Why can't truck drivers anticipate their stops???

Jake costs me nothing to use.

Brakes can cost me up to $5000 over time to replace. I can also double the life of them using my Jakes.

I've seen signs that say "No Jake Brakes" and say what the fine could be if truckers are caught using them. Perhaps your county government might be able to help.

Of course here, in Oklahoma, I think that they took most of those "No Jake Brake" signs down after a trucker named Jake blew through a stop sign and almost wiped out a chicken farm.

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Less barking! More wagging!

That is a frustrating situation for sure. I'd say 75% of the truckers use their jake brake when approaching a corner on a road near our place, especially the significant amount of log trucks that pass through here.

I think putting up your own polite sign might be ok, but I'd be real careful of requesting the county/state put up an official 'No Jake Brake' sign as it might backfire on you big time.

It's likely that these trucks are repeat travelers through that area, the drivers know each other and the various companies know each other as well. In addition, many of the drivers may live in and around that area or pass through it on their daily commutes. Never underestimate the power of the good-old-boy network, especially in the rural areas, and especially if it even remotely appears that you may be messing with how they do their jobs.

And don't forget, you are the newbie to the area so the communities eyes are already on you and your actions. Add to this newbie status that you purchased the property with knowledge of it being a heavy traffic area. And perhaps the most important part, you are going to be running a business that relies on a customer base comprised of locals, and semi-locals who pass through while doing their jobs. It's these same folks, and/or people they know and influence that may very well make up the foundation of your customer base.

I think this is a case where the, 'you catch more flies with honey' concept applies as vicker alluded. Hopefully your restaurant has enough parking to allow several big rigs in there. One of my relatives is a long time waitress/small restaurant manager and she tells me the blue collar folks are far better tippers than the typical white collar or tourist type people she sees come through her place. The 'regulars' are very good tippers as well, and if it weren't for the regulars the restaurant would have a tough time staying afloat.

Once you start attracting some folks to the restaurant and begin building some relationships with them, that is the time to casually mention the irritant of the jake brake use in front of your place. It will take a little time but you may be presently surprised by the results of this strategy, both for the long-term viability of your restaurant and the lessened use of jake brakes.

I don't get the attitude but what ever
If the truckers wouldn't hold off on applying the brakes until they were on top of the curve those brakes would last a heck of a lot longer .

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I think you may be onto something. Most of them probably don't even think about it. I doubt it is being done to disrupt y'all. Like someone says it saves their brakes. That said they do need to be more courteous and maybe if you did get to know them somehow (if you are reopening eventually it would be a great way to start building a customer base) they would think and maybe back off the jake brakes a bit. It's worth a try.

On top of jakes being cheaper than shoes, time is money, and the longer you can stay on the gas, the less time you lose... It's not about they don't know the turn isn't there, it's about making time and saving money...

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Never let your fear decide your fate!
Kein Mitleid für die Mehrheit

Your place has been empty for 10 years, truckers have gotten used to using their Jake brakes. Jake brakes were installed for a reason, safety. The brakes do not wear out so fast and slow a truck down much better, less brake "fade". Jake brakes make those huge heavy loads much safer on our roads. Good safe drivers use them but not where they are not allowed. They are allowed where you live. They need to use them sooner, not right before the corner. Jake brakes are very loud when the engine is running slow, much worse than at normal speeds. That is why they are not wanted in town. Truckers that use a Jake brake in town right up to stopping are not good truck drivers. It is also when it is hardest on the engine.

You are in a bad spot, you will want them to stop and buy your services so don't upset them. It will only make it worse if you become annoying, they are in the right BUT being a good neighbor will go a long way. Post a sign 200' before your property line IF the county will allow. Some counties will remove all unofficial signs.

We have this problem in our small town here. We had a meeting with concerned residents and the logging companies. Started out the No Jake brake sign was at the city limits. We have a long steep hill coming into town with a sharp curve at the bottom. We had trucks experience brake "fade" and terrible smells from too much brake use. The timber company pushed the safety aspect and the residents the noise. Both sides came to a understanding and compromised. We moved our sign closer to the bottom of the hill. It is much safer now, the trucks can use the Jake brakes on the hill at higher speed, get slowed down and only usethe brakes near the curve. Better for all....James

I may start blowing thru. stop signs .Think of the ware and tare I would save on my brakes , the gas Ill save by avoiding the stop and go and the time Ill save ( the whole 2 seconds )

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Not the same thing.. if the road is winding, it's a lot more expensive for them to use the brakes, and keep a lower speed so they aren't on tthe brakes as much.. As stated above, fade is an issue.. the more you use the brakes, the less air you end up with in your tanks... and the more time it takes you to get where you are going..

You're talking a safety issue... a little higher speed and using a jake isn't any more unsafe then a little less speed and using up shoes..

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Never let your fear decide your fate!
Kein Mitleid für die Mehrheit

You don't seem to understand business, finances, and getting things done. Or safety.

Might want to study up on it, before you look too silly.

All good giggles to you.

For the original poster, that is a hassle, but kinda just how things are. Maybe the place was empty for 10 years for a reason.... Jake brakes are so much safer and cheaper for a trucker to use. And they apply them about where needed, it isn't like they can use them a 1/2 mile early and all is fine.....

But that still is a hassle for you, I know.

The county put in rumble strips on the road past me, it is well over a 1/2 mile from my house, and with the windows open man that rumble bothered me.

Anyhow, for a 1/2 a summer.

Now I don't even notice, just part of the background noise.

There are 2 houses -right- next to the rumble strip, like 100 feet. I can't imagine the noise in those houses....

I think you will get used to it. We all have some sort of bother. But we only notice our own bother, not the bother we cause others......

Paul

And there was a reason the place stood empty all those years. Ya free and hinting. Well those hunters sure would have heard the Jakes.
And next morning at the local Cafe over coffee and a donut were "talking" and I bet they were saying ""Know that place down the road the one that been for sale for 10 years, No Wonder it isn't selling the truck noise Boy I sure want to buy a place like that"" And on, and on, and on, yakety, yakety, yakety, for 10 years. Yes there most certainly was a reason the place stood empty for all those years and it wasn't just for free grass and hunting. LOL
And now a "newcomer" to the area comes in a buys it. No wonder it was the "Talk Of The Town", even in the papers. People KNEW what was there and what takes place with trucks etc. LOL

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If you've ever driven a big rig, I'm sure you learned quickly that you never use your clutch (or brakes), except when starting or coming to a complete stop. Repairing brakes are expensive, and instead of using brakes to slow down, one let's off on the gas, shifting to a lower gear, then the engine does the braking.

If noise bothers someone, fans in the bedroom are your friend!

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Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

I'll try and be nice about this.....


The ignorance of the OP as to WHAT the issue ( Jakes) is just a part of it. Jake brakes is not the issue, but straight exhaust pipes. Just like hodrods and harleys.

the of them just moving in and then expecting people to accommodate them for their convenience.

The naivete that passing and ordinance and putting up sign outlawing Jakes which are also a safety device on a truck, when in reality the laws and regulations regarding loud vehicles are already in place.

Arrogance, ignorance and niave. All three thing I have zero patience for. Wrapped into one post.

Or is that too brash and direct.

Just to be clear, I have no problem with the highway noise, no issue with hard working people doing their job, and doing it as safely as possible for all involved.
We knew the highway was there before we bought, we looked at this place for three years before we finally decided.
I do have a problem with them doing this at 3 am. It isn't necessary every time you stop, or slow down. We have several friends who drive cattle trucks, and they agree.
I couldn't care less if they lay on those things all day long, just have the common courtesy not to use them from say 11 pm until maybe 6 am. I don't see how that makes me some sort of nasty newbie.
FYI, I paid attention today, it is one specific trucking company, the others applied theirs as well, but about 100 yards before they got to the turn, so they had already slowed before they hit our house.
Is that so unreasonable?
I'm loving Vickers and Fordys ideas, humorous and to the point, without being snarky. Perfection!

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Debi

Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you will be criticized anyway.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Please don't take me wrong.

I love the sound of a nice set of pipes. But there's a reason the are sold for off-road use only.

Nothing is more annoying that a truck grabbing a gear in front of your house or a Harley barreling out of town at 6 am on Sunday.

I get it.

But address the issue, not the annoyance.

If it's one company, complain to the DOT about unmuffled trucks.

how soon do you think you will be able to open the cafe? Make a 'count down' sign about a 100 or so up the road. Keep it updated and change sign ie breakfast items, lunch items etc.

They will start slowing down so they can stop and come in for at least coffee

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Dorothy Kaye Collins

Jake brakes was/is the issue with the OP. New trucks built with Jake brakes, have mufflers, not straight pipes. Sure there are independent truckers out there with straight pipes. Some are not good truckers. Do you know how a Jake brake works and why they are noisy. Air is added to each cylinder to make more compression, this compression slows an engine down. Therefore when it is released through the exhaust system, yes through the muffler too, it makes even more noise. There is a switch to turn it off. A good trucker can drive just as well without it....but....he has to be more careful, it costs more and is more work. Some truckers are lazy, too. If you use the Jake brake, you do not have to lift your leg and push on a pedal, just pedal to the metal, AND no shifting. The OP only complained about the Jake brake, not the trucks going the other way, gearing up after the curve.

I think after the OP starts the business, some of this will change, more traffic entering the road, more congestion will all dictate slower speeds. Plus they will become part of a community, people do look out for friends....James

vegetation absorbs sound. Any way you could plant a screen or hedge between your living space and the highway? It will also help in the future, to have a demarcation between your public and private areas.
Simistead is right about 'time is money". I understand they are under a lot of pressure to make time. Heck, I even get it in my Hospice work. "Why did it take you 45 minutes to drive 23 miles?" Um, 35 mile an hour speed limits, non-coordinated traffic lights, thick traffic of elderly drivers going 10 mph under speed limit?? I obey speed laws until my boss gives me in writing she's going to pay my traffic tickets.

Thanks all for your input and ideas to resolve the issue, which is really only about the use in the middle of the night, not during the day. I certainly didn't mean to come of as anti truck driver, or anything even close to that. So I apologize if it seemed that way.
I have called the trucking company that i noticed today, um yea. It turns out it is owned by my husbands second cousin.....needless to say, the issue should be resolved completely as of now.
I told the owner, after we established our relations, that it's fine during the day, just after 11 or so it's a bit more than slightly annoying. He agreed and said that they are not to be using them at all within 30 miles of the office.
He did say that he would make a point of not letting the drivers know I called, that he would just mention that he had been on the road and seen one of them doing it.
BTW, my dh is related to about half the state out here, he was born and raised here, which is why we moved here in the first place. Family is a good thing.

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Debi

Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you will be criticized anyway.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Jake brakes dont inject anything into the engine all they do isn restrict exhaust gasses into the cylinders, they are a safety device not a torture device making slowing down safer for all concerned.

Muffled trucks you really cant hear the jake activating, but on straight pipes they really roar...lol.... Curious is safety less important after 11pm or 30 miles from home base?

I agree they need to be restricted in town because you already slowed coming into the town, but outside of town well you are just out of luck I reckon.