RDTC Feb 4

hows things going for your class at RDTC? It goes fast. Didn't even get a chance to really meet any of you on saturday in the classroom. When Dale talks.....I listen..... sorry about the weather too..hope you guys get some good road time this week.

 

Good to hear you're getting on the road quick, even in this weather. Last week wasn't good for our class either. That is one of the things that is vastly different from the other schools that I checked out. Plus the cost here is 1/2 what they wanted in Ohio for three weeks of school with the first being 100% classroom. Getting hands on is the best way to learn so this is perfect when the weather cooperates. Dale has been a great instructor...not that he says that much to me. I was thinking I would put him to sleep this morning with a 25 mph wind at our back but the stupid truck starts to sound like a popcorn popper around 50-55 mph and wakes everyone up.

 

"Hello, stop sign!"

 

Not sure why they expect us to stop 'behind' those red signs when you can plainly see there is no other vehicle in sight! Did I mention, I drove in California for twelve years?

 

Snub braking is now the recommended method of downhill braking. This method works by: first, choosing the correct gear for the hill; second, allowing the truck to speed up to the maximum safe speed as it descends the hill; third, applying the brakes hard to slow the truck down 5 mph; and then repeating this process to the bottom of the hill. To understand why this method is recommended takes some understanding of the basics about how brakes work. Slowing a truck with it.s brakes, creates friction between the brake shoes and brake drum to convert the kinetic (forward movement) energy of the truck into heat energy dissipated by the brakes. The amount of heat energy produced is dependent upon the weight of the truck and the amount of slowing desired. Assuming these two factors remain constant, the manner in which the brakes are applied, hard for a short time or lightly for a long time, will not change the amount of heat energy and heat produced by the brakes. This heat energy will be distributed among all the brakes that are working. Again, assuming all other factors constant, the more brakes the system has working the cooler each brake will be.

 

I think that was a poke at me. I lost one of my points on the CDL test because I forgot to include the word "snub" in my description of braking when descending a mountain. (You have to recite the procedure of going up and down a mountain to the examiner during the test, and it must be done while the truck is moving.)

 

LOL, i wish i had your score! I used stab last wednesday with Kevin and thats why I did not miss that one. I seem to being a good job learning from my mistakes...cuz i still make them.

Great job on that test Techno!