My State Forbids CDL Training Programs To Teach Use Of Jake Brake

Most days I'm wishing that our school would just kick out most of the class and be done with them. They sleep, play on their cell phones, talk to each other... and miss like 54 questions on a 90 question test! Our instructor just simply lost it and yelled at them last saturday... and he is also a church pastor.

I should be taking my permit test today so I can go to the driving range this week... however, we apparently have this "no child left behind" philosophy. None of us can test until more are able to pass. Only 2.. maybe 3 of us are ready to pass our permit exams. Praying they will issue the checks for our cdl testing fees this weekend.

That's awful, but not surprising.

Now if the school would have everyone go through our High Road Training Program before classes started it sure would prevent a lot of grief and wasted time. You guys would be in the trucks already.

Sue- What city is your school in? If it's a company school, what company is it?

I trained with Prime, at Springfield Mo.

The other day in class, we were discussing mountain driving/downhill grades. Ya know.. low gear, brake at your max speed til 5 mph below, etc, rinse and repeat.

Well I asked the instructor why the goal wouldn't be to use your service brakes as little as possible, by utilizing a low gear, and low/high jakes.

His response was "The state prohibits us from teaching anything about engine brakes, so therefore we will not be covering them, or their use." I was stunned.

Is this the "normal" for CDL training schools around the country?

Engine brakes were not covered when I went to school either. Probably a good thing because it was "plenty" just learning how to perform basic driving, backing, and stopping maneuvers.

However, once graduated and assigned to a mentor truck (road training), proper use and operation of the engine brake was repeatedly demonstrated and discussed by the trainer. This will likely be a similar scenario for you.

Although the technology has definitely changed since it's original inception in 1962, I would prefer to operate a loaded class 7-8 vehicle with a working engine brake. Yes there are times when it's use should be very limited, like on slick or snowy roads. But for me if conditions are good and depending on my weight, I will use it as a brake assist for control and stopping. However I strongly believe that knowing how to safely control and stop a loaded truck without one is absolutely necessary.

Sue- What city is your school in? If it's a company school, what company is it?

I trained with Prime, at Springfield Mo.

Jetguy, it's a private school in Kentucky that offers the CDL Training at many community colleges here. What's unique about my class is that my current employer (not a trucking company) is sponsoring these private weekend classes-- and they're paying all of the tuition except $200 which we had to pay. Our school also covers the cost of our DOT phyicals and CDL application, testing and licensing fees. Oh and we have no obligation to remain with our current employer. As soon as I have my CDL-A in hand, I'm gone.

G-town chips in:

Engine brakes were not covered when I went to school either.

Hey! Are engine retarding brakes part of a pre-trip? Are they questioned on the written test? Are they part of your skills test? No, no, and ... no.

Remember, Truck School gets you ready to pass the skills test. If it's not on the test, you don't get it in school. Also, retarding brakes are not required on a truck, though wheel brakes are. So not learning about retarding brakes is not a failure of the school.

G-town chips in:

Engine brakes were not covered when I went to school either.

Hey! Are engine retarding brakes part of a pre-trip? Are they questioned on the written test? Are they part of your skills test? No, no, and ... no.

Remember, Truck School gets you ready to pass the skills test. If it's not on the test, you don't get it in school. Also, retarding brakes are not required on a truck, though wheel brakes are. So not learning about retarding brakes is not a failure of the school.

Thanks. Point taken. Never said anything about this being a failure of the school though.

Thanks. Point taken. Never said anything about this being a failure of the school though.

You are correct - no failure. But some readers may see a "hole" in the school's instruction when there isn't any. That's why I added that comment. True, it's nice to learn how that Jake lever works, but it's not on the test, so you won't get any help from the instructors.

Note for people who like factoids: "Jake Brake" refers to the original engine retarding system manufactured by Jacobs Vehicle System. Like Kleenex™ and Xerox™ it has become generic. Other companies also make engine retarders.