Learn How To Drive Truck In The Mountains.......

Elk Mountain!? Really, how do you mess up on that little Mountain!

Which begs the question, if he messed up on Elk Mountain then how did he get down that 5% downgrade for 5 miles before Laramie? Of course this applies only if Westbound. Can't tell if E or W based on what we were told.

Was headed East bound towards Laramie

Wow. I've driven Elk Mountain traveling East, pulling 20 tons, with a doubles set, in the middle of the night. Because it's surrounded by open plains, your speed can be deceiving and you might think you're going slower than you actually are. A quick check of your speedometer would rule out any doubt. It's really not that bad of a hill if you're steady, slow, and not speeding/rushing. I can't really speculate (but I will anyway, haha). I wonder if he started out on that downgrade way too fast in the first place, and that's why he was in the wrong gear? Maybe the right gear for the speed itself but too fast all together?

Glad everyone is all right. Very cool that you and your bro were quick on scene.

-mountain girl

Wow. I've driven Elk Mountain traveling East, pulling 20 tons, with a doubles set, in the middle of the night. Because it's surrounded by open plains, your speed can be deceiving and you might think you're going slower than you actually are. A quick check of your speedometer would rule out any doubt. It's really not that bad of a hill if you're steady, slow, and not speeding/rushing. I can't really speculate (but I will anyway, haha). I wonder if he started out on that downgrade way too fast in the first place, and that's why he was in the wrong gear? Maybe the right gear for the speed itself but too fast all together?

Glad everyone is all right. Very cool that you and your bro were quick on scene.

-mountain girl

Honestly at this point is does not matter but yes Elk can be deceiving. The grades are long. But in any case you show know well ahead of time what the grades are. There are signs every where right before the down hill grades. I have pulled doubles up and down dinners, Mount Eagle back east. Through the Virgin River Gorge. Up and down Eisenhower and Veil. Never had an issue. But that comes with experience. Have no idea how much experience he had. Was a young guy.

Ok I drove the entire length of I-80 both directions through WY last week so I must have transversed this "mountain" twice without even knowing and I was just a student so how did these guys mess up?

WAS a student, trifecta yesterday :)

Ok I drove the entire length of I-80 both directions through WY last week so I must have transversed this "mountain" twice without even knowing and I was just a student so how did these guys mess up?

WAS a student, trifecta yesterday :)

Way to go on the trifecta!!!!

I think I can understand how someone driving a governed truck might not show enough respect to a grade as Elk. And the reason to me is having your CB on and listening to the chicken haulers ***** you out for going so slow down a grade. I've been doing to I80 corridor quite a few times in my couple months with Prime and my last time descending Sherman WB was last week in light snow, 25 degrees and at night. I came down Sherman at 25 mph in 7th gear ( leary of the jakes in ice/snow) and was getting yelled at by other drivers incessantly for going so slow. Hell when I got on WB 80 from 25 thru the one lane construction, I was the first truck in line of about 10 trucks and going 50 and they were back there on the CB saying "omg don't tell prime there may be black ice on the road or he might panic and stop if he goes much slower. " I was going 50 in a 55 in 25 degree weather in sleet and they were beside themselves because I was going so slow. I didn't want to turn the CB off so I could hear conditions on upcoming Sherman. So long story here, I've made the decision not to run a CB anymore because of the bs I hear on it. My point.....if you listen to the plethora of crap on the CB, you may drive a truck faster than conditions warrant and burn your brakes, cause an accident etc....oh and fyi I'm returning to otr after a 14 year absence and am not pleased with what I'm seeing out here. =/

I think I can understand how someone driving a governed truck might not show enough respect to a grade as Elk. And the reason to me is having your CB on and listening to the chicken haulers ***** you out for going so slow down a grade. I've been doing to I80 corridor quite a few times in my couple months with Prime and my last time descending Sherman WB was last week in light snow, 25 degrees and at night. I came down Sherman at 25 mph in 7th gear ( leary of the jakes in ice/snow) and was getting yelled at by other drivers incessantly for going so slow. Hell when I got on WB 80 from 25 thru the one lane construction, I was the first truck in line of about 10 trucks and going 50 and they were back there on the CB saying "omg don't tell prime there may be black ice on the road or he might panic and stop if he goes much slower. " I was going 50 in a 55 in 25 degree weather in sleet and they were beside themselves because I was going so slow. I didn't want to turn the CB off so I could hear conditions on upcoming Sherman. So long story here, I've made the decision not to run a CB anymore because of the bs I hear on it. My point.....if you listen to the plethora of crap on the CB, you may drive a truck faster than conditions warrant and burn your brakes, cause an accident etc....oh and fyi I'm returning to otr after a 14 year absence and am not pleased with what I'm seeing out here. =/

Well, then they shouldn`t be driving a truck. Sensitive people need not apply. I don`t care what is going on around me or what kind of BS is blaring on the CB, I drive the truck.

Thanks for the post, Guy, it's a sobering reminder to err on the side of caution rather than find out the hard way that machines have limits.

So my question on this is.....does the driver get into trouble for this type of situation? It sounds like he was at fault....but could it have also been a brake problem? Mechanical issue, or was it just plain driver error?

So my question on this is.....does the driver get into trouble for this type of situation? It sounds like he was at fault....but could it have also been a brake problem? Mechanical issue, or was it just plain driver error?

A rule of thumb to live by in this industry is, (for a driver), it is the drivers` fault until proven otherwise. In this case and from what Guy has said, it is most definitely the driver who lit this fire.