You are driving a heavy truck down a steep and long descent. When should you shift to an appropriate low gear?
- The gears are insignificant for slowing down, but you must use the speed retarders intelligently.
- There is no need to shift to low gear. You should shift to high gear and regulate your speed with the speed retarder, to increase safety.
- You should shift to low gear towards the end of the descent.
- Correct answer: You should shift to low gear at the beginning of the descent.
Why this is the answer
The correct answer in the official bank: You should shift to low gear at the beginning of the descent.
On a long, steep descent, a heavy truck should be put into a low gear at the beginning of the descent, while speed is still low and shifting is easy. Engine braking in low gear, together with the retarder, holds a steady speed and keeps the service brakes from overheating and fading. Waiting until the end of the descent is too late, because the truck has already gathered too much speed.