Some Basic Driving Questions

The "technical term" for what Kearsey described is actually "controlled braking" and is exactly as she described in the NC Drivers handbook.

I have driven both 2019 freightliners and my 2021. I also drove a 2021 Pete, but I don't remember the nuanced differences between the two offhand.

The Hill decent feature is pretty handy, but it is by no means a " set it and forget it" tool.

The way my 2021 works Hill decent, is you have cruise off, get to the speed you desire (I choose 5-10 below posted depending on all factors) set the level of your Jake, then set your cruise.

You need to monitor your speed and rpms closely, and use controlled braking to slow it back down if it is not holding the speed you need. Adjust the Jake level, and cruise speed as necessary.

You can go down a hill too slow a million times, but only too fast once. Do not judge your scenario by other drivers actions either. I am a different driver 3.5 years in, than I was day one solo. You will get there.

Do not judge your scenario by other drivers actions either.

Amen to that!

I can't remember how many times I've had trucks just fly by me going down mountains. Sometimes I never see them again. Many times I see them on fire at the bottom of the hill. A few times I've seen them laying on their side in the ditch. All the while, I was wondering if I am going to slow, or impeding traffic.

Just drive your truck in a way that you know is safe. Hold yourself accountable. Let the idiots drive their trucks. Darwin's theories and Karma both bite!

I can drive either manuals or auto shifts. An auto simply has a computer do the shifting for you and there is no clutch pedal, however, they do indeed have a clutch.

An auto can roll back on a hill, just like a manual transmission truck can. Most trucks do have a “hill assist “ button that can eliminate roll back and can be turned on or off.

In my 24 cascadia, the shifter and the exhaust brake (not a true Jacob’s brake) are on a single stalk on the right just behind the steering wheel. The wipers and delay settings are on a stalk on the left side just behind the steering wheel.

Simply place your foot on the brake pedal, select drive, or reverse, release your brake buttons, take your foot off the brake pedal and accelerate forward (or backward if you’re backing up). When stopping, simply use your service brake pedal.

When stopping to park, open trailer doors, whatever, stop using brake pedal, switch to neutral, and set your brakes. Most newer trucks will “tell on you” if you open your door and your tractor (yellow) brake isn’t set by honking your city horn very loudly lol.

Now go pass that road test and when you’re issued your first truck with your new employer make sure you know how to operate that auto. Some companies lock out manual mode on automatic trucks and some don’t. West Side used to keep it locked out, but I made the case with our safety department on why they should allow us to have access to manual mode, and they listened. For a couple years now we can use our manual mode in our automatic trucks.

When going down mountain grades, I use my manual mode to control my descent speed to whatever gear I need to descend safely with whatever weight I happen to have at the time in conjunction with my exhaust brake (in dry weather) For example, say I’m going towards Chattanooga and Monteagle and I’m grossing 79k pounds. My max speed should be 25. At the brake check area, as I’m leaving I’ll put it in manual mode, put it in 8th gear, set my “Jake” on 2, stay in the right lane with my 4 ways on and just ease in down.. generally never have to hit my service brake pedal. If I’m very light or empty, I’ll be going down at 45mph, 9th or 10th (I have a 12 speed) or just go auto and set my cruise to 40 and let it ride, because our cruise will allow 5 mph over whatever is set before it turns on the Jake’s all by itself. Use service brake pedal sparingly as needed. Easy peasy.

I do not miss manual transmissions at all although my company does still have them. And absolutely love the disc brakes all the way around, even on our newer trailers (4-5 years old or less). No more drum brakes 😁

Know if the truck you’ll test in has disc or drum brakes.

Holy crap!!! She's back!!!

Good to see you Susan! How u been?