How to Go Down Mountains Safely

I wanted to say something that is going to be on everyone's mind when they are driving in some parts of the USA and that is going down hills or mountains.

I remember my son coming home from school after we had returned from Germany and asking where the mountains were in Pennsylvania. I told him I didn't know unless they were talking about the Appalachians. He said "they ain't mountains. They are hills." He had skied in the Alps which may have had something to do with that idea.

Depending on where you are in Pennsylvania, and other parts of America, there can be some 'interesting' hills to descend in a truck. There are not many ways to go down safely except SLOW!!. I remember being told when I first started out- 'You only go down a mountain once to fast-you can go down a mountain a million times to slow.' I like the slow method best.

There are several places, and not just in Pa, that have those interesting signs that say something like "All trucks over 26000 lbs stop and check brakes 2000 feet ahead." You are reminded again at regular intervals. Don't for one minute think that car that may be parked on the side of the road can't be a bear because it can be. You need to stop and get out of your truck and check the brakes. Make sure you have pads on the shoes and make sure there is no blown wheel seal with grease coming down the inside of the tires. Actually, this should have been done when you were doing the pre-trip inspection. Do it again just to make sure.

You need to know your weight, how long the mountain is and the degree of decent. One thing a lot of people don't understand is what the degree of decent means. If the sign says eight percent (8%) grade for two miles, it means that for every 100 feet of road you are dropping eight (8) feet. That is a pretty steep hill. It also means you will be doing this for 2 miles and that is a long way. Start out at the top of the hill a few miles per hour slower than the sign says. When you hit five miles an hour over the suggested speed ease down on the brakes and slow your vehicle down to five miles under the suggested speed. You should be able to make it down the mountain without smoking your brakes. Always look in the mirrors to make sure you are not smoking. I have seen truck brakes catch on fire because they did not stop when the brakes got hot and started smoking.

There are people who have come up with much needed information that is not listed in a Truckers Road Atlas. This information is something I wish I had known more about when I first started out. You can go to my website to get more information on going down hills and mountains. Some of it may even save a life--

Rose Brophy is a former addictions counselor turned truck driver/trainer. She drove truck for over 19 years, She was an over-the-road driver and drove in the lower 48 states and every major city. Her web site is http://www.truckinsafety.com

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