Steep Downhill and you need to downshift

... or the runaway ramp?!?

ps: the gist of this thread IS slowing down, bro.

 

I think a lot of newer drivers are unsure of how to correct themselves when they get to that "Oh ***" moment.

I feel that is directly related to the teachers we have today, whom have only been driving for two years minimum. Trainers should be the cream-of-the-crop. Knowing what to do in every situation is a critical attribute to have as a trainer. One-three weeks of training isn't enough, in my opinion. So you've learned to deliver loads, and traverse the company equipment... So what?

Do you know how to drive the truck? I feel like trainers don't teach this anymore...

 

I believe you are totally correct. I evolved into this industry, for the most part... had to test in 03 after owning my own ####.. never did the trainer / trainee thing. It's pretty sad, so many new, younger guys we share the road with, are clueless....... in a "recon" moment. And there are MANY. Too many to list. Yessir.

 

Had a swift truck come over on me today while he was tailgating a car. Seriously! What part of the pilot car and 100 foot truck blinking didn't you see. Look like he was 25 maybe. Get off the road if you can't drive a truck losers.

 

But it isn't just Swift, is it?
I see a lot of trucks from different companies tailgating cars, or cutting me and others off.
Some of the O/O's can't seem to keep the truck in the lane.

It is not a Swift problem.
It is a problem with certain drivers.

 

What was your reasoning for grabbing the service brake?
The service brake only controls the trailer tandems. I would never use the service brake for anything other than sliding your 5th wheel or trailer tandems?

Most hills have signs giving clear warnings of the approaching grade. I would simply apply your foot brake and gear down to a gear that will allow the engine brake to regulate your speed. Test have proven that the most efficient braking is all wheels adjusted properly.

Grabbing your service brake is bad habit to get into and a myth in slowing down your vehicle.

 

The only problem with that rule is how do you know for sure what gear can be used to climb that hill? If you have an engine brake use the gear that will allow the engine brake to regulate your speed. If the engine brake won't hold you back grab a lower brake. During winter condition, stay off the engine brake, slow down and grab a low enough gear that can be used with mild braking.

 

I remember a roughly 8 year old sitting on a stack of books in a transtar cabover pulling a circus type ride carnival load upgrade near Scranton way many years ago. Scared kid but his rig was rolling along in it's ordinary upgrade speed and gearing and to the right lane where it's best for him. It was the talk of that area for a while.

I don't know how he reached the pedals but he made a good downshift as I passed him just prior to making one of my own as our engines were somewhat similar. As far as I know because it was a carnival situation I don't have a problem with kids driving those things because daddy was right there. Now, it's not too often you get into the mountains and see a kid doing well even if he was scared. I would not be doing something like that when I was 8 no way. We can argue the law on that kind of behavior until the cows come home but rather not.

 

Your absolutely right moose. It's the driver not the name of the side of the truck. My apologies to the good drivers.