Yellow ABS light of trailer stays on

Please don't engage him, he's oppositionally defiant and you will never be able to convince him he's wrong, or you're right, but thanks for the attempt.

For those of us who don't know everything and are willing to read, understand and comprehend the things we are discussing in a friendly and cooperative way so that we can come to an understanding of how things work, why and what we as drivers must do, I offer the following text and link for those that would rather not take some oppositionally defiant opinions, and find out for your self if what you see and read is in fact what is. I suggest we do our own research, when you hear/read something that you're not sure of. That way, you can see if you're being a horses butt or not.

---How Stuff Works. "The ABS System"

If he has a problem, let him argue with the authors of all the literature I've read on the subject.... I won't bother...he's still in my ::ignore mode on::: status column

 

If by oppositionally defiant you mean to say that I call BS on you, then yeah I'm OK with that.

In your effort to impart knowledge on us, once again you mislead the forum with incorrect info by posting a link to tell us how HYDRAULIC ABS works (see those steel lines in that pic...hydraulic). We ain't talking about cars in this thread. And we're not talking about steer axles either. I don't have a problem with ABS on steers. It's obvious to me that, in spite of what you say, you do think you know it all.

 

Caxpt I called the co.s shop after trying a few things with the abs light. I was told you don,t need the abs light to do down the road. The same tank wash where I got that trailer, I picked up other trailers that had blown air chambers and blown tires. I had those repairs done of course, with no break down pay. Then dispatch says what,s your problem, I say the last driver dropped the tank with a bad air chamber, the brakes are apllied when the air chamber is bad. The driver had skid marks from the street into the yard, he should,ve called break down service. The trailer could,ve been repaired sitting at the tank wash. Dispatch response is I don,t want to here it, it,s my fault the trailer is broke down even thow I never moved it. I don,t drop trailers with blown tires, etc and not say anything. I do all the computer messages, hang on the phone for a long time to get repairs lined up. A pipeline co. I was at we had a spare brake chamber in a condex box set on a flat bed. If that truck was behind ya, you get the part and replace it yourself. If that truck is not around, you back the brakes off, then take the air lines off and cap them. And then hit the nearest truck stop and get a air chamber and replace it yourself. I don,t think the ABS system on a trailer, is all that hot of stuff. I see drivers locking up 1 or 2 wheels and have a jack knife starting. A trailer with no ABS has equil braking, if brakes are adjusted correctly. Abs likes to brake drag a wheel , to many gizmos, a good driver can do better than ABS can.

 

In a car its one thing. But for a truck and trailer its bs. They're made to be over sensitive, so the computer judges when it thinks you will lock them up and kicks in. When your loaded 85 percent of the trucks life, the computer gets use to it. So when you are all of a sudden mt and you hit your breaks kinda hard, yeah I 80000 lbs you would have weight trying to push you. But when your mt theres really no sense for it.

 

I'm sorry to hear that V8-Mack, it sounds like you need a new company. One that values your life and professional record along with your money. If you get caught with those lights not functioning properly, you get the tickets, PSP points/documentation, and possibly a fine, either as a direct violation or via improper pre-trip. You have to be concerned with your own interests, first. If that means moving on, so be it. If that means staying where you are and letting them dictate how many points you get hit with until no other company will touch you, that's also your call.

Whether you assert yourself as a professional that knows what's required of you or not is up to you...but think about this. How do these other drivers get to work at these companies that take such good care of their equipment. Because the drivers refuse to drive faulty equipment, and since it's such a high priority to get freight moved, the company busts a hump to keep the equipment working so it can move freight. Other company's are gambling.....with your and their future record....just remember, after you leave that company, any points they helped put on you because of equipment violations stays with you for 3 years, versus the 2 for the company. That alone should tell you "who's" really responsible and who should care more about your record.

 

http://www.meritorwabco.com/MeritorWABCO_document/mm0180.pdf

 

It depends on whether or not you kill anyone in the four wheeler when you rear end them I guess. My best advice is to drive like I have no trailer brakes at all....especially when my aluminum step deck is empty.

A few years ago I was following a big truck in a 2000 model yr GMC Jimmy (ABS equipped). Truck in front of me brakes then I do but I must have been on black ice and there is only one way I am stopping and that is by using his DOT bumper. So I turned the wheel to the right and put the right front into the guard rail and that is what stopped me. Not the ABS.

 

The braking system will operate as if there is no ABS present. If you are inspected, it has been my experience that you will be found in violation, and you will receive 4 CSA points on your driver's record for that violation.

I am in the process of a Data-Q removal for my violation, as I feel that the regulation cited (393.55(e)) does not apply. The light was working as designed, and the regulation simply states that the light must be working as designed.