I Was Trucking Down A Mountain When This Happened... 

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Actually, Alex, you got it half-right. Going downhill, you want to not only have the engine brake on, but also be in the proper gear. Remember, most trucks are still stick-shift, so you can actually hold the same gear going downhill. So if you have a 10-speed, depending on the grade decline and the length, you'd probably drop from 10th to 9th, maybe 8th, depending on the decline. It also depends on your load, as the heavier you are, the more torque vs top end you need to maintain control. But as for the guy who had the smoking brakes, he definitely rode the service brakes downhill. The problem is, he heated those brake units up so hot, they started melting and, over long enough time, could catch fire -- and that's if they didn't simply fade to the point that they just don't work any more. Which, by the way, is the purpose of those run-off ramps: To stop an 80,000 lb truck with no brakes. It's why those run-off ramps are loaded with sand. The truck may get dirty and be a pain to recover, but that's a hell of a lot better than losing the load, the truck, or even the driver.

I was going downhill in VA with Jake brakes at speed limit. Was passed by truck with brakes smoking. When I got to bottom of hill, Speedy Truck was on side of road with cargo scattered everywhere. Drive safe Alex

Great driving Alex! You are always careful and considerate. Those are great quality to have as a truck driver!

You are doing a much better job entering the interstate at speed. Keep up the good work!

Hey Alex, I was so inspired by your journey that I have taken the first steps to get my CDL A. I currently have my permit and can’t wait to start trucking. You’re a big inspiration in showing what a rookie trucker looks like! Take care and be safe!

Im from North Carolina (45 minutes from Charlotte). There are tons of hiking trails in nc. It is a very beautiful state. Its So cool you where close to me. I just started watching your videos. Truckers are amazing yall deliver all the stuff we have im thankful for yall truckers stay safe.

Really enjoying the videos. Thanks and keep up the good work.

You are a defensive driver which is very good. I suggest you inform yourself concerning the brakes etc. Very important stuff you need to be 100% sure about.

Excellent driving. I could never do this. Going downhill in a 1 ton truck gives me the heebys

I'm late to the party but I just found your channel. I've been trucking about 8 or so years, it really takes me back to my early days seeing your experiences. It does get "easier" over time, I promise, lol. In regards to engine brakes and hills there are numerous things to consider. I drive exclusively between Calgary and Vancouver Canada, which crosses the Rocky Mountains. The best method for any hill is proper gear selection combined with the engine brake. If you have to use your service brake, you're going too fast. Unfortunately with automatics being so popular, drivers push the hills way too aggressively because they know their automatic won't miss a gear. Winter is where things get interesting. It is somewhat advisable to use the low or medium engine brake setting and go even slower than usual to avoid locking up the wheels and skidding. There have been instances where I've had to abandon the engine brake all together and ease down on my brake, mind you when things are that slick I'm only doing about 15 mph. Ideally, in such conditions the safest thing to do is simply not drive, lol, but if you have to chains aren't a bad idea, or creep down dead slow. I don't mess with the hills, they eat trucks all the time. Automatic transmissions don't defy the laws of physics. Weight is weight. Fancy gap in Virginia is a good hill, when I did that there were usually a few guys putting on a good smoke show. And I've seen more than a few truck fires due to drivers burning up their brakes. When I'm light I can hold a hill at 50-65, no brakes, although it is still sometimes smart to go slower, particularly if your sight line is shorter than your stopping distance. There's nothing more tense than having to stop for an unexpected event around a curve/fog/etc. Also, one needs to remember, freight can smash through a trailer and into the cab in an emergency stop, so that is another reason to be mindful of your descent speed, you should give yourself enough time to be able to stop safely should the need arise.

The fear that truckers have of the DOT is incredible and they know why because of the corruption of the DOT when they do an inspection they put or invent a reason for you not to escape a fine just like that

I know exactly where you drove through. U went through I 77 in fancy gap, that stretch of highway is known for its tall mountains, runaway ramps, and steep hills.

Drive to your skill level and don't worry what others are doing, Do your run your way. Keep being safe, we all appreciate it.

I like how you add the stops into the vid and the backing up into the bays. Could help some people learn from it. Even if you mess up yourself. Enjoyed the vid man

Nice video, thank you for it. Be safe out there.

I haul oversized like that one that you passed. The reason he wasn’t slowing down to let you over is because he weighs more than you do when you’re fully loaded and it takes several minutes to get back up to speed. If we slowed down every time someone wanted to slide in front of us we would lose a lot of time and we’re already limited to daylight hours only in most states. You were going down Fancy Gap. Everyone was passing you because they can maintain their speed. Honestly I can maintain mine pretty easily there too. The guy who’s brakes were smoking likely had been riding his brakes for a while. You might know this, but when you’re headed down steep declines like that and you have to use your brakes it’s best to use them for a few seconds and then let off for a bit. Doesn’t look like he did that lol.

hi Alex .enjoy your video. I would say you drive like old school ( like truck driver should ) . I'm in my mid sixty's. I like your attitude keep up good work. Keep on trucking.

Before going down a long downhill grade you should downshift to a lower gear and use your engine to control your speed. If you need to use your brakes you need to use the stab method to not over heat them. That is use brakes, let up cool brakes then use brakes again.

Thank you for sharing Alex

That was interesting. Thanks for sharing. Just read a bunch of good comments .

The bypass means that you can keep going even if the scale is open that’s what it is for so that even if the scale is open you still have a chance of not having to go in and the bypass has all of your trucks information so they know everything about your truck

Thank you for the ride Alex. Love your attitude and style. You remind me of my son. He drives for Prime and seems to like it a lot. Cheers.

Thanks for taking us with you on a ride-along, it was FUN!

Hey Alex love your videos. I liked this one because as a local amazon delivery driver, I used to deliver to that place all the time if its where I think it is. Right off of either Reames or Old Statesville rd. Neat.

Great driving on I81&77. Traveled many times visiting family. Down hill runaway ramps are used a lot. We always saw truck tracks in them. Patrol Staties every where.

Great video!

Is it weird I just spent all day driving up and down I-81. Took a load from Stuarts Draft, VA to Palmyra, PA And I'm now on my 10 hour rest break and I'm watching you do the same thing for 20mins?

I miss driving on i81, as a Hot Shot Driver going from NC to PA it's such a better ride than taking 95, that scale near Roanoke is always open too lol and I have seen many a truck losing their brakes on i77 coming into NC and use the runaway ramps, it can be a disaster for sure. Great video keep on trucking

Anytime I got the green light from Drivewyze, I bypassed the weight station and never had any issues 😉👍

Oh. This is my neck of the woods. I live just outside DC and I have made weekends around throwing my boxy VW down I-81 and through the mountains of WV via VA/WV route 55. I’m sure that was a nice drive.

Fancy Gap is definitely a scary place to drive, even in a car! Be careful if you go through and it’s foggy, you won’t be able to see a THING! Too bad you couldn’t spend some more time in Southwest VA. It sure is beautiful! I enjoy living here!

I love those mountain views going into nc. Always high wind advisorys there though You passed my good old Town woodstock va!

At times he sounds like Ray Romano and other times he sounds like Kermit the frog.

Brakes smoke when the shoes and drum become too hot, once they smoke they are only a few more degrees away from completely failing.

Hey I live right off exit 8 before you go down the mountain! So cool to see this!

Great video Alex 👋🏾👋🏾👍🏾

If you get a bypass that means you can go around scales regardless of the sign

You passed by my house in Charlotte..... keep driving safely dude.

I like how you try to be careful...

I live in NC welcome . Safe travels bud

I hear ya when passing and your saying...go go gooooo..... lol. I do that too when I'm trying to pass. Lol. 🤣🤣🤣

Many things can cause brakes to smoke when descending a mountain with the jake brake on. Many jakes don't hold back the same and many brakes, even though self adjusting, just don't adjust equally with others. Also new brake lining will often smell and smoke until they are seated well into the drum. I remember driving a Mack down the same mountain (Fancy Gap, I-77) and I might as well have been dragging a ten pound rock or dragging a tennis shoe out the door, for all the good the jake brake was doing. Keep up the good work. ~Mountain Man

You can use the service brakes on hills, but you have to be cautious. After you heat them up enough to cause smoking you can land yourself in a lot of trouble. I recommend what you are doing, use the Jake Brake.

3:16 you should always follow your truck prepass!

Good job on your videos bro you’re really cool

If you're prepass is red, go in the scale unless it's closed. Green prepass: bypass all scales unless you have hazmat or a permit load. Brakes can smoke for many reasons. I drove for a company that specd the trucks with no jakes. You had to slow to the correct descent speed well before the hill and always got hot enough to smoke before the bottom of hill. Once took a steep road in Quebec in my own truck with an empty flatbed. It was so steep & winding that brakes smoked . Not bad, but definitely got hot many times on the way down. Happy trails

It’s either drive line or drive wire that gives you a bypass at the waystation and you’re supposed to take it. I bet your tablets hooked up to that. I know a lot of the truckers have using that on their phones. That way you don’t have to stop at weigh stations.

Hey Alex. I am in Maryland but I travel (4 wheeler) down 81 to 77 South into Charlotte. The stretch of 77 South within 20 or 30 miles before Charlotte has the strangest down hill sensation. I am not sure if you can notice it in your Rigg but it feels almost like you are coasting with hardly any drive train assistance...I know, strange huh? Just wondering if you noticed it. NC has the bluest skies.

Go around the scale smatter wid U? Good vid kid perciate it stay healthy safe travels....OG SS gone......

I could’ve swore I saw you near the Charlotte area a while back, although I saw several variant trucks in the same day so who knows for sure.

I had to learn how to drive out west in the mountains without the benefit of a jake brake and honestly I appreciate learning that way.I don't understand how folks get in a hurry it does nothing but cause problems.

Lol that rest area the video starts off at.. I o own EXACTLY where that is. I am very familiar with that area of VA now.

My son wants to be a trucker because of your videos ❤️

Talk to your Safety Director to confirm, but if it says to bypass, you should not enter the scale.

Many reasons for hot brakes... 🔥 Sometimes Owner Operators will use trailer brakes only if they are using someone elses wagon so they dont use their tractor brakes.... Or some axles could be out of adjustment while other axles are snugged tight. Of course the snug shoes will heat quick because they're doing all the braking... And yes, some trucks don't have "Jakes" which will heat brakes too.

"I gotta pee when I get out of the truck" check your prostate to see if it's enlarged. Probably when you're sitting down, the weight depresses the prostate in a way where's it's "normal", but when you stand, the enlarged prostate causes an urgency to urinate. Probably harmless but you should check it out with your doc the next time you get a check up.

👏👏 HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY EVERYONE ✌️ HAPPY FRIDAY

I guess your gonna see it all While on the road Alex ✌️👊✌️😉

Is it frustrating driving with the governor limiting your speed or does it take the pressure off to increase your mileage?

I was watching this and realized i just finished my 700 mile trip and in my sleeper i been driving all day why im i watching another trucker drive 🤦🏻

I love driving through that area

First person I seen that can talk without moving his lips 😂😂😂 freaking awesome

You were going down Fancy Gap on 77 where it gets windy and foggy not far from Independence where I am.

Weight is not the only reason the DOT might want to check your truck and trailer. They also keep a “score” of your company. If many have violations, there is a bigger chance that they want to check your truck out as well. Luckily, I’m allowed to pass 9 out of 10 weigh stations 😊

Saw u the other day on 77 near CLT!

Always follow your smart pass…. If it says bypass do just that 👍

When Dryvewise gives you a bypass, you can bypass the station unless you are hazmat you must stop at first open weight station in a state

I have always wandered hmm I wonder if Alex ever comes close to where I live I live about 35 minutes away from Charlotte so when I heard the gps and saw where you were and I knew that road I was satisfied

Service brakes, ie pads and drums, friction based. Yes. Youll see smoke coming from brakes after over use. Not mentioning other reasons why a hub or wheel would smoke…….

Those quick unloads make you forget a lot cuz you're used to 2+hrs lol

Going to fast for the weight on the wagon and the step down grade, Always get to know how the ship (truck) you are operating, like how the jakebrack ( engine retarder) works going down grades with a load grossing 78 to 80 thousand pounds and also always get to know the mountain grades. Safe travels.

People think I'm crazy for doing 45s and 90s when I'm backing when there is so much room to set up for a straight back. I do 45s and 90s strictly for the practice. If I cheated all the time with straight backs, 10 years later I'd suck at angled backing still 🤣

WE GO THAT WAY ALL THE TIME

the red truck went downhill way too fast in the first place - it should have braked much sooner - the faster you move and then brake, the higher the temperatures on the disc brakes and brake pads. simple physics

Dot told me a long time ago that when you get the bypass to keep on going they no you got it already so next time just keep on trucking because some of them get mad when you enter and you got the bypass

The stress of a trucker lol I driven all except that lowbed driver he passed with dual axles lol. Driving is tough

Wow, feels like American Truck Simulator but for real! 😄

The amount of times Alex uses the hazard lights is ridiculous it's as if he loves hearing the noise of the indicators lol.

I’ve seen you going down hills in a couple videos at full speed. You sure have a lot of confidence in your brakes being able to stop you in an emergency…

Drive safe Alex, I drive truck for Decker truck line out of fort dodge Iowa and I love driving truck for a living

You should consider doing Q&A videos

The over size loader like moving a trailer that take up 2 lanes that’s bad ass

I have gone down that hill into north Carolina it can be bad if not using Jake brakes and proper down shifting

Engine brakes are so helpful. And keep a gear lower than what you went up in.

Hey Alex, What CB Channel do Semi Truck Drivers use for a stand by channel?

When I was with Stephens we did not have Jake brakes but we could not do down where you were, I have been down cabbage before had to stop a couple of times to let the brakes cool made that last curve and let it roll used to be a truck stop at the bottom 😅

7:12 he's never going to let a truck out again😂

That's funny he almost got lost looking for door 7 probably circled the building 7 time's 😂😂

Saw the same thing, driving through pa.

Bypass you can stay on the hiway and don't need to enter the scale.

Always have it in the right gear going down hill. If you're too high and gain too much speed you're screwed you can't shift down and end up in neutral, jake brake right gears and slow down.

U don’t gotta stop at weight station if ur by pass blinks green

Sign always says that. You screen was telling you that you could bypass. You did not need to go in

DOT Inspection, DOT does it more then you think here in VA & NC

I was in my 2nd week of driving and I had em smoking going down the grapevine outside of Ontario California . every driver pointed or told me over CB . one said hey your having a Barbecue at your trailer tires . Never had brake fade and they cooled off as I got to the flat part of I-5 through the orange groves. I didn't dare stop or I might of lit up the trailer

Yes what you said is one reason his brakes were smoking another reason is he didn't drain is air tanks

Rule of thumb whatever gear you use to climb the hill is the same gear you should use going down the hill with the engine brake on fully.. However if you own the truck but not the trailer it saves your truck brakes if you use the Johnny brake lever and only use the trailer brakes going down 😮😊

One thing my father drilled into me is you NEVER ride the brakes even in a passenger car going down a steep sustained grade. He instilled inro me to use a lower gear to rely on engine braking.

Alex I like to watch you here on you tube you have a great sense of humor and I get a good laugh when you are talking while you are on the road trucking. But have to ask you something so how often when you stop to drop a load and you get out of the truck and you say "I GOT TO PEE" you crack me up😄👌🤘☝💪👋🚚🕶