Timing is everything

I-68 in West Virginia. They made us stop at the top of the mountain to check our brakes. They warned us of the steep downhill grade. They proclaimed a 50-mph speed limit for heavy commercial vehicles.

A mile or three down the road, they posted a sign telling us about the runaway truck ramp just ahead. The runaway truck ramp was duly found and passed.

And a little way after that, I saw a sign telling me I should be in a lower gear.

Fortunately, I already was.

(Footnote:
(One of the things I was taught in CDL school was to never try to upshift on a steep uphill grade--and never, never, NEVER try to downshift on a steep downhill grade. It's almost impossible to get the rpm's to match. Which means you will—almost guaranteed—miss the shift. And there you are, on a steep grade, with the truck in neutral. Freewheeling down a hill in an 40-ton truck is a Bad Thing.

(In either direction.

(But climbing the hill, at least you're moving slowly. You might get the brakes locked down in time. Downhill? If you're trying to downshift, you're already moving too fast...)

Oh, well. At least they warned us...