Smaggs goes to Marten. My Experience with Marten Transport.

Im glad the way you've "owned up" to your mistake, but didnt you read the CDL Manual for yourself?? The whole down grade section is in there!! And if there was something you didn't know; why wouldnt you just ask somebody??

 

The real fun is in the winter when those mountain grades are icy and you can't use your jakes.

 

This is the reason why a new driver must go down every mountain pass out west with a trainer before being cut loose, all through the winter. Just my 2 cents.

I never understood how a training company can train a new driver in the summer, then road test them and cut them loose for their first solo trip across Wyoming in January. Makes me very uncomfortable around Elk Mountain some days. Just sayin.

 

well kloy...your admission of speeding probably had something to do with termination.also. there,s a reason for speed limits on grades. good luck on your next job

 

bull squat! you just need to know HOW to use the jake in those conditions...



American Trucker

 

I can just see it now, ole' AT using his jakes on I-70 in colorado dropping down into vail on ice. lol

 

if i hadnt done it i wouldnt have posted it....you just cant leave it on. Turn it on watch the boost gauge and when you feel the drives loose traction shut it off and remember the boost at which it happend. Turn it on and off as nessicary to keep your speed down while not letting it get over that boost level. Never had a problem.

I figured it out on I-90 going over the 4th of july pass or whatever its called in a snow storm, 78,000lbs and super singles. Pulled over at the top, no chain lights flashing, started down real slow like 10mph, road was covered in ice and 4" of snow on top and comeing down hard, even as low as i was geared the weight was just over reving the gear....when i even touched the brakes even close to hard enough to do anything they would lock up.....turned the jake on and did as i posted above and i never had to touch the regular brakes and kept the rpms under 1700 the whole way down....call it what you want but it worked that day and every time ive ever needed it anywhere else.



read my Watkins Blog...i posted about this the day it happend with all the details....so before you call BS go do some reading...






American Trucker

 

I've also used my jakes in the snow. You DO have to know how to use them though. For me, I'd run them in the first stage (of a 3 stage system). This was just enough for a little bit of extra braking and slowing power so I wouldn't have to apply as much brake pressure. Believe it or not, even minimal jaking power will help keep you slow....providing you are in the proper gear and going slow enough to begin with. And in the snow, you'd better be.

 

Whoa, ......................Take it easy now there AT. I guess I will have to try your method for myself the next time I go down a snowy mountain.