Transwest Logo
Commercial Trailers Commercial Trailers
Trucks Trucks
Horse & Livestock Horse & Livestock
RVs RVs
Automotive Groups Automotive Groups
Transwest Trucks Logo
  • Transwest Trucks Logo
  • Find Trucks
    • Find Trucks
    • Types
    • Makes
    • View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
    Types
      On Highway
      On Highway
      • Box Truck Icon Box Trucks
      • Cab and Chassis Icon Cab & Chassis
      • Day Cab Icon Day Cab Tractors
      • Sleeper Truck Icon Sleeper Tractors
      Used Trucks
      Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
      View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
      Delivery
      Delivery
      • Box Truck Icon Package Delivery
      • Step Van Icon Laundry Delivery
      • Cutaway Truck Icon Delivery Cutaway Vans
      • Day Cab Icon Delivery Day Cab Trucks
      • Step Van Icon Delivery Step Vans
      • Sleeper Truck Icon Delivery Sleeper Trucks
      Used Trucks
      Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
      View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
      Vocational
      Vocational
      • Cab & Chassis Icon Cab & Chassis
      • Concrete Mixer Icon Concrete Mixers
      • Hauler Truck Icon Custom Haulers
      • Day Cab Icon Day Cabs
      • Dump Truck Icon Dump Trucks
      • Flatbed Truck Icon Flatbeds
      • Reefer Truck Icon Reefers
      • Refuse Truck Icon Refuse
      • Retriever Truck Icon Retriever
      • Septic Truck Icon Septic Trucks
      • Sleeper Truck Icon Sleeper Trucks
      • Water Truck Icon Water Trucks
      • Winch Truck Icon Winch Trucks
      Used Trucks
      Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
      View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
      Hydrovac
      Hydrovac
      Hydrovac
      • Foremost & Rival
      • Used
      Used Trucks
      Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
      View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
      Car Haulers
      Car Haulers
      Car Haulers
      • Car Hauler Truck Combos
      • Car Hauler Trailers
      Used Trucks
      Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
      View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
      Personal/Fleet
      Personal/Fleet
      • Used Pickup Trucks
      Used Trucks
      Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
      View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
    Used Trucks
    Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
    View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
    Makes
    • Autocar Logo
    • Foremost Logo
    • Freightliner Logo
    • Freightliner Custom Chassis Logo
    • Lohr Logo
    • Rival Logo
    • Western Star Logo
    Used Trucks
    Find Used Trucks All pre-owned trucks complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the absolute best in quality and customer satisfaction.
    View all Trucks All Used Trucks All New Trucks All Rental Trucks
  • Financing
  • Service
  • Parts
  • Locations
  • Blog
Transwest.com uses cookies to provide you the best experience. Learn more.
Blog / How Runaway Truck Ramps Work

How Runaway Truck Ramps Work

Tips
The Transwest Team
The Transwest Team
Jan 23, 2014
How Runaway Truck Ramps Work

Why use a runaway truck ramp?

Even if you aren’t a trucker, you’ve likely driven through hilly or mountainous terrain you’ve surely seen runaway truck ramps leading away from the road. If you’ve ever been curious why and when they’re needed, here is a brief overview.

When a truck is hauling 40 tons of cargo down a steep grade, it puts immense pressure on the brakes. Even a careful and experienced truck driver can experience brake failure coming down a steep mountain pass, and once those brakes go, his or her truck becomes an unstoppable comet, which is why runaway truck ramps are there to save the day.

You will generally see runaway truck ramps at the end of a straight decline, before a turn or intersection. There are several types of truck ramps. A Gravity Escape Ramp is a variety seen in the mountains, where the gravel ramp rises steeply to cause quick deceleration. A Sand Pile escape ramp is a smaller ramp of piled on the sand, used for lesser grades. An Arrester Bed is used on even lower grades and runs adjacent to the road. You may also rarely see a Mechanical-arrestor Escape ramp, which uses steel nets to slow a truck.

If your truck does have to use the escape ramp, it’s a one-way trip, with a tow and a fine to get back out. Trucks can also take damage using the ramp, or even roll to the side after stopping. For these reasons (along with their lives), most truckers (and you!) should exercise caution when driving on steep grades.

If you’re in the market for a non-runaway truck, browse our excellent selection right here on our site!

Get Your Brakes Checked!

Trucks for Sale

Check out the best in trucks.

Find Trucks
  • 2022 Ford

    2022 Ford

    F59 - Morgan Olson P1200 Flat Floor

    New Step Van

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Chevy

    2022 Chevy

    3500 - Cutaway, Gas, 12'

    New Cutaway

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Freightliner

    2022 Freightliner

    MT55G - Morgan Olson, P1200, Flat Floor, Gas

    New Step Van

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Ford

    2022 Ford

    F59 - Morgan Olson P1100 Flat Floor

    New Step Van

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Chevy

    2022 Chevy

    3500 - Cutaway, Gas, 14'

    New Cutaway

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Chevy

    2022 Chevy

    3500 - Cutaway, Gas, 18'

    New Cutaway

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Ford

    2022 Ford

    F59 - Morgan Olson P1000 Drop Floor

    New Step Van

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Chevy

    2022 Chevy

    3500 - Cutaway, Gas, 16'

    New Cutaway

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Freightliner

    2022 Freightliner

    MT45G - Morgan Olson, P1000, Flat Floor, Gas

    New Step Van

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
  • 2022 Ford

    2022 Ford

    F59 - Morgan Olson P1000 Flat Floor

    New Step Van

    Contact For Price Brighton, CO
    View details
Find Trucks
Transwest Trucks Logo

With Sales, Parts, Service, Nationwide Delivery, and Finance options, consider Transwest your partner in all things transportation. We partner with the very best commercial and fleet vehicle manufacturers, making us the number one trusted choice for many industries. Shop commercial trucks

Share

Email

Email

Facebook

Facebook

SMS

SMS

Twitter

Twitter

Keep Reading

Transwest is Your Location to Donate Food and Toys

News

Transwest is Your Location to Donate Food and Toys

Christmas is right around the corner! Get into the holiday spirit of giving by donating food and toys to your local Transwest dealership. We are accepting dry,...

FedEx Delivery Contractor Challenges - Preparing for 2023 amidst economic struggles

Tips

Delivery Contractor Challenges: Prepare for 2023

Over the course of the past two years, FedEx Ground contractors have faced more changes and obstacles then they could have planned for. The macroeconomic change...

Line of commercial trucks parked under a blue sky

News

10 Fast Facts About the Trucking Industry

The trucking industry is the backbone of the American economy. From the food we purchase off grocery store shelves to the lumber used to build new homes, our da...

Man on a tablet outside of a commercial truck with trailer

Tips

Nine Apps for Truck Drivers

When it comes to life on the road, technology is changing how truck drivers handle day-to-day tasks. And this technology is not just limited to built-in telemat...

Man working on a commercial truck engine

Service

Key Benefits of a Regular Truck Maintenance Schedule

For fleet managers and business operators relying on commercial trucks to get daily work done, having well-maintained trucks is a must. These trucks are w...

White box trucks lined up

Truck Types

Medium-Duty vs. Heavy-Duty Trucks

All trucks, from pickup trucks to eighteen-wheelers, fall into classes based upon the weight they can tow. These truck classes range from one to eight, based up...

Woman in front of a fleet of semi trucks looking at an ipad

Careers

Ten Tips for Recruiting and Retaining Truck Drivers

For those who operate a trucking and transportation business, one of the most important operational tasks is to hire an adequate number of drivers. Truck driver...

Flatbed truck on the road

Truck Types

Commercial Trucks in the Construction Industry

For those who own or manage a construction business, one of the keys to successful day-to-day operations is acquiring the right trucks for your fleet. Whil...

View All

Journey into Other Topics

Our industry experts are here to help.

News Tips Events Delivery Shopping For A Vehicle Parts & Accessories Truck Types Finance Careers Service
Trucks in front of Transwest building

Find your perfect Truck

Trucks for Sale
Live
Live

Shop this vehicle

Trucks

  • Shop Trucks
  • Financing
  • Service
  • Parts
  • Locations
  • About
  • Blog
  • Transwest Trucks

Transwest.com

Commercial Trailers

  • Belt
  • Booster, Flip Axle, Deck Extension
  • Drop Deck
  • Dump
  • Flatbed
  • Grain Hopper
  • Jeep
  • Lowboy
  • Sliding Axle, Hydraulic Tail
  • Utility, Tag, Tilt
  • Vacuum Tank
Transwest Trailers

Trucks

  • Box Trucks
  • Cab & Chassis
  • Car Hauler Trailers
  • Car Hauler Truck Combos
  • Concrete Mixers
  • Custom Haulers
  • Day Cabs
  • Delivery Cutaways
  • Delivery Day Cabs
  • Delivery Sleeper Trucks
  • Delivery Step Vans
  • Dump
  • Flatbed
  • Haulers
  • Hydrovac
  • Laundry Step Vans
  • Reefer (Refrigerator Van Body)
  • Refuse
  • Retriever
  • Septic
  • Sleeper
  • Used Pickup Trucks
  • Water Trucks
  • Winch Tractor
Transwest Trucks

Horse & Livestock Trailers

  • 1-2 Horse Trailers
  • 3-4 Horse Trailers
  • 5-8 Horse Trailers
  • Bumper Pull Livestock Trailers
  • Bumper Pull Horse Trailers
  • Cattle Trailers
  • Gooseneck Horse Trailers
  • Gooseneck Livestock Trailers
  • Haulers
  • Hog Trailers
  • Horse Trainer Trailers
  • Living Quarters Horse Trailers
  • Pen System For Livestock Trailers
  • Sheep Trailers
  • Stock Boxes
Transwest Trailers

RVs

  • 5th Wheel
  • Bus Conversion
  • Class A
  • Class B
  • Class C
  • Haulers
  • Super C
  • Toy Haulers
  • Travel Trailers
Transwest RVs

Automotive Groups

  • Belton Pre-Owned
  • Frederick Pre-Owned
  • Used Pickup Trucks
  • Used SUVs
  • Used Vans
Transwest Automotive

Inventory Search

Transwest Logo ©2023 Transwest Privacy Policy Terms of Use Anti-fraud Disclosure
Facebook Icon LinkedIn Icon Twitter Icon YouTube Icon
Mountains