Brakes are the biggest violation received during inspections. Inspections effect the company CSA score. The CSA score effects all of us. The more violations we have the more likely they are to inspect our trucks. Clean inspections means lower CSA score (and $50 in your pocket), lower score means fewer inspections, then y’all don’t have to spend time sitting at the scales being inspected.
Here are few things to help mitigate the issue.
- Adjust the automatic slack adjusters every time you hook to a new trailer.
- Adjust them every time you leave the yard.
- Adjust them anytime you are going to enter a scale – before you go over the pit.
- Log Trucks – when coming from the landing pull over before you hit the pavement and walk around the equipment. Check your lights and load securement while you’re at it.
The videos below show how to adjust brakes and how they work.
Trailer brakes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uLn7eg2Yq4
Tractor brakes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0txYDO_uu5Q
How the mechanism works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDCaDGZKdTQ&t=61s
Chelsey