Truckers and Their Toys (a.k.a. Unmuffled Engine Brakes)

Many recent news stories and ordinances have attempted to address this issue. But, none-the-less, truckers continue to aggravate the communities they pass through with unnecessary noise using unmuffled engine brakes.

In a recent story, (November 28th),The News-Review online, Roseburg, Oregon had this article stating in part: "Council President Tim Freeman said that it was likely one or two independent log-truck drivers making the noise, since it would be too great of a liability for the bigger trucking companies to ride contrary to the law." And he's probably right.

Freeman said some truckers don't muffle the sound so that they can hear their brakes better, but he mentioned another reason: "Because it sounds cool. They're up so everybody else has to be up."

Roseburg is not an isolated case, in my travels about the country I see the signs forbidding engine brakes everywhere. And I empathize with the local residents.

One can be snuggled comfortably in bed at home, or in the sleeper cab of a truck, and still hear these witless wonders utilizing those brakes, without mufflers, as they roll to a stop on the exit ramps to many truck stops.

No one will argue the validity of having engine brakes installed. They add tremendously to the ability to stop a big rig in a hard braking situation, maintaining cool, operating brakes on long downgrades and to simply slow the truck in everyday Interstate situations. However, un-muffled urban use of them is not a valid operation.

As stated by the Police Chief of Roseburg, "Jake, (engine), braking is legal in Oregon only if the truckers muffle the sound". Roseburg is taking measures, including a whopping $427.00 fine for using them without a muffler.

The Jacobs Engine Brake Company, the manufacture of a specific model of engine brakes wages an ongoing publicity campaign to alert the public to the fact that "Jake Brakes" is a trademark, and as such is not the only engine brake available, and Jacobs always advises these brakes should indeed be muffled. Jacobs previously has won in court to have municipal signs changed from, "No Jake brakes", to "No engine brakes". Most signs simply state, "No UNMUFFLED engine brakes." And I agree with that sentiment.

I have been driving big rigs for more than 37 years, all of my trucks, as required by law, do indeed have mufflers installed. My operation of engine brakes have never caused an issue.

Monty Rhoades is a staff writer for Truck Net