truck do the work and only drive at speeds YOUR comfortable with....but ALSO make sure your getting into this for the right reasons....just to make "real money" is not a good reason. Since you have family in the industry I am sure you have discussed this way of life with them...just think twice before you make a choice that could/might haunt you for years to come.

 

I first started trucking pretty much for the same reasons you are considering now.

Addressing your fears first: Coming down these passes, are easy. If you've had proper training. The number of times you will actually have to do it....depends on where you live, and what type of job you get. Regional, Local, or OTR. Interstate passes are the most common. You'll rarely have to deal with any real grades/passes. While they are all real, interstate drivers don't have to deal with hairpin turns combined with 12-17% grades.

I recently teamed with a driver who had been driving for 3 years. She had no clue as to why she should use a Jake brake, and never had....until she rode with me. She had not been properly trained from the start. Get proper training from the start!!!!

Now to the "real money" issue. Yes, you can make some real money. Don't expect to immediately. Especially if you choose the wrong place to start.

Trucking is addictive Especially for those of us who like to drive, see new things, and enjoy the freedom of NOT having a "boss" looking over our shoulder every minute of every day. 1000's of us do it daily with little or no problems. Even if you leave the industry, you always have something to fall back on, in hard times. It is by far, one of the most stable/dependable jobs you'll ever work. It has it's "slow" periods. But, if you plan for them, you're okay.

But, it is not for everyone!!! It can be very stressful. It subjects you to a much higher "accident" environment. You have to deal with people who don't care about you or your family...on a constant basis. (refering to shippers & receivers) And you are supposed to be nice to these people

It can wreck ANY personal relationships you may have.

 

If you have a good trainer they will make sure that you know how to properly go down grades better known as mountains. It is not that hard if you use the jake brake and if needed regular brakes but the most important thing is be in a low gear.
Please let all the super truckers pass you then at bottom of grade make sure you wave at them while their brakes are smoking or on fire if the supper trucker actually makes it to the bottom.
I have been up and down a mountain and did good just remember go the posted min speed not the max. I did the jake brake and also did control'd brakeing by itself on the smaller grades just rember when using control'd breaking let speed get to the safe speed and then apply the breaks until the speed drops 5 mph under safe speed then let off the breaks until reaches the safe speed again the apply the brakes repeat as nessarry. The most important thing is never ever try to downshift while going down the mountain.

Some of the older more experinced drivers may say they can downshift while going down the mountain but never do it. Your truck will gain speed once it is out of gear and you may not be able to get it back into any gear. Even going down a small hill I found that out when shifting.

 

IF your truck has jakes...Don't drive for anyone who doesn't. (my opinion)
Are you reading this Stevens?

This is where you show your experience, or the lack thereof.

Heavy haulers will start in a much lower gear than most to begin with. That's a given. These guys are in a league all their own and get my total respect.

Many older drivers (myself included) downshift on grades. It's no big secret, no secret method, and it's not magic. We do the same as any driver. We start in a gear we feel will do the job. Set the jake, and ride.

IF the truck begins to accelerate, we simply haul it down with the brakes, immediately. We do not wait to see how much it will gain. We know what speed we want. Using RPM's as a gauge, dropping the tach to 800 or lower. We downshift. How far, depends on how fast that load took off to begin with. Most will admit (I hope) we don't do a downshift mid-way or close to the bottom. We've gotten things under control at the top where we should have IMHO.

It is a very rare occasion I have to stab my brakes to shave off 5 mph. If I have to touch them, I was in the wrong gear to start. That's the reason for downshifting. And the experienced driver will not wait for it to gain 5 mph. He will get it hauled down to the point the jake will hold it.

Now certianly, there are exceptions to this rule. Grades change over the course of a downhill run. Forcing me to apply brake. And, some loads will force you to use the brake in addition to your Jake. Those loads are usually much heavier than I pull. Or they are on VERY (12% plus) steep grades.

Many accidents that occur from a driver attempting to downshift, are caused by the excessive speed the driver was going to begin with, when he tossed it out of gear.

Again..DO NOT DRIVE for anyone who does not have Jakes, and expects you to gross more than 30K lbs. You are a truck driver. Not a suicide jockey.

 

I was taught both ways using jake alone or using the brakes I prefer the jake because I do not want to heat the other brakes up. They teach it different now they said it use to be drag the brakes but changed it to the stab brake 5 mph rule.
I don't know why they changed it mabey too may lost their brakes dragging them. I'll just stick with the jake brakes it is easier. I came down a mountain in 6th or 7th that was fast enough with the jake it held me back fine. Of course I had no load in school. I was going aprox 35mph.
I was also told make sure that you are in proper gear before starting down the grade.

 

They teach a lot of things differant than what is actually practical in the real world. For the most part, the schools are limited by Federal & State guidelines. Many try, and do an excellent job of preparing their students.

If you were ever in the Military, you know what Federal Guidelines will do to a good plate of chicken, or a simple hamburger.

The "guidelines" will keep you safe, to a degree. But aerodynamics, weight, grade, and road conditions will dictate your actual approach/gear when going downhill. A simple 1 lower or 2 lower than you used to climb (they teach this), will get you killed real fast in the wrong area.

Not paying attention is the most common mistake. If you are familiar at all with I-24 and Mont Eagle, you know about the brake check area at the top. I had a student pull out of this area grabbing gears as he went, until I put the brakes on him. He simply didn't read the signs, and it never once crossed his mind as to why he had to enter the brake check area.

By the time he got to the bottom...he knew why. Budweiser loads have a way of doing that too you.