USA Truck: Why no Jake Brakes?
 

:D I have always wondered why USA Truck doesn't have jake brakes on their tractors? I thought it was a DOT regulation that big trucks had to have jakes. I know their trucks are pretty stripped down but having no jakes is taking it a little too far. 8)

Dunno why USA Trucks done have Jake Brakes. I guess, I've never thought about it. Some trucks have them, and some dont. I dont think it's a requirement by the DOT to have Jake Brakes.

It's always amazed me that no bigger than Ft. Smith is, they have bookoos of trucking companies, warehouses, etc. Of course, there is I-40 that runs right through there. Major interstate. I'm sure I've said this before, but my mom's family lives in Ft. Smith. (with the exception of her parents-deceased) I have thought about moving to Ft. Smith in the past, because of the trucking jobs there.

Re: USA Truck: Why no Jake Brakes?
 

O my what did truckers ever do with out jake brakes, you're kidding right ?

I have no jake and knock on wood, I have yet to encounter a situation where I absolutely needed it. Leave plenty of distance ahead of me and it's all good. I do wish my gears were slightly shorter so that when I let off, the truck won't coast as easy, that it will act as it's own jake better than it currently does.

where did you hear that usa truck doesn't have jakes??????
i drive for them and every truck i have seen has them.
just curious about your information.

loofnicnad

There are a number of carriers who didn't have Jake brakes, including Heartland. I recall something about engine brakes being required on all newer trucks. I don't remember when the law was to have gone into effect.

Kind of ironic isn't it?

On the one hand said law requires an engine brake, and then more and more roads are being posted "No Engine Braking" to prohibit their use.

Whoever said common sense is dead was right on the money.

You should never use government and common sense in the same sentence. :P

:D You got that right!! :lol:

I don't know where USA travels, but I'm guessing if the company doesn't do much mountian driving there really isn't much need for a jake.

Some guys also get ridiculous with them too - jaking on flat land and coming off bridges. They're probably the ones that get all defensive when their motors burn out early too...

I like the guys who use it in a parking lot :wink: with straight 6" pipes :shock:,......at 2:00 A.M. :evil:

Some of the big fleets didn't have them on their trucks because of the cost. When I started we didn't have Jake brakes on our trucks. I recall hearing something about them, but don't remember seeing any trucks who had them. We just geared down and went sloooowwww down steep hills. The first truck I bought didn't have a Jake brake. I swore that I would never buy another without one, and I haven't. I didn't have a Jake brake on a truck until I bought my second truck. It is more a matter of safety. It saves the brakes, if used properly. There are still those who don't use them as they were designed. :roll:

Re: USA Truck: Why no Jake Brakes?
 

Cheepskates spec'd their rigs with no jakes, eh? I'd scratch them off the list for sure. Yes you can do the job without jakes, but any longhauler will tell you that jakes are a useful tool in their toolbox. What about air-conditioning? Is that needed? Nope. But would you do the job without it? I sure as hell wouldn't. What about lumbar support? Power steering? APU's?

Beware of oufits that skimp on their equipment. Next thing you know, they'll be skimping on your paycheck.

That should read:

8)

Re: USA Truck: Why no Jake Brakes?
 

I bet there are a few old dog drivers out there who would cry you a river. :wink:

USA's trucks do have Jake brakes, and cruise control and all the other goodies. My uncle drivers for them, and Ive been in the truck.

:D I know about three or four years ago they didn't have them so they must have begun equipping them with jakes just recently. I went to USA Truck's Van Buren headquarters after I got out of truck school in 2004 and they seemed proud their trucks didn't have jake brakes. No one seemed to know why they didn't have them back then. 8)

About 3 years ago is when they started putting them on, so its still a slim chance you might get one with out, but they only hold on to there trucks for about 4 years. The only complaint my uncle has is all the trucks are Mid roofs, he misses his full condo sleeper on his FLD when he was an o/o. But the truck makes him money, so he doesnt complain to much 8) :lol:

Re: USA Truck: Why no Jake Brakes?
 

Air conditioning? LUMBAR support? Power steering???? Man.....you would not have liked trucking when I started. You would never have made it. We were lucky just to have a window that rolled down. We didn't even know what lumbar was. Power steering was what you had in your biceps. APU?? We never turned the engine off. It stayed on from the time we left until we got back home.

All the trucking around here pays for me to live

Trucks gotta break some time. Come on down man :D


Its a nice area and between Tyson, OK Foods, and the oil fields, there are ALWAYS open trucking jobs 8)

:D Yeah, and there's always mountains to climb (not like the flat country around Wichita Falls) and plenty of hunting and fishing whenever you get a break from jammin' gears! 8)

My dad knows a guy who just bought a brand new 07 Mack. He orsered it with out a jakebrake. To save on the weight. Hes real anal about his lightweight. HE even took the pass. seat out of his truck. Only has 1 air horn. SO you can still get them with out jakes.

I drive for Heartland. All our trucks have jakes.