Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

Is that a SERIOUS question? What's wrong with air leaking at that rate? Plenty.

First of all, there was a standard at one time, specified for drivers that stated that any loss of more than 3 PSI a minute, dictated that the truck is not driveable. This is still the means for determining whether it is put out-of-service by a road level inspector, according the the CVSA OOS criteria.

The FMCSA amended the rules to be rather simple, but it doesn't change anything. Here's what is stated on the subject of air loss:

§383.111 Required knowledge.

(g) Air brake knowledge as follows:

(g)(1) Air brake system nomenclature;

(g)(2) The dangers of contaminated air supply;

(g)(3) Implications of severed or disconnected air lines between the power unit and the trailer(s);

(g)(4) Implications of low air pressure readings;

(g)(5) Procedures to conduct safe and accurate pre-trip inspections.

(g)(6) Procedures for conducting enroute and post-trip inspections of air actuated brake systems, including ability to detect defects which may cause the system to fail

§396.7 Unsafe operations forbidden.

(a) General ' A motor vehicle shall not be operated in such a condition as to likely cause an accident or a breakdown of the vehicle.

(b) Exemption ' Any motor vehicle discovered to be in an unsafe condition while being operated on the highway may be continued in operation only to the nearest place where repairs can safely be effected. Such operation shall be conducted only if it is less hazardous to the public than to permit the vehicle to remain on the highway.

When air loss reaches the point where you are losing 20-30 psi a minute, combined with what is zapped from the system when you apply the brakes to all wheels in a normal manner, could drain the air reserves to a point VERY quickly, where the air brakes will automatically lock due to a lack of pressure in the system. They are designed to depress the air valves on the dash, at around 60 psi, or thereabouts.

Also, when your reserve air pressure falls to around 80 psi, the springs inside of dual brake chambers will overcome the air supply that keeps them pushed back, and your brake shoes will start to apply pressure on the brake drums. Drive like that for a few miles, and you now have some overheated brakes, which will NOT stop the truck, and a fire hazard if they are driven even farther.

Air loss of this magnitude is considered an imminent hazard, as defined in the CVSA criteria, and a driver could net a hefty fine, if caught driving with air loss that severe.

I've encountered air lines dragging a couple of times, and it really is easy to overlook them in a quick walkaround, but if you've ever had to deal with the problem a few times, you make it a matter of routine, every time you drop and hook, and when you make stops along the way, because of course, there are no warning signs before it happens. Those springs rust, or wear out from constant motion where they are hung. Drive a truck long enough, and this will happen to you.

A quick tip for anyone that has an air loss due to a chafed or dragged hose:

ALWAYS carry black electrical tape. It's a trucker's best friend, and especially in a case like this. Unless a hose is completely severed, or where the chafed area of the hose gets larger than a the diameter of a pencil, that black tape will temporarily patch the hole, and allow you to proceed to a place of repair, without further air loss. Even in cases where it doesn't completely stop the air loss, at least it slows it to a trickle.

 

No problem. I found it hilarious, not so much because an actual Swift truck was in the spoof, but more so because of the acting in it. That kid was HORRIBLE, which made it funnier than it otherwise would have been.

His facial expressions......priceless.

Swift probably is not pleased to know that it's out there.....

By the way, there are 8 parts to that spoof....I'm gonna find 'em all...