Appalachian Mountains, Questions And Concerns.

To be honest with you that is what i was worried about most too. I will have a new challenge when rain comes and i cant use the jakes, probably put it in manual mode and use even lower gears, i will definitely keep you up to date on that one. Im still learning all about this truck as i go.

Great to hear you didn't touch your brakes, getting down those grades, especially since you're in an auto... from everything I've been reading, I've been secretly hoping that once I get assigned my own truck, AFTER I complete CDL school and AFTER I am employed by my first- or second-choice company, that they put me in a manual. But reading about your experience is comforting, should I get an auto. Thanks for sharing!

Yeah i would refuse to drive those roads at night, lol, especially with the ****ty headlights i have, lol.

Yeah I know those roads. I try to avoid them at night if at all possible. If it isn't possible, I'm the one holding up traffic at a snail's pace ****ing off the locals.

Absolutely get familiar with the manual mode as soon as possible. When I was a brand new solo driver I had a Volvo autoshift. And yes I smoked the brakes once.

These days I'm in a manual and train inexperienced drivers. If you have any questions whatsoever about operating your truck, consult your company's shop/mechanics and they'll typically show you how everything works if you ask. Oh and actually read the manual. Boring but important stuff.

I actually have been, a few pages a night actually since i have nothing better to do, lol.

Absolutely get familiar with the manual mode as soon as possible. When I was a brand new solo driver I had a Volvo autoshift. And yes I smoked the brakes once.

These days I'm in a manual and train inexperienced drivers. If you have any questions whatsoever about operating your truck, consult your company's shop/mechanics and they'll typically show you how everything works if you ask. Oh and actually read the manual. Boring but important stuff.

I have often wondered who designed truck routes in PA. I try to stay on us hwy or interstate in that state. In PA, WV, VA, TN, SC the Mt are constant up a thousand feet and right down it's tiring to drive them. I would much rather take the Rockies, Sierras, or Cascades. I have seen some double digits​ grades going in and out of mine sites and a lumber camp all dirt road. I was going into a marine base one time in the seirra and there was a sign trucks not advices 26 grade ahead luckily the base was before the grade. I don't think I would have made it up that.

On my trip to PA (making a thread about that...), I was on Rt 22, Rt 322, Rt 144 (steepest part), and Rt 26 from I-81 to I-99. Whoever designed that road needs to get a good hit in the head. It is really the only main road forming the "triangle" (as I like to call it) of I-99, I-81 (both have plenty of truck traffic), and this. For some strange reason, I saw absolutely no grade signs, although knowing this thread I was looking for them. I was on some 12% grades on the trip, and they seemed like nothing going downhill on the 144 stretch. I'd assume (and I ain't kiddin') it was at least 14% grade, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were 15%.

Yeah I know those roads. I try to avoid them at night if at all possible. If it isn't possible, I'm the one holding up traffic at a snail's pace ****ing off the locals.

Grade was so steep on the above mentioned roads that at the top of every hill trucks had to pull of onto the side of the road and come to a complete stop. They had speed limit of 20mph, and us 4-wheelers had 35mph. I was stuck behind an oversized load for a half hour, and yet we were going downhill. You could tell he was on the brakes the whole time, trying for dear life to not go any faster than 15 (lol). Also, whoever designed one of the many runaway truck ramps needs to be fired. It was very short, and at the bottom of a long steep mountain. And right under the end of it is a little old ranch, and people still live there. I'd be scared to death that a runaway truck would fly into my house, LOL.

Speaking of steep Pennsylvania roads and runaway truck ramps. I can't remember what road it's on, but I know it's near clarks summit pa. That runaway ramp goes up and on the other side looks like it's a cliff. So I hope it's long enough to stop people and those little guard rails hold up at the top.