A Detailed Guide to Trucking Down Donner Pass

Etched across the mighty Sierra Nevada in northern California, the historical Donner Pass stands as a testament to the relentless power of nature and human endurance. The pass, situated at a lofty elevation of 7,239 feet, owes its fame, or infamy, to the unfortunate Donner Party that was caught in a vicious snowstorm during the winter of 1846-47. Today, it serves as a frequently traveled route for commercial truckers and thrill-seeking motorists, both enchanted by its imposing landscapes and the demanding driving challenge it offers.

The Nitty-Gritty of Trucking on Donner Pass

Truckers respect Donner Pass. It's not just another route; it's an intense exercise in patience, skill, and mechanical prowess. The path, especially along the popular Interstate 80, features a steep and testing terrain, which places it high on the list of routes that skilled truckers use as a benchmark for their capabilities.

Embarking on the journey from the western approach, you’re confronted with a steady, uphill grade that intensifies as you delve deeper into the pass. The highway's most severe inclines can reach an average of 6 percent, with some shorter stretches even approaching 7 percent. Your truck's engine is put to the test here; it needs to have the optimal horsepower and torque to maintain an acceptable speed up this grueling gradient.

Descending Donner Pass is a task that demands careful handling. As the altitude decreases, the descent reaches steep grades of around 6 percent, which extends for approximately 3 miles. It's essential to harness your engine brakes, or "Jake brakes," to control speed,prevent excessive wear on your primary braking system, and most importantly prevent your brakes from overheating. Remember, the golden rule of mountain driving: always descend in the same gear you ascended in, or even a lower one.

Maneuvering Curves and Navigating Weather

The hallmark of Donner Pass is its intricate series of sharp curves and bends, challenging even the most skilled drivers. Controlling a massive truck around these turns necessitates maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and adhering to posted speed limits to prevent any mishaps.

The weather on Donner Pass is as unpredictable as the road itself. Rapid weather shifts are not uncommon, with clear skies one moment and thunderstorms the next. In the winter months, snowstorms can unleash a blizzard of white, leading to road closures and mandatory tire chain controls for added traction. As such, constant vigilance and real-time weather updates are indispensable tools for anyone planning to tackle the pass during these times.

The Awe-inspiring Scenery of Donner Pass

The challenges and risks of traversing Donner Pass are balanced by the unbridled beauty it offers. The panoramic vistas of frosted pines against clear blue skies and the shimmering waters of Donner Lake nestled in the valley below are simply breathtaking. Spring breathes life into the mountainside with vibrant wildflowers, and autumn dresses the landscape in a riot of colors, making the journey a visual feast.

IMG_4639.jpeg

The experience of driving a truck down Donner Pass is akin to a masterclass in humility, respect, and endurance. It demands technical proficiency, a composed mind, and an earnest respect for the whims of Mother Nature. However, those who rise to the challenge responsibly are rewarded with a memorable and enriching journey.

Therefore, when you're behind the wheel, hauling your load down this illustrious route, take a moment to acknowledge the stunning harmony of nature's beauty and the enduring human spirit. For it is in this blend of challenge and admiration that the essence of driving down Donner Pass truly lies: accepting the challenge, relishing the journey, and persistently driving ahead
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's essential to harness your engine brakes, or "Jake brakes," to control speed and prevent excessive wear on your primary braking system.
It's not about preventing excessive wear on the primary braking system. Don't tell this to a rookie driving a company truck because they don't care. It doesn't cost them a dime when the company replaces the brakes.

The use of the engine brake is to reduce the need for the wheel brakes because they get hot while in use. If they get too hot, the brake lining material starts burning, and as it burns, it releases hot gases that get between the linings and the drums or rotors.

Nothing can hold back these gases, and it creates a super thin layer of high pressure gas that physically separates the shoe/pad lining from the drum/rotor no matter how hard you stand on that pedal.

The effect is called brake fade, and it's similar to how a puck slides so effortlessly across an air hockey table.

When this is happening, your brakes no longer have any effect, and your truck will speed out of control very quickly, with potentially more than 20 tons of freight behind you, held back by nothing but sheet metal and fiberglass.

In the type of crash most likely to happen in this situation, there won't be anything left of you but squished guts and bone fragments.
 
I never went through that pass. :frown: I suppose that I missed the best roads in trucking.
You didn't miss anything Pal..

I've been up & down the Donner Pass probably atleast a couple dozen times over the years.

About the only Nice thingy about running to Sacramento California on "Hearth & Home" loads was ya get to stop thru Reno or one of my other favorite Truckstop Casinos along 80 in Nevada
 
It's not about preventing excessive wear on the primary braking system. Don't tell this to a rookie driving a company truck because they don't care. It doesn't cost them a dime when the company replaces the brakes.

The use of the engine brake is to reduce the need for the wheel brakes because they get hot while in use. If they get too hot, the brake lining material starts burning, and as it burns, it releases hot gases that get between the linings and the drums or rotors.

Nothing can hold back these gases, and it creates a super thin layer of high pressure gas that physically separates the shoe/pad lining from the drum/rotor no matter how hard you stand on that pedal.

The effect is called brake fade, and it's similar to how a puck slides so effortlessly across an air hockey table.

When this is happening, your brakes no longer have any effect, and your truck will speed out of control very quickly, with potentially more than 20 tons of freight behind you, held back by nothing but sheet metal and fiberglass.

In the type of crash most likely to happen in this situation, there won't be anything left of you but squished guts and bone fragments.
What I always found scary about the "Donnor" was other "Reckless Truck Drivers" who don't set proper speed or gear at the top of a climb or guys just trying to go a little faster than they should and doing crazy crap .

Usually I came in and outta Sacramento in the "Middle Of Night" but have hadda run Donnor Pass in "Daylight" a handful of times..

The Donnor Pass is mostly "Twisting, winding, & narrow with tons of Grades too I would best describe it as a concrete "Roller Coaster" constantly Up & Down frequent Grades.

Also being the main route in-between Bay Area, Sacramento to Reno & Tahoe it is "Heavily Travelled by Tourists in Motorhomes/Campers as well as a very heavy Trucking Corridor daylight hours can be "Nerve Wracking" with all the traffic

When they put up Truck 40/50 Mph signs it is not bad advice too heed especially if you are running "Heavy"..

Oh there is "Only" one Truckstop on the Donner Pass about Halfway Thru it's a Chevron with a Subway and despite the Several "Big Bill Boards" they put up a long 80 don't count on "Parking There" or even just stopping in for Subway because they only got like a "dozen" actual Truck parking spots and the one time I did pull in early afternoon just stretch get coffee the "Make A Spotters" had the place all screwed up that early already just even try getting inside the store and back onto the highway so cross that place off your list ..

Also the Rest Areas on Donnor are full all hours so don't necessarily count on that for a break either
 
Last edited:
I never went through that pass. :frown: I suppose that I missed the best roads in trucking.
In the warm months, it’s like any pass. Go slow enough that your jakes can hold the trucks speed and just enjoy the ride.

The scenery is great, this is one region I would like to travel by train at some point.

Traffic is a major issue with this pass. This pass can get really congested.

Winter time, it simply sucks. Chain requirements will go up when not needed, resulting in broken chains everywhere and those broken links will destroy a tire quickly.
 
I haven't been over Donner since 2004.
Have you even driven a truck since then?
Cracking Up Lol GIF by Rodney Dangerfield
 
I have never do Donner pass but, I have a lot of respect for those that have.

When I went to trucking school we were not allowed to use the jake brakes. We had to brake and bring down the RPM and then let the air and Rpm build up again and repeat as required.

I guess these days you could call it the Donner/Dahmer pass.
 
Don’t blame you.

I may see Donner next week, the final of my 8 drops is going to be north of Sacramento.
8 drops man ya must be doing "Reefer"..

Heck if I ever get back into the trucking "game" it better be "Dry-Van" and "Truck-Load".

I'm sure there's good "Reefer Gigs" & Carriers but man I'm "Done" with "Grocery Distributors"
 
Last edited:
8 drops man ya must be doing "Reefer"..

Heck if I ever get back into the trucking "game" it better be "Dry-Van" and "Truck-Load".

I'm sure there's good "Refer Gigs" & Carriers but man I'm "Done" with "Grocery Distributors"
I can't say as I blame you.
Grocery D.C. deliveries suck sweaty ass!

I am not sure how folks with reefers actually sleep at night? No, not that they are doing anything wrong, it's just the reefers are so loud.
I liked to park away from every one else hoping to get a good nights sleep and then a reefer parks next to me. And then another reefer parks next to me.

Then suddenly we have a symphony of the reefers. Of course, when one shuts down the other one starts up.
 
Wait it's only 6% for 3 miles? Does it at least have switchbacks?
Think of I-8O from past Reno all the way outskirts of Sacramento California maybe 100 some miles but It's all Mountains entire way ..

"Donnor Pass" is only like maybe one of probably a dozen maybe 2 dozen separate Grades along the way.

And figure Bay Area , Central Valley, and Sacramento California on one side probably 10/15 "Millions" of people..

Then 100 some Miles "East" is The Lake Tahoe Region & Reno Nevada with all it's "Casinos" and Shows 24/7...

I-15 through the Desert of Southern California in-between Las Vegas and Riverside/San Bernardino is much the "Same" just probably "Double" maybe Triple the Miles and nothing but "Barren Desert" but some Testy Mountain Grades and curves along the way too
 
I can't say as I blame you.
Grocery D.C. deliveries suck sweaty ass!

I am not sure how folks with reefers actually sleep at night? No, not that they are doing anything wrong, it's just the reefers are so loud.
I liked to park away from every one else hoping to get a good nights sleep and then a reefer parks next to me. And then another reefer parks next to me.

Then suddenly we have a symphony of the reefers. Of course, when one shuts down the other one starts up.
If you are hauling Alot of "Frozen" or the "Contract" calls for "Continuous Operation" instead of On Off

Basically after afew weeks ya get actually "Used" to that Box going "Constantly" doesn't bother me anymore..

Kinda like when I used live afew blocks in from some busy train train tracks 5 /6 freight trains passed by nearly everyday

Ya first month or so yeah I heard noticed it the ground even shook a little bit if it was going at a good enough clip the pictures on wall and light fixtures would rattle too

Then after awhile didn't even notice it was like eh the train going by again whoopty freaking do dah
 
Last edited:
I used to have to run 40/48 up around Cumberland, Maryland. That road had a few 13&15 percenters up and down. You really had to stay in 2nd gear with the brakes and the Jakes on that road. I didn't like it at all.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Top