disc and drums, creating heat. Brakes are designed to withstand intense heat; however, brakes can fail from excessive heat if you try to slow down from a high speed too many times too quickly. Brakes fade (have less stopping power) when they get hot and may not slow the  vehicle. The  correct  way  to  use  your  brakes  for  long downhill grades is to go slow enough that fairly light use of the brakes prevents your speed from increasing. When you go slow, the brakes can cool down. Some operators think that backing off on the brakes from time to time (fanning) allows them to cool enough to prevent overheating. Tests have proven this is not true. Brake drums cool slowly, so the amount of cooling between applications is not enough to prevent over- heating. This type of braking requires heavier brake pressure than steady application does. The heavier pressure used on the brakes builds up more heat than the light continuous pressure does; therefore, select the right gear, go slow, and maintain a lighter, steadier use of the brakes. Escape  Ramps Escape  ramps  are  constructed  on  most  steep mountain  grades.  They  are  used  to  stop  runaway vehicles safely without injury to drivers or passengers. Escape ramps use along bed of loose soft material, such as  pea  gravel  or  sand,  to  slow  a  runaway  vehicle. Sometimes,  they  are  used  in  combination  with  an upgrade. VEHICLE RECOVERY Recovery is a major operation. During any recovery operation, always use a proven procedure. A haphazard approach  to  a  recovery  problem  or  the  use  of  a trial-and-error method can be a costly mistake. Such a mistake  can  “deadline”  the  disabled  vehicle  longer  than necessary, cost valuable time, damage equipment, and injure personnel. Self-recovery of vehicles, recovery with  wreckers,  and  recovery  with  like-vehicles  are discussed  in  this  section. WRECKERS Recovery,   using   wrecker   trucks,   should   be performed  by  trained  recovery  personnel  of  Alfa company or the transportation division. An under- standing of the ability of the vehicle to winch, lift, and tow is very important. For in-depth information, refer to the  operator’s  manual  that  relates  to  the  operation  of specific equipment and their specific abilities. Mired Truck The recovery of a mired truck using a wrecker truck is  not  always  an  easy  task  because  it  involves  the resistance of the load, the approach to the load, and the distance between the wrecker and the mired vehicle. Use a direct pull if the resistance created by the mired vehicle is less than the winch capacity of the wrecker. CAUTION Do not hook the winch cable around the bumper  on  a  vehicle.  Wrapping  the  tow  cable around the bumper of a mired vehicle will result in a bent bumper. An  example  of  a  simple  winching  operation  is shown in figure 5-6. Some winching operations are more difficult. The mired truck may have a resistance greater than the winch capacity of the wrecker. Also, the wrecker may not be able to align itself with the truck due to terrain. If so, use a 2:1 mechanical advantage and a change of direction pull, as shown in figure 5-7. Nosed Truck The recovery of a nosed truck using a wrecker truck may require only a towing operation. Some situations may require all three of the capabilities (winching, Figure 5-6.-Simple winch operation (direct pull). 5-8