Road check 2017

Breaks are when you are off duty. Nothing mechanical about them.

You can check your brakes visually very easily. Look at the linings and see if they have less than 1/4 inch of pad left at the thinnest point. Look for physical breaks in the material.

I don't bother checking the slack because I can't even pull it out by hand. My truck gets regular service and it is checked and adjusted at those times.
With a trailer I do a good tug test. If I can move forward even a little I know the trailer brakes are in serious need of adjustment and call for on-road or get it to a shop asap.

And frankly, I've never even seen any driver check slack when they pick up a trailer.

My company does a pretty good job keeping up with it. Certain terminals inspect every trailer that goes in, so they catch most problems early. But there are a few trailers that don't make it in to one of them often enough.

 

You don't check your slack adjusters because you can't pull them out by hand.... It's been a while since I learned, but I don't remember any part of having to use manual force to measure them.

Chalk a line on it with brakes released(push button in). Then apply brakes(pull button out). How far did it go? That's what you measure.

Or you get your 7/16 out and while brakes released you tighten as tight as possible then back it off about 3/8 - 1/2 a turn. You are adjusted.

 

And you are not supposed to adjust automatic slack adjusters that way.

 

Don't they teach this #### in driver training anymore?

This info is straight from the BC government. The numbers should be standard nationwide but the procedures may vary. Apparently some regions require a special certificate to adjust brakes though.

 

Well, we don't all drive for swift and call for help for a brake out of adjustment or other minor issues.. Come on man it's called using your head

 

DVIR is not required any more if there is NO defect to report.
But you should check with your co. it may be an in house requirement for you.

 

It's already started, got a Level 3 yesterday (Memorial Day)

 

From what I understand the blitz will be almost all level one inspections. The emphasis this year will be load securement. Open decks beware.

 

Just curious as this will be my first blitz, will they break seals to check securement?