Great video. Thanks. It reminds me of riding shotgun with my father back in the day. Before he started any descent like that he would always say, "If something goes wrong, stay with the truck, don't try to jump". He drove a lowbed with an old Kenworth, 220 Cummins and two stick 5 and 4. Slow but steady. He overheated the brakes once coming down the hill into 100 Mile House with a D8 on the back. We went through town at about 70 mph, on the horn all the way until he got it stopped at the far end. Exciting days trucking in the early '60s.
I'm really honored that people like yourself find this video useful and entertaining. I've heard a few stories about that hill. Those old manually adjusted brakes must have been terrible. I guess you could never trust them to be adjusted properly for any length of time. I've learned about them in driving school, but thankfully, I've never had to apply that knowledge. I'd hate to have to crawl under the truck in the slush and snow every time I drive these hills.
@@bernieneufeld4297 That's awesome. 21 years for me. I left in 76 to go to PG and sell Snap-on. My dad was senior sawmill supt. for Jacobsons. Truly small world.
Brother drove all his life. He got his first semi when I was 13. Have never driven one of those new-fangled Roadranger transmission that everyone knew were a fad and would never catch on in the bush! Now they have automatics! My worst experience was spinning out at 14 on a hill where I had to make a right angle turn onto a single lane bridge. You never forget that type of an experience. And this was in the days of arm-strong steering. Must be nice not having to crawl under and adjust the brakes. Became legal in 1956 and did some highway trips but most of my driving was on side roads in the central/northern interior of B.C. Thanks for the video. Shows how much times have changed.
Times change, but some things don't. I pound on that dash pretty hard when I make it to the top of these hills during the snowstorms , especially when I didn't have to chain up. It hurts when I watch 18-wheelers rip by while I'm losing the battle. I'm sure it was a good career in the bush.
That was really interesting with you explaining the different scenarios as you came down the mountain . You made it easy to follow along and understand . Every person on the road should see this video to understand what truckers are up against when navigating these mountains , epically very heavy loads like you just did . Very very very Well Done !! Hats off to ya !
In hindsight, I could have said a lot more. Unfortunately, it was a last-minute thought to record that night. But thanks, I'm happy you enjoyed the vid.
Great stuff mate… 62 plus tons negotiated beautifully and confidently👍👍👍 You Canadians have ba**s of steel when it comes to dealing with icy / snow capped mountainous roads, kudos to you… Greetings from Aus
@@12vNation That's the go mate ( but even more spooky if you are running 3 up on ice / snow....and you get an extra hundred bonus points for doing this with a sludge-O-matic ).... Good that you are running a Western Star as they are a "Mans Truck" purpose built for those with nerves / ba**s of steel 👌👌👌
I thank you for your in depth detail coming down this hill. I am not a truck driver although I have driven once or twice with out this challenge. I appreciate the courage and dedication that it is required from drivers such as your self. Again thank you for this video it was enlightening informative to us common drivers.
Retired log truck owner here. Definitely a long and steep hill. Highway 99 going south down toward Pemberton is a bit steeper if I remember 13% on and off for about 8 miles. Interesting video of how the automatic trans. operates. Never drove or owned one though. Retired in 2012----last truck had Jake & Retarder-----great combination but don't think is available any more. Stay safe
Oh yes, the Duffy Lake Road. I don't think you see many semi trucks on that road. Definitely no super b-trains. Those switches going down to Pemberton are pretty tight.
I always figured 30 min from the brake check to radium, Spring was the worst as the tourons always tossed trash out at the brake check and it was kinda sketchy doing a walk around getting ready to bolt for the cab incase of a bear attack! Thanks for the Video it did bring back memories from Steele Brothers (Continental LIme?) to Skook to the pulp mill. Once you rounded the curve by the wooden Indian you were nearly there!! Did this job in the 80's COE Freightshaker 8-v92 jakes & 18 speed! It paid the bills and fed my family!!
Great training video,this is what needs to be taught to new drivers. Not just a a bit of city driving.Understanding that you need to be extra cautious first time on a hill.Thanks for making the video
Well done brother. Thank you for this informative video. It is very important for mediocre or no drivers out there to see and learn from So thank you so very much and for it's worth good luck with the very bad market trackers going through right now.
Right mint training vid. Competent negotiating. I bet you've done it enough on that hill, can do with eyes closed. This needs to be subtitled in dugaduga so they learn not to follow 10ft off your tail. I was taught, what speed you go up, the same going down. Pretty much perform the same procedures you do when i'ze hauling treelength into Thunder Bay. Keep up the good vids.
Thanks, honestly, I hadn't thought of making trucking related videos, but I'll give it a shot considering how much interest there is in this video. Maybe I'll make another one and pole the viewers as to what they'd like to see.
@@12vNation There are almost no vids on utube of fully loaded hitting the bottom of the hill and gearing down. Ive got my own vids of hitting sistonens hill with 140 on at 100kmh, then rowing gears, ending in 4th on the way up [525 cat]. Then a WS[580 DD16] passing me while he's in 5th. But I never put them up because i have to maintain the vid strategy on my own business channel
i see you really understand Air Brakes and make a very good Instructor. On a hill like that, a person would really have to follow everything to a tee, like what you did, or else one Hell of a situation to live through, especially in the winter road conditions.
Absolutely, and there are some people who get a little too comfortable with what they're doing. When the brakes fade, there's no chance of getting them back on a hill. And no chance of gearing down without brakes. That is something a lot of drivers seem to forget, and that is terrifying.
I took the air brakes course in 1985, in Princeton BC. I knew the hiways well, and I knew the winters well. I passed the course, but I knew I was never doing this for a living. Became a welder instead.
Everybody is different, I enjoy motorcycle touring and overlanding on my vacation time. How messed up is that?? You'd think I wouldn't want to see a road on my vacations. 😅
Nicely done... What engine ? ISX ? Having a map at the top of the mountain is a really good idea. Especially for drivers that have never run that section of highway, because it has so many changes in the grade. I drove for 40 years but only drove an automatic one time for about a month. That was enough.
@@12vNation I really like the ISX. My last truck was a 2018 KW T800 fuel tanker with a 525h.p ISX and an 18 speed. I hauled 12,000 gallons of gas and grossed 105,000 which is the max for Oregon. It ran okay when it was new, but we sent it to a guy in Idaho that worked his magic and really made that thing come alive, and the engine brake worked better too. I ran from Central Oregon to Portland five days a week, so I went across the Cascades every day. Highway 58 is the steepest pass but even that doesn't compare to what you run on that section of highway. The section of road that you were running on reminded me of when I used to haul logs LOL...
Any suggestions? I'm definitely open to filming stuff about trucking. At this point, I'd rather take requests than try to figure out what people want to see.
Glenn nice improvement running the hill with super sets, means less time prying out rocks from between the tires. Thanks for the memories running between Cochrane to Skook at night. I did it for 2yrs and the joys of having tourists decide to slow down to look at the sheep just before the tunnel at the 11% grade, well more then once my brakes were applied sending clouds of smoke out right into Radium till they cooled off. I miss the run but now with only one eye do to a lease operator's deciding to cut corners on safety, I can only make the run in my pick up now.
Absolutely!! Especially with drum brakes, the drum expands as it heats up, and the shoes get less and less friction until there is none. There's no such thing as coming back from that point unless the hill flattens out.
@@12vNation I've never done the 99. That would be a nice trip. But ya, decending the hill into Little Fort has to be done in 3rd high 😂. She's a gooder! I think Ashcroft is steeper yet, but I've never decended it loaded. Only empty. I made the mistake of climbing it once. Never again! It hits 13% in some spots!
Great job with both driving down the hill safely and with the video explaining to viewers what you were doing. If you were driving a manual would you pick a gear to come down the hill at the top and stay in that gear all the way down ? even though it would take you longer Best Wishes from Tasmania
Thanks, no, I would do exactly the same thing. Only I cover the brakes with my left foot just in case I have to scratch a gear and need to buy a few seconds without the truck running away on me.
Interesting video, it shows you have travelled this road many times, and know this hill well. This video, if for training and information purposes. You might have added engines have a higher (compression) braking capability running your rpms closer to the 'red line' [sic] zone. That is why you maintained the higher rpms. But, with transmission and rear end gear ratios being different in most trucks. Why did you place priority on gear selection over road speed. Different transmission/ rear end ratio = different rpm and/or road speed per gear.
Yes, absolutely, you are right. The higher the RPM, the more effective the engine brake is. This technique will work for any gear ratio. The road speed is not a factor ( other than the posted speed limit ), which was nowhere near achievable since the engine wouldn't be able to hold the weight back in any gears that are higher than the ones I was able to upshift to. I think the fastest speed in the video was around 70kph on the 3% grade in 14th gear, or ( 6 over ). Essentially, I could not have gone down the hill any faster than that without using the brakes excessively. Using a lower gear and applying throttle would be an alternative, but then you'd be much slower getting down the hill. Simply, if the tachometer is rising, a lower gear is selected. If the tachometer is dropping, a higher gear is selected, with the target rpm being the most effective rpm for engine braking. ( just under maximum rpm )
Great video and camera work showing all the gauges. Were you using the Jake? I think you were in just one setting? How many settings on the Western Star? I think some drivers go in and out of the different jake settings, 1,2,3 in a long decent down a hill? As you can see, I'm not a truck driver.
Im on the highways quite often, not as a truck driver but in company van. Now I know why i see trucks on fire and smoking brakes on the side of the road. What do you rate the Coquihalla at in terms of risk for a trucker. There's a pretty steep area for about 2km from one brake check stop.
Hills like that one and Roger's pass are extremely dangerous, mostly because they don't appear to be as bad as they are. The road is wide and fast, the hill is long, and if a truck is heavy ( 63,500 kg ) or anywhere close to that, a driver who is depending on their brakes will be in big trouble pretty fast. The Coquihalla will definitely expose a bad driver with a heavy truck. Hills like the one into Radium are much safer because they are so steep, very few drivers would actually be caught off guard while driving down a hill like that.
The grades and the weather are not the dangerous things ,there are 3 factors that are the most dangerous first is the inexperienced trucker second is the inexperienced car driver third and probably the worst are the so called "super truckers" who drive way way way too fast for road conditions, causing accidents and busting everyone's windshield in the process, I drove truck for over 30 years and not once was I paid more for getting it there faster.....
It's easy to forget just how dangerous this hill is. You might drive it a 1000 times, but you underestimate your own skills when you see trucks that ran away and are piled in the ditches, parked up the runaway ramps, there was one guy who piled his truck into the entrance of the tunnel. I've seen guys in the creek. I missed a shift one time, I'm lucky my brakes were able to slow me down as they were cool. You get overconfident here, things can go bad really fast.
Hi That definitely is not the steepest bloody Road in Canada by no means I hold wood chips for 10 years all over Washington Idaho California and British Columbia then I bought my own Super B decks and I threw it around North America and I can tell you where you are right now is a walk in the park you don't have to worry about your brakes if you pre-select the right gear I just put your Jake on if it's got a jake and retarder use that you don't have to use your brakes got my license for a class one when I was 16 after I had been driving logging truck a Northern Alberta for 8 months dude came from Edmonton I met him with a load of logs on and he just filled the paperwork out and I signed it that was my license and if you think that Steep and it's dangerous goat Ben Hall Trucking quad Max downloads as heavy as you are on the steepest mountains from top to bottom all over BC because those are or could be fatal and I did that with a self loader on for 4 years I'm 62 years old and I'm retired I guess everybody's got to learn I'm not knocking you because there are far too many immigrants that come here that can't even drive a Volkswagen and they're driving Highway trucks all over hell's half acre killing everybody but I'm certain your information is vital for new drivers and then saying this great video Cheers 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Dave, I'm sure there are steeper hills out there, somewhere, but don't be telling anyone to go down that hill on their brakes, I've seen what happens, and it's not pretty. We all do this a 1000s times, and we seem to forget that the consequences of doing it the wrong way are grave. It seems like common sense after you are experienced. I know a few good hills, too, but not in the "Canadian Rockies."" The one down to Bella Coola is pretty steep. Also, every logging road exists, but that's a whole other thing.
Dude that's not even clost to the steepest theres 12% grades out there and theres a road to Bella Coola you have to split trains because its like 18 - 20 % For the smasher and the kootenay pass and stuff I use the brakes all the time. not to mention I didnt watch enough to see where this was but if its kootenay then thats nott the rockies anymore its the columbia mountains. source : BC born and raised and trucker.( b trains with 18 speed)
Yeah, I saw a logging truck up one of the ramps last year... the guy was using his brakes because his drives were losing traction on ice with the engine brake. This is steeper than Kootenay pass. Bella Coola is not in the Rockies and not even paved. Like the Duffy Lake Road, you can't even run a b train through those switches.
Dude I see a burning or mangled truck in BC on every trip. The logger was probly pouring some whiskey into his coffee and didnt notice he was reving 2100 in 3rd gear while his truck was porpoising the volvo jakes are so overkill I go down 8% grades in 4hi with the jake on 1 and just solid use of the brake pedal . for the smasher its 4 until i can see the snowshed then 7hi till im threw the shed then 8hi till shylock where i either do that fast and go to hope fast but if i do both fast im usually smoking at the flying j as im fueling. blue haze from back trailer is low level warning, grey smoke means must reduce speed soon and white billows mean brake failure imminant.
Yup BC hiway 93 though the park and down to Radium and the Columbia Rvr Valley one of the steepest downhill gradients in the province. And its not just the grade that is an issue, there are a lot of tight left and right bends. Both east and west slopes of the Rogers Pass have their challenges also. Kootenay Pass both west and east approaches have significant gradient over length ... Nuttin boring in haulin ass around this province. Did I miss something ...jakes applied or not ?? really quiet if they were on.
Thinking about getting into the industry. Living in Vancouver Canada. The problem I see is no companies train drivers like they do in the states. The pay seems low. Companies advertise at .65 cents a mile. Is it worth getting into the industry? Any advice would be appreciated. Owner operator seems to do pretty well 🤷
I wouldn't do owner operator myself, the headaches are too much for me. Between parts and maintenance availability and expenses, I'm not interested personally. $300 -$400/ day is enough for me. That's typical compensation where I am.
I been on this road in the middle of winter with way more snow then this with automatic truck and nothing happened , piece of cake . Don't be a drama queen lol
Auto trans in trucks are for Nancy boys who can’t shift Roar Ranger gearbox ,,,Me being ex trucker from Australia I refused to drive or own them ,that’s my 10 cents worth cheers Nancy boys ..No malice in this message 🤐🤐😎👍🦘🇦🇺🧌
That hill wasn’t much fun when golden had the road closed .. Too many inexperienced drivers pushing it down behind you and doing crazy passes in the blind curves .
That's nothing. Hiway 4 to has 18% grades to Tonino is far more challenging than what you posted. Mt. Polley in BC is more challenging. Manic 5 in Quebec is 18%
Great video. Thanks. It reminds me of riding shotgun with my father back in the day. Before he started any descent like that he would always say, "If something goes wrong, stay with the truck, don't try to jump". He drove a lowbed with an old Kenworth, 220 Cummins and two stick 5 and 4. Slow but steady. He overheated the brakes once coming down the hill into 100 Mile House with a D8 on the back. We went through town at about 70 mph, on the horn all the way until he got it stopped at the far end. Exciting days trucking in the early '60s.
I'm really honored that people like yourself find this video useful and entertaining. I've heard a few stories about that hill. Those old manually adjusted brakes must have been terrible. I guess you could never trust them to be adjusted properly for any length of time. I've learned about them in driving school, but thankfully, I've never had to apply that knowledge. I'd hate to have to crawl under the truck in the slush and snow every time I drive these hills.
I know that hill well. Grew up in Williams Lake. Your dad was not the only one who overheated the brakes coming down that hill.
@@howardkettner Hey. Another Puddle Jumper. I too grew up and spent 20 years there. I lrft in 71 to go to school in Kamloops.
@@bernieneufeld4297 That's awesome. 21 years for me. I left in 76 to go to PG and sell Snap-on. My dad was senior sawmill supt. for Jacobsons. Truly small world.
Glad you lived to tell about it
Brother drove all his life. He got his first semi when I was 13. Have never driven one of those new-fangled Roadranger transmission that everyone knew were a fad and would never catch on in the bush! Now they have automatics!
My worst experience was spinning out at 14 on a hill where I had to make a right angle turn onto a single lane bridge. You never forget that type of an experience. And this was in the days of arm-strong steering.
Must be nice not having to crawl under and adjust the brakes.
Became legal in 1956 and did some highway trips but most of my driving was on side roads in the central/northern interior of B.C.
Thanks for the video. Shows how much times have changed.
Times change, but some things don't. I pound on that dash pretty hard when I make it to the top of these hills during the snowstorms , especially when I didn't have to chain up. It hurts when I watch 18-wheelers rip by while I'm losing the battle. I'm sure it was a good career in the bush.
Well done driver! We need more drivers like you on our roads to keep everyone safe out there.
Be safe!
That was really interesting with you explaining the different scenarios as you came down the mountain . You made it easy to follow along and understand . Every person on the road should see this video to understand what truckers are up against when navigating these mountains , epically very heavy loads like you just did . Very very very Well Done !! Hats off to ya !
In hindsight, I could have said a lot more. Unfortunately, it was a last-minute thought to record that night. But thanks, I'm happy you enjoyed the vid.
Great stuff mate… 62 plus tons negotiated beautifully and confidently👍👍👍 You Canadians have ba**s of steel when it comes to dealing with icy / snow capped mountainous roads, kudos to you… Greetings from Aus
Thanks, mate, now it's time to hook up 3 more trailers Aussie style!
@@12vNation That's the go mate ( but even more spooky if you are running 3 up on ice / snow....and you get an extra hundred bonus points for doing this with a sludge-O-matic ).... Good that you are running a Western Star as they are a "Mans Truck" purpose built for those with nerves / ba**s of steel 👌👌👌
70 tons according to his scale ticket
Good job 👍
Awesome! Very professional.
Gaspe has 18% grades. I appreciate your video.
Very interesting to watch! I think i'd be a nervous wreck the first few times..
Great Video
Thank You
You are True Professional
And Thank You
For Your Service to the Industry.
Take Care/Happy
Shifting!
Great! I'm happy you can appreciate it.
Good video. Nice to how the other half makes a crust.
Gives a good insight into hard it is on the road for truckies.
Travel safely.
I thank you for your in depth detail coming down this hill. I am not a truck driver although I have driven once or twice with out this challenge. I appreciate the courage and dedication that it is required from drivers such as your self. Again thank you for this video it was enlightening informative to us common drivers.
Hey, np, I'm glad you found this informative and interesting.
Retired log truck owner here. Definitely a long and steep hill. Highway 99 going south down toward Pemberton is a bit steeper if I remember 13% on and off for about 8 miles. Interesting video of how the automatic trans. operates. Never drove or owned one though. Retired in 2012----last truck had Jake & Retarder-----great combination but don't think is available any more. Stay safe
Oh yes, the Duffy Lake Road. I don't think you see many semi trucks on that road. Definitely no super b-trains. Those switches going down to Pemberton are pretty tight.
You can come down a steep hill too slow many many times. But you only come down a hill too fast once !!!
Nice work driver and safe home.
You got that right!
Ive done that hill a few times in the winter, i never let my tractor run more than 30 k, took a while to get down. but i did get there.
Better off going slower than you need to 1000 times, than 1 time too fast.
I always figured 30 min from the brake check to radium, Spring was the worst as the tourons always tossed trash out at the brake check and it was kinda sketchy doing a walk around getting ready to bolt for the cab incase of a bear attack!
Thanks for the Video it did bring back memories from Steele Brothers (Continental LIme?) to Skook to the pulp mill. Once you rounded the curve by the wooden Indian you were nearly there!! Did this job in the 80's COE Freightshaker 8-v92 jakes & 18 speed! It paid the bills and fed my family!!
facebook.com/share/r/Y7GEWhgbUf8ZKnSf/?mibextid=9drbnH&s=yWDuG2&fs=e
@@12vNation and lots of guy's have gone down 1 time too fast.
Great training video,this is what needs to be taught to new drivers. Not just a a bit of city driving.Understanding that you need to be extra cautious first time on a hill.Thanks for making the video
Np, I'm glad you could appreciate it.
Going to trucking school in PEI in sept, trying to research as much as possible... that video was intense... and super professional! Impressive!
Good luck!
@@12vNation thank you
A vast majority of todays new crop of truck drivers have absolutely no idea what brake fade is.
@@a.3086 It definitely seems to be that way.
Upsalquitch hill in New Brunswick is 11% but I’d say it’s all of 12% if not more. Great job sir
Well done brother. Thank you for this informative video. It is very important for mediocre or no drivers out there to see and learn from So thank you so very much and for it's worth good luck with the very bad market trackers going through right now.
Np, I'm honored that so many fellow drivers appreciate this vid. 👌
Music very distracting while trying to listen to what your explaining at the beginning !. Otherwise great job !!
Love it , some good education for some rookies to take note of...
nice video sir keep it up with the truck vlogs. subbed
Thanks for the sub!
Right mint training vid. Competent negotiating. I bet you've done it enough on that hill, can do with eyes closed. This needs to be subtitled in dugaduga so they learn not to follow 10ft off your tail. I was taught, what speed you go up, the same going down. Pretty much perform the same procedures you do when i'ze hauling treelength into Thunder Bay. Keep up the good vids.
Thanks, honestly, I hadn't thought of making trucking related videos, but I'll give it a shot considering how much interest there is in this video.
Maybe I'll make another one and pole the viewers as to what they'd like to see.
@@12vNation There are almost no vids on utube of fully loaded hitting the bottom of the hill and gearing down. Ive got my own vids of hitting sistonens hill with 140 on at 100kmh, then rowing gears, ending in 4th on the way up [525 cat]. Then a WS[580 DD16] passing me while he's in 5th. But I never put them up because i have to maintain the vid strategy on my own business channel
Good tunes playing in the background! Great driving tape if I say myself, retired truck driver here, I'm old school, automatic 🤢🤮 18 speed definitely!
Haha, yeah, those autos are like writing with crayons. Good tunes for the win.
Excellent training ❤❤❤ excellent
i see you really understand Air Brakes and make a very good Instructor. On a hill like that, a person would really have to follow everything to a tee, like what you did, or else one Hell of a situation to live through, especially in the winter road conditions.
Absolutely, and there are some people who get a little too comfortable with what they're doing. When the brakes fade, there's no chance of getting them back on a hill. And no chance of gearing down without brakes. That is something a lot of drivers seem to forget, and that is terrifying.
I took the air brakes course in 1985, in Princeton BC. I knew the hiways well, and I knew the winters well. I passed the course, but I knew I was never doing this for a living. Became a welder instead.
Everybody is different, I enjoy motorcycle touring and overlanding on my vacation time. How messed up is that?? You'd think I wouldn't want to see a road on my vacations. 😅
@@12vNation I’m an avid motorcyclist myself. I love it more than anything. Maybe I’ll see you on the road sometime ✌🏻
@@caryd67 definitely! Subscribe to my channel for my upcoming videos on the TCAT Trail.
In Sask, the air brake applied test for a tractor/trailer combination is 4 PSI max loss in 1 minute.
I really appreciate the technical aspects of driving a big rig down a mountain pass. Thanks.
Considering 95000 lbs is about max a Brain can haul. 145 is pretty great.
@@Smith-Machiner 140,000lbs is max vehicle weight in Canada for a super b.
Nicely done... What engine ? ISX ? Having a map at the top of the mountain is a really good idea.
Especially for drivers that have never run that section of highway, because it has so many changes in the grade.
I drove for 40 years but only drove an automatic one time for about a month. That was enough.
Haha, yeah, I hate that stupid auto. That truck has a DD15 in it. The ISX has much better engine braking than the DD.
@@12vNation I really like the ISX. My last truck was a 2018 KW T800 fuel tanker with a 525h.p ISX
and an 18 speed. I hauled 12,000 gallons of gas and grossed 105,000 which is the max for Oregon.
It ran okay when it was new, but we sent it to a guy in Idaho that worked his magic and really made
that thing come alive, and the engine brake worked better too.
I ran from Central Oregon to Portland five days a week, so I went across the Cascades every day.
Highway 58 is the steepest pass but even that doesn't compare to what you run on that section of highway.
The section of road that you were running on reminded me of when I used to haul logs LOL...
@@1911MikeinOregon Guy in Idaho ??Adept Ape ..he has his own channel and its all Cat and other diesel engine service..full rebuilds and all.
I subscribed in hopes of some more trucking videos
Any suggestions? I'm definitely open to filming stuff about trucking. At this point, I'd rather take requests than try to figure out what people want to see.
Glenn nice improvement running the hill with super sets, means less time prying out rocks from between the tires. Thanks for the memories running between Cochrane to Skook at night. I did it for 2yrs and the joys of having tourists decide to slow down to look at the sheep just before the tunnel at the 11% grade, well more then once my brakes were applied sending clouds of smoke out right into Radium till they cooled off. I miss the run but now with only one eye do to a lease operator's deciding to cut corners on safety, I can only make the run in my pick up now.
Oh man, that's a bummer. Hopefully, you got some good compensation for a career ending injury.
Good stuff never knew you had to rely on engine brakes so much.
Absolutely!! Especially with drum brakes, the drum expands as it heats up, and the shoes get less and less friction until there is none. There's no such thing as coming back from that point unless the hill flattens out.
Funny guy . I've been driving truck in Canada for 45 years and I know of a lot steeper hills in BC than that
Oh, really?? Do tell.
@@12vNation Heckman Pass coming into Bella Coola. Will pucker up the butthole.
I don't know if you can call that the steepest hill in BC. Two that I know of that are quite a bit worse are Little Fort and Ashcroft.
Yeah, there's a few good ones on 99, too, but definitely in the Rockies.
@@12vNation I've never done the 99. That would be a nice trip. But ya, decending the hill into Little Fort has to be done in 3rd high 😂. She's a gooder! I think Ashcroft is steeper yet, but I've never decended it loaded. Only empty. I made the mistake of climbing it once. Never again! It hits 13% in some spots!
@@yukongoatslayer7383 That would be slow either way. ( it better be!)
If you haven't tried the little hill from Rossland BC down to Trail BC give it a try.
Its a whole 'nother level of fun
I lived in Rossland for 12 years, and I know it well. It's not as long, but definitely steep.
Also the hill from HVC mine down into Ashcroft. That hill trucks have to pay attention going down, and going up is a grind.
Nice work true driver great work arrive alive😅😅😅
Thanks 😅
Professional
Thanks!
Going to skookumchuck mill I take it? Been there done that have the papers. Ha 👍🏻
Good times!
Great job with both driving down the hill safely and with the video explaining to viewers what you were doing.
If you were driving a manual would you pick a gear to come down the hill at the top and stay in that gear all the way down ? even though it would take you longer
Best Wishes from Tasmania
Thanks, no, I would do exactly the same thing. Only I cover the brakes with my left foot just in case I have to scratch a gear and need to buy a few seconds without the truck running away on me.
Interesting video, it shows you have travelled this road many times, and know this hill well.
This video, if for training and information purposes. You might have added engines have a higher (compression) braking capability running your rpms closer to the 'red line' [sic] zone. That is why you maintained the higher rpms.
But, with transmission and rear end gear ratios being different in most trucks. Why did you place priority on gear selection over road speed.
Different transmission/ rear end ratio = different rpm and/or road speed per gear.
Yes, absolutely, you are right. The higher the RPM, the more effective the engine brake is. This technique will work for any gear ratio. The road speed is not a factor ( other than the posted speed limit ), which was nowhere near achievable since the engine wouldn't be able to hold the weight back in any gears that are higher than the ones I was able to upshift to. I think the fastest speed in the video was around 70kph on the 3% grade in 14th gear, or ( 6 over ). Essentially, I could not have gone down the hill any faster than that without using the brakes excessively. Using a lower gear and applying throttle would be an alternative, but then you'd be much slower getting down the hill. Simply, if the tachometer is rising, a lower gear is selected. If the tachometer is dropping, a higher gear is selected, with the target rpm being the most effective rpm for engine braking. ( just under maximum rpm )
Great video and camera work showing all the gauges. Were you using the Jake? I think you were in just one setting? How many settings on the Western Star? I think some drivers go in and out of the different jake settings, 1,2,3 in a long decent down a hill? As you can see, I'm not a truck driver.
Jake is on the maximum setting throughout the video, and there are 3 settings.
What about a Jake brake?
On full the entire time.
Im on the highways quite often, not as a truck driver but in company van. Now I know why i see trucks on fire and smoking brakes on the side of the road. What do you rate the Coquihalla at in terms of risk for a trucker. There's a pretty steep area for about 2km from one brake check stop.
Hills like that one and Roger's pass are extremely dangerous, mostly because they don't appear to be as bad as they are. The road is wide and fast, the hill is long, and if a truck is heavy ( 63,500 kg ) or anywhere close to that, a driver who is depending on their brakes will be in big trouble pretty fast. The Coquihalla will definitely expose a bad driver with a heavy truck. Hills like the one into Radium are much safer because they are so steep, very few drivers would actually be caught off guard while driving down a hill like that.
No engine brake use, just gears?
I failed to mention that, but yes, maximum engine brake setting.
@@12vNation … ich hatte mich schon gewundert …
Run this hill a million times. Easy run. Just take it slow,
Yup, that's how you survive it. Too fast, and it'll bite you.
Brother make pov truck video please
Do you mean shorts?
@@12vNationpov video truck vlog
Turn off the radio, please !
The radio is super annoying
The grades and the weather are not the dangerous things ,there are 3 factors that are the most dangerous first is the inexperienced trucker second is the inexperienced car driver third and probably the worst are the so called "super truckers" who drive way way way too fast for road conditions, causing accidents and busting everyone's windshield in the process, I drove truck for over 30 years and not once was I paid more for getting it there faster.....
It's easy to forget just how dangerous this hill is. You might drive it a 1000 times, but you underestimate your own skills when you see trucks that ran away and are piled in the ditches, parked up the runaway ramps, there was one guy who piled his truck into the entrance of the tunnel. I've seen guys in the creek. I missed a shift one time, I'm lucky my brakes were able to slow me down as they were cool. You get overconfident here, things can go bad really fast.
Hi
That definitely is not the steepest bloody Road in Canada by no means I hold wood chips for 10 years all over Washington Idaho California and British Columbia then I bought my own Super B decks and I threw it around North America and I can tell you where you are right now is a walk in the park you don't have to worry about your brakes if you pre-select the right gear I just put your Jake on if it's got a jake and retarder use that you don't have to use your brakes got my license for a class one when I was 16 after I had been driving logging truck a Northern Alberta for 8 months dude came from Edmonton I met him with a load of logs on and he just filled the paperwork out and I signed it that was my license and if you think that Steep and it's dangerous goat Ben Hall Trucking quad Max downloads as heavy as you are on the steepest mountains from top to bottom all over BC because those are or could be fatal and I did that with a self loader on for 4 years I'm 62 years old and I'm retired I guess everybody's got to learn I'm not knocking you because there are far too many immigrants that come here that can't even drive a Volkswagen and they're driving Highway trucks all over hell's half acre killing everybody but I'm certain your information is vital for new drivers and then saying this great video
Cheers 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Dave, I'm sure there are steeper hills out there, somewhere, but don't be telling anyone to go down that hill on their brakes, I've seen what happens, and it's not pretty. We all do this a 1000s times, and we seem to forget that the consequences of doing it the wrong way are grave. It seems like common sense after you are experienced. I know a few good hills, too, but not in the "Canadian Rockies."" The one down to Bella Coola is pretty steep. Also, every logging road exists, but that's a whole other thing.
Had to turn it off. Can't stand the music.
That damn Xm radio. Lol
I did turn it down, and I wasn't looking for a new channel in the middle of shooting the video.
Dude that's not even clost to the steepest theres 12% grades out there and theres a road to Bella Coola you have to split trains because its like 18 - 20 %
For the smasher and the kootenay pass and stuff I use the brakes all the time.
not to mention I didnt watch enough to see where this was but if its kootenay then thats nott the rockies anymore its the columbia mountains. source : BC born and raised and trucker.( b trains with 18 speed)
Yeah, I saw a logging truck up one of the ramps last year... the guy was using his brakes because his drives were losing traction on ice with the engine brake. This is steeper than Kootenay pass. Bella Coola is not in the Rockies and not even paved. Like the Duffy Lake Road, you can't even run a b train through those switches.
Dude I see a burning or mangled truck in BC on every trip. The logger was probly pouring some whiskey into his coffee and didnt notice he was reving 2100 in 3rd gear while his truck was porpoising
the volvo jakes are so overkill I go down 8% grades in 4hi with the jake on 1 and just solid use of the brake pedal .
for the smasher its 4 until i can see the snowshed then 7hi till im threw the shed then 8hi till shylock where i either do that fast and go to hope fast but if i do both fast im usually smoking at the flying j as im fueling.
blue haze from back trailer is low level warning, grey smoke means must reduce speed soon and white billows mean brake failure imminant.
You never should have put this on you tube. Gilbeau will be coming after you for making diesel smoke !!!
Yup BC hiway 93 though the park and down to Radium and the Columbia Rvr Valley one of the steepest downhill gradients in the province. And its not just the grade that is an issue, there are a lot of tight left and right bends. Both east and west slopes of the Rogers Pass have their challenges also. Kootenay Pass both west and east approaches have significant gradient over length ... Nuttin boring in haulin ass around this province. Did I miss something ...jakes applied or not ?? really quiet if they were on.
Oh yes, on full from the top to the bottom. Sorry I missed mentioning that in the vid.
Thinking about getting into the industry. Living in Vancouver Canada. The problem I see is no companies train drivers like they do in the states. The pay seems low. Companies advertise at .65 cents a mile. Is it worth getting into the industry? Any advice would be appreciated. Owner operator seems to do pretty well 🤷
I wouldn't do owner operator myself, the headaches are too much for me. Between parts and maintenance availability and expenses, I'm not interested personally. $300 -$400/ day is enough for me. That's typical compensation where I am.
@@12vNation Thanks for the info🙏
I been on this road in the middle of winter with way more snow then this with automatic truck and nothing happened , piece of cake . Don't be a drama queen lol
Us manual guys just can't handle that new technology, it's scary stuff. 😅
Auto trans in trucks are for Nancy boys who can’t shift Roar Ranger gearbox ,,,Me being ex trucker from Australia I refused to drive or own them ,that’s my 10 cents worth cheers Nancy boys ..No malice in this message 🤐🤐😎👍🦘🇦🇺🧌
Most of us hate automatics, but leasing companies seem to love them.
Cool, merci. Truckers Talk.
* PSI lost over 2 minutes is the air brake standard for the leak test. Very courageous to do this in an automatic.
I really enjoyed your video. Thankyou.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lovely vid! I really appreciate it.
That hill wasn’t much fun when golden had the road closed .. Too many inexperienced drivers pushing it down behind you and doing crazy passes in the blind curves .
No kidding!! I'm surprised I'm still alive after being out there for 4 years on steady nights.
That's nothing. Hiway 4 to has 18% grades to Tonino is far more challenging than what you posted. Mt. Polley in BC is more challenging. Manic 5 in Quebec is 18%
Are you sure it isn't 28%?
Well that was interesting. Thanks. (A chip truck?)
You're welcome. Yes , woodchips.
What truck make and model is that? I don't recognize the dashboard or the hood.
Looks like a Western Star 4900 to me.
Western Star 4900.
great vid! throw a code reader in the diag port and clear that ckc engine light lol
I have a 6-person crew waiting and ready at the shop. My O/O days are behind me at the moment. Lol
@@12vNation greasy side down and no bugs on your windshield bud!
What are you hauling?
Wood chips for pulp and paper.