How to Use the Jake Brake (Engine Brake) & Automated Manual Transmission | Werner Trucking OTR Life

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@AbdulMaye Your comment showed up on my notification, but I can’t see it on our channel. It’s happened a few times lately and I can’t figure it out. So I hope you see this general comment here…Hello Abdul! Welcome to our channel! Norway is beautiful (but expensive)! I was there a few years ago and really enjoyed it. In the summer ;-)). As for your question…There are LOTS of jobs for truck drivers in the US. I just did a quick Google search for you. Looks like trucking companies can hire foreign nationals with H-2B visas. So you can look into that online to get more info! Good luck!!!

[@ryanwood74]

Great review! You hit all the main talking points and a short video is a plus! When I see a video 30 min + I don't even bother watching it. Good job!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍😃

[@swiftg2326]

Your comment about disregarding the idiots (I’ll use that word for you!) speeding down the grades and staying safe earns a thumbs up without saying anything else. I appreciate you added much more substance to the video though. Thanks for sharing your insight.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

😆❤️👍👍👍

[@ms.sapphire179]

Thanks I'm OTR Training currently and you explained this really well. My trainer engaged them for me and tried to explain when coming down a mountain in Wyoming but I was still having trouble understanding.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad it was helpful!!! Hope you are done with training and into your own truck already!! Good luck!!! Thanks for watching!!!

[@mabelleame8404]

Omg I need this. I been driving a month now. My 4th load was in the Smoky Mountains. I’m headed down the mountains now and my load is actually heavier than when I went up. So this definitely helped me. I definitely will use this to continue my route down tomorrow.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

So glad it was helpful!!!! Stay safe!!!

[@lincolnbwire5169]

What about when your engine brake is on but the rpm is going up instead of reducing the speed or maintaining the speed you want

[@beaugardo2222]

Thanks a lot I personnally felt that I was not a good driver when I saw others passing me at high speed down the hill,one of them even try to push me off the road. I always go with my engine brake on and low speed to be safe.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

You’re doing it right!!! Let those drivers pass you and focus on your safety!! 👍👍👍

[@sandradee9969]

Your channel is literally my favorite and incredibly helpful! You’ve covered almost all the questions I had as a new truck driver.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@sandradee9969 We are so glad our videos have been helpful!!! That’s our hope and intention. 🤗

[@UKIYO_CRAIG]

Thanks for your detailed explanation. Like anything experience is the key but having a fellow driver encourage you and give much needed advice is a combination for future success.Thanks again Kev 🤙🏻

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍Our pleasure!!!

[@Willyknightka]

I’m just starting trucking I’m still in school about to go to the yard in next week, and the whole jake brake/engine brake part always confuses me, so im trying to learn as much as I can before I start the truck training.. thanks for the video it made me feel alot better.. cuz they made us watch a bunch of videos about brake failure.. but don’t explain enough on how to use it. (Still in the classroom part of school) idk if they will teach more once we start practicing driving

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

So glad our video is helpful!!! We wish you all the best for school and a great career! With your pro-active attitude you’re going to do well!!! Let us know!

[@jimb3541]

This is excellent. Thank you very much. Have a good week and please stay safe.

[@thedale2112]

Quality info, Brother Kevin! Very helpful for my journey back into trucking as I've only ever driven manual transmissions. A couple times with TWO shifters. Those were Browning transmissions back in the day...As always, travel safely. ✌🏼

[@nicoz7662]

Straight out of the CDL manual, but hearing from you puts a real spin on it and hammers it home. Thx!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Happy to hear that!

[@erico6247]

Good knowledge! I'm just beginning trucking and trying to learn more on the J brake, specially in wet downhills. Icy or even light snow., it's sure scary doing those heavy loads going down 6 or 7 % steep downhills with bad weather conditions on road I sure don't want to jack knife my trailer.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad it’s helpful!!! Keep practicing! You’ll keep getting more comfortable with it. Best of luck out there! Stay safe and have fun.

[@WolfOfBrooklynXOfficial]

Good video man thank you . Im currently waiting for my trainer here at Werner in Lehigh valley ! And just wanted to refresh my mind 💯

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad I could help! Best of luck with your training!!! Check out our older videos and playlists. Lots of helpful Werner content! Let us know how it goes!

[@whome6175]

My trainer isn’t explaining me how to use the kale break I was loaded with 45,000lb and I found my self getting punched by the weight you helping me a lot brother thank tou

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

So glad it was helpful!!! Really important to know how to safely get down a mountain. What is the flag in your handle?

[@budman4750]

Thanks for the video..how do you go down a steep grade when it's raining ..

[@nestorlopez2587]

Good video!

[@garfieldlawrence2988]

Yes, you are so, so correct.Those guys must be driving for years to zip down the hills like that or they are on something .

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍😃

[@RubeDawg81]

Thank you, brother.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad it was helpful!!!

[@dr.schultz9023]

Thanks Kevin for the insightful video.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍🤩

[@ThayneTagge-u5s]

Thanks for the training

[@todayshike]

Great job explaining brother! Thank you.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

😃👍

[@royworkout9232]

Then how you make it through the downhill when it snowing without the Jake break? Thank you

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@royworkout9232 Start off very slowly and don’t ride the brake. Just use it intermittently.

[@royworkout9232]

@@TheJoyofTrucking means not cruise control manage your speed before the downhill and started from the level one till the level 3 of Jake brake is that right ? Thank you for responding and I love your content I’m a new truck driver 🙏🏼

[@royworkout9232]

I’m asking when it snowed because I’ve seen one of your videos doing the downhill and the road was bad in West Virginia and you have done perfectly.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@royworkout9232 Oh yes…that was a bad storm. Thx for watching. NO engine break or you run the chance of jackknifing. Slow and steady and foot gently on and off the brake in wet conditions. Don’t want brakes to catch fire by riding them continuously.

[@royworkout9232]

@@TheJoyofTrucking Thank you 🙏🏼 be safe ! You are doing a fabulous job🫡

[@Thejeanmachine4]

Hey man I have a new kenworth automatic transmission but I notice my engine brake does not engage until 30mph any tip on how I could lower it ? I’m just worried about the up coming winter season

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

🤔🤔🤔Better ask a mechanic at the shop. Kevin’s works…

[@frankthomas2412]

Thanks got me some good information

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍🤩😃

[@nestorlopez2587]

Thanks brother!

[@AlexD-u3x]

So how are we supposed to slow down if we are heavy and there is snow outside or the road is wet?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

In general, if conditions are dry, start off very slowly at the top of the hill/mountain with your Engine Brake set. Then only use foot brake as needed. The point is not to ride the foot brake all the way down a mountain. If the road is wet, then engine brake is not a good idea as it can cause the truck and trailer to jackknife. So it does seem like a bit of a Catch 22. Gage the road condition and decide accordingly. Just don’t ride your foot brake uninterrupted. That can cause a fire.

[@AlexD-u3x]

@@TheJoyofTrucking thank you 🙏🏻. Is it ok to use engine break when it snows or road is wet?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@AlexD-u3x Oh…so sorry. Was just answering the first part about heavy load. Thanks for verifying! You should not use engine brake in wet conditions! See the corrected comment above. Sorry about that!!!

[@antoniooo357]

What about in the rain or snow should i still use cruise control ? Or will jake be too strong

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Turn off cruise control before heading down hill in rain or snow so the Jake brake doesn’t engage automatically. Then go slow and only use the foot brake.

[@Everydaytruckingg]

@@TheJoyofTrucking will using the j brakes cause jack knife in this situation?

[@khaldahmed8977]

Please I have kenworth when I use jake break RPM goes to 20 is that safe also I use manual gear on automatic transmission when i go down a hill is it safe for transmission people they said high RPM blows the turbo

[@victorjulian6003]

Great video! Thanks!!!!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad it’s helpful!!

[@joseoliva1540]

Great video , thanks.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for watching!!!

[@richandjanes2520]

Well done. Thanx-R

[@habibshehata4366]

Would u explain this to me plz. U said no engin breaks on icy or slippery, so how to control speed in this situation

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thanks for asking that question. To begin with, drive slower if you encounter snowy or icy or slippery conditions. And then use your regular brake. Using Jake Brakes on icy conditions could cause you to jackknife. Please stay safe out there!!!

[@habibshehata4366]

@@TheJoyofTrucking thank you, I was under the impression that service breaks is what caused me to almost jackknife the last week.

[@Chasrunyon]

The engine brake slows the whole vehicle down, who would it cause a jack knife? Your trailer is going same speed as cab, doesn’t make since

[@Everydaytruckingg]

@@Chasrunyon do you usually use yours?

[@iandermott6558]

Excellent thankyou to you both

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Our pleasure! Hope it helped!!

[@anthonymunoz2648]

Does the Jake brake cause the drive axle brakes to heat up?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Nope…😃

[@TRUCKERAbdurRahmanbinbailey]

How you doing Kevin?-good CDL information.I love you JakeBrake dadadadadadadada-I hate you foot brake.Meaning,don’t ride the foot brake!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍😃❤️🤩

[@ladareaouxxl]

Is the Jake break good or bad for the engine

[@joshuawensell2262]

Excellent content

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for watching!!

[@boschtrucking8111]

Great video

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thanks!!! Glad you liked it!! Thanks for watching!

[@yaekobsefu6352]

God bless you !

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thank you! You too!

[@mekienoka]

Great advise🙌🙌

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad it’s helpful!!! Thanks for watching!!!

[@lepinesasiu3525]

Don’t really don’t need manual mode? Cause I never use it haha

[@charlesmcgregor737]

Thanks for the tip

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍

[@jeffreymendez7877]

Thank you!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

You're welcome! Hope it helps!

[@xraybravo7180]

How can. I manage the right gear and rpm going up hill so I don't lose momentum. I have 400hp I haul 75k lb all te other drivers go up 20 to 30 miles faster and my automatic 2022 frightliner is struggling at 10 to 15 speed. I don't mess with gear buy I want to know the rpm and right gears so I can manually adjustment them for better performance? Thank you

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Hey again! Here is how Kevin does it. As he gets to the bottom of the hill, he stomps on the gas pedal. This will disengage the cruise control before it loses 5-6 miles per hour. If he is climbing and the truck goes slower, he gears down right away so the rpm's go higher. He will gear down to maintain at least 1,300 rpm. Good luck! Let us know how it goes for you!

[@MarkOPolo456]

She meant 1300 RPM, not 13,000. Also, when I start on a long steep downhill, I will set the cruise control about 10 mph slower that I want to go and adjust the setting as I need to in order to maintain my speed. Most of the Freightliner trucks that I have driven have a +5 mph setting (this can be adjusted), so the cruise control won’t start slowing the truck down until the speed exceeds 5 mph over the speed the cruise is set to. Depending on the weight of the load, the grade of the hill, weather conditions, traffic, etc., I occasionally have to use the service brakes to slow me down and then re-engage cruise control. I have also temporarily taken the Jakes out of the auto position and used a higher setting to slow the truck down. When the Jake lever is returned to the auto position, cruise control automatically re-engages.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@MarkOPolo456 LOL!!! Yes. 1,300rpm. Thanks for catching that and pointing it out. I’ve corrected it.

[@Bendigo1]

With 400hp and assuming the gears are set up for fuel economy, there is no way to avoid losing momentum. Most trucks set up for fuel economy will slow down before you even reach the hill. There is not much anyone can do about it.

[@xraybravo7180]

You didn't say what gears is better on auto 12 speed trans cause it seems it picks up speed

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

You should be in 11th gear with the Jake Brake engaged when you start going downhill If the hill is very steep or you have a heavy load you might still have to use the foot brake. You will learn that in certain circumstances you need to start descending at a slower speed. Thanks for watching!!

[@awelsemense]

nice advice very informative bro

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

😃👍 Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ngagenokia]

great edu

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thanks!!

[@ziz505]

Thank you so much

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍😃😃😃

[@elic.e.s8151]

Thanks👍

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍

[@Bendigo1]

Rule of thumb. Go down the hill in 1 gear lower than it would take to get up the hill. Set your speed so that it will hold the speed on medium and slow you down on high. If you have to use the foot brake to slow down, you are in too high of a gear. Great advice about not doing what everyone else is doing. For one they may be empty while you are not. And they may not know what they are doing but think they do or are following the ones that do know but are empty. You will usually find the ones that pass you not knowing what they are doing, at the bottom of the hill looking at their brakes smoking like crazy.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thanks for adding your comment and elaboration on the topic!!!

[@kellyedwards8870]

Thanks

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

:-))

[@Ibrahim-vn7kv]

Thank you god bless you

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Our pleasure! Stay safe!!!

[@pennywise1003]

Hills scare me period I always go slow but my trainer says I’m going too slow.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

You must be your own safety meter! Drive feeling safe! As you gain experience, confidence, knowing the truck, the weight of loads you’ll probably start going faster. As long as you are not a danger to other drivers go as slow as you need to build your skills!

[@edduproducers8242]

A lot of rookies don't know how important is this..im here bcuz I forgot the step after 8 year driving manual

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍

[@oscarr.camacho7257]

GREAT⚠️👏👍

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thanks for watching!!

[@johnsmith-ji2hx]

thumbs up

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

👍👍👍😃

[@ladareaouxxl]

Is the Jake break good or bad for the engine?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Neither. Unless you leave it on ALL the time. Then it could cause problems down the road.

[@JoseRivera-cj9sl]

Thanks

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

😃😃😃👍

[@elic.e.s8151]

Thanks

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

🤩👍