In a semi-truck, drivers are responsible for operating an 80,000-pound vehicle safely and carefully. This often means making split-second decisions. Improper training, or even momentary lapses in judgment, can have deadly consequences.
One decision truck drivers must make is when to use Jake Brakes. This form of braking can be a helpful tool when used properly. However, if abused, it can cause serious wrecks.
What are Jake brakes?
Jake brakes, also known as compression release engine brakes, were introduced in 1961 by Jacobs Vehicle Systems. When used correctly, they can prevent a truck’s service brakes from extreme wear and tear.
Essentially, Jake brakes cause compressed air to build up in the engine and slow the truck down. Cummins, a company that manufactures engines, explains it like this: “When activated, the engine brake alters the operation of the engine’s exhaust valves so that the engine works as a power-absorbing air compressor.”
Though engine braking can be used on its own, many sources recommend using it together with the vehicle’s service brakes. Since semi tractor-trailers are so heavy, Jake brakes allow for quick deceleration without damage to the vehicle.
It is important to note that Jake brakes can slow a vehicle, but they will not bring it to a complete stop. That requires the use of service brakes.
When should a semi driver use Jake brakes?
Jake brakes can prevent wrecks when used properly. One of the main uses of engine braking is on downhill stretches of road. Especially on steep downhills, slowing a 40-ton truck can be difficult. It can over-exert a truck’s regular brakes. In this situation, Jake brakes can help a truck slow down before it rear-ends another vehicle.
This method of braking also comes in handy in heavy traffic. We’ve all been stuck in traffic, switching from braking to accelerating to braking again. Jake brakes allow truck drivers to control their speed in traffic without needing to abuse their brakes.
When not to use engine braking
Like most tools, engine brakes can be harmful if misused. There have been incidents of serious crashes caused by a trucker who applied jake brakes irresponsibly. Many times, when Jake braking goes wrong, it is because the truck jackknifes.
On slippery or wet roads, engine braking can cause a truck to skid and lose control. When the trailer is not perfectly aligned, it can push the cab and cause a jackknife accident. This can also happen if a trailer is lightly loaded or empty, since there is less weight on the tires to create traction against the road. In these situations, the loss of control will likely cause an accident.
You’ve probably seen “Engine Braking Prohibited” signs in your city or town before. If you’re not a truck driver, you might not have given the signs a second thought. So, why do certain areas have signs forbidding the use of Jake brakes?
Due to the release of compressed air that occurs, engine braking makes a loud, harsh noise. Some say it sounds like a jackhammer. In residential areas, engine braking is prohibited simply because it is so loud and can disturb other drivers or people living nearby.
How improper trucker training causes fatal wrecks
To become a truck driver, one must earn a Commercial Driver’s License by passing an exam. The barriers to entry in the trucking industry are low, and improper trucker training causes thousands of wrecks each year.
For instance, consider the huge influx of truck drivers in 2020. According to a TIME article, trucking companies hired more drivers than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic. A relatively common trait among these drivers was their inexperience.
Even before the pandemic, improper training was a hazard on the roads. In 2019, a semi-truck driver lost control of his vehicle and killed four people in Colorado. What caused such a tragic wreck?
The driver had less than a year of experience, most of which occurred in Texas. He had never been trained to drive through mountains or ice and snow. Because this driver was not prepared to operate his truck on steep or slick roads, he lost control and destroyed several lives.
Tools like engine brakes can be helpful, but drivers must be trained to use them correctly.
I handled a case on I-74 where a semi-driver used his Jake brake while braking on a snow-and ice-covered roadway. He lost control and jackknifed. The semi-driver’s carelessness resulted in the death of two people. It turned out he had never operated a commercial motor vehicle with a Jake brake and didn’t know to turn it off when faced with winter conditions.
What do I do if a semi rear-ends me?
If you have been struck by a large truck on a hill or in traffic, the driver may have abused his brakes. Negligent trucker behavior can affect anyone on the roads. Reach out to a qualified personal injury attorney if you have experienced loss or injury from a heavy truck.
Craig, Kelley & Faultless offers free consultations for people injured in Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Iowa. Contact us at (800) 746-0226 or online.
David W. Craig sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.
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