I could tell you USA law but since your down under I'm clueless to your regulations. We do have an Austrailian forum towards the bottom of the main page stuck in with the Crazy Canadians.
The retarder is a driver's aide but not necessarily a requirement. Driver's today are spoiled with modern technology. There was a time trucks didn't have them and you drive your truck accordingly. That means going down a hill much slower in a couple gears lower than that of the other modern working trucks. You still use the same braking techniques. Speed is the key! Slow her down. If they are flying down the hill at 60 km you might have to do 40 km. It all depends on the grade of the hill and if there are any curves in it. A hill that has curves you want to take the whole hill at or below the speed of the curve. Don't expect to brake down 20 km. Make the engine and the gear do as much work as possible within it's operating rpm range. If you can adapt to that then you can still drive a truck safely down a hill with no retarder.
You said they work certain ways. You can use that to your advantage. You should have an on/off switch. If need be flip it off and on as needed instead of relying on the pedals. A good truck driver can be considered a machine operator. They can operate anything with an engine, gears, levers... with some adapting. Become one with the truck OB1 Kenobe!
Tough it out, get your experience in unless they become ridiculous. Then with a little experience you can move on to a better company.
If you don't feel right about something don't go outside your comfort zone. Put your foot down, you are the Captain!
poor vehicle maintenance - would you stay?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by kaygirl, Feb 17, 2014.
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Dear oh dear. I just came home from shopping and there was another one of the trucks broken down
They had the hood up and the mechanic was there in his van 
(i do like the idea of becoming a truck obe wan kenobi)
CondoCruiser Thanks this. -
Id trade you my jakes for the rural area in a heartbeat.....hammer down!!!!!
OPUS 7 Thanks this. -
I do live in a gorgeous part of the country
Sadly, trucks are limited to 100km/h (60mph) country wide and I've yet to drive a truck without a governor on it that keeps me from going very much faster , even when the roads are good, weather is fine and traffic is light. Having said that, there are some hills where it can run away to be doing wwaaayyyy over a tonne if you don't keep your wits about you. And I guess you could say I'm getting the best of both worlds in terms of experience. The runs are up to the city markets and can mean travelling on the freeway in peak hour traffic. So I get to see the wide open roads and the banked up, crawling, irate city traffic as well 
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Kaygirl,have you read the manual for those trucks?
Granted it will not help with breakdowns but what you posted about the retarder(actually i doubt you have a retarder but a intarder) has me in doubt if the driver teaching you really knows the settings off the intarder.
If the compagny doesn't have then,google them online.
Not reading the manual is the most common way to make mistakes in how to use a truck in the correct way.
retarder is mostly a electromagnet,mounted on the driveshaft just past the gearbox.(is aircooled)
Intarder works with the oil from the gearbox(so is hydraulic) and is mounted on the end off the gearbox.(has coolant lines running to and from it so is watercooled)
This video might give you insight into the workings off the intarder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPWL76Zex5w
As it has a influence on you engine temperature,i will advice again to read to manual on how to use it in a proper fashion.
As a retarder or intarder isn't legally required,in the eyes off the law those trucks are legal to run.kaygirl Thanks this. -
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