As others note, the Aladdin's engine screen on the highway should show you among other things your selected gear, actual gear, actual speed, and if the cruise is on the speed selected by that. A lamp also activates on our dash display. A larger engine like a C12 or 13 I'd expect to have an engine brake (aka Jake Brake), but a smaller C9 like ours will sport an exhaust brake (Pac-Brake), an entirely different animal. I can't speak to Jerry and Hal's divergent engine brake experience, but if the cruise is on, our exhaust brake is locked out.
Yes, Bill, I've griped about the tranny pad placement on my rig also. Why they put it where it's facing straight up and forward-most on the side panel is beyond me. You have to look away from the road longer to lean forward against the seat belt, and stretch to the left to see it clearly, esp. if the sun is in your eyes or something. If I ever got ambitious enough I'd engineer an aluminum or cherry adapter between the side panel and entire cover/switch plate that angled 30 degrees toward the wheel, so all switches were easier to read, and the front with the pad angled 30-45 degrees back. Ahhhh, dreams. Fortunate are coach owners, or trucks, with tranny pads mounted actually facing the driver.
Joel