To truckers, the staccato notes of an engine brake in full throat — “braaaackkkk!” — resonate like music of the road, but to a growing number of people living near truck routes, the melody is anything but harmonious.
Michael James - Transport Topics
More and more engine braking systems are facing opposition and outright bans across the United States because of their noise levels, which can be as loud as a jackhammer.
The conflict between truckers and communities over the dissonant sound produced by engine brakes is not a new one. But with a record number of trucks on the road — and more carrying the devices — a growing number of communities are considering prohibiting use of the equipment. To the industry, the trend is both a hassle and a safety concern, as well as a public relations challenge.
“We are seeing community action on engine brake noise increasing,” said Don Gobiel, manager of market analysis and support for Jacobs Vehicle Systems in Bloomfield, Conn.
Jacobs was the first company to manufacture engine brakes and it remains the top producer — so much so that “Jake brake” has become the generic terms in the industry for any retarder system linked to engine compression.
Gobiel said he suspects that the reason for the reaction trend is the record number of big rigs on the road, especially new trucks, more than half of which have engine brakes as standard equipment.
For the full story, see the Mar. 6 print edition of Transport Topics. .
