Trailer ABS out a citable offense?

I can only go by what the bears have done to me, but they have just written a 'fix-it' ticket. I had a sensor that wouldnt stay in adjustment, so ya go back there and push it in and turn off the switch and then its fixed. I asked why he wrote the ticket, he said if the trailer is equipped with safety equipment so its supposed to work. He did not put a FMCSA rule book paragraph/line number since it wasnt a violation. Sometimes I wonder if they just imagine stuff up so they can put it on so it looks like they worked really hard that day. I think if they really want to make it look like they are working, they need to start calling insurance companies to verify that these 'questionable' truck companies have insurance. OOPs, now that was off subject.

 

In Ontario, there is nothing that specifically say "ABS" systems must work. But it does say that any system related to or part of the brakes must be in working order. If we do a safety inspection, the ABS must be working.

 

take the bulb out of the light

 

some d.o.t.'s will give you a citation no matter what. the law'a reguarding truck drivers, is questionable. some are. for example. a d.o.t officer is giving you a truck/trailer inspection... one thing he will ask while checking your lights is, turn on your headlight's, next turn on your high beams. now if your high beams do not work he will write you up. however if you use them & he see them, he will write you up. using high beams in most states are a lot of points against your license. dont make sense to me.. if this device is not operational. a fine. if you use device, a fine? though I was just thinking about my last post.. if you remove the bulb out of the abs, he might write you up cause the light dont work. lol

 

If the DOT officer is knowledgeable of trailer ABS systems he will know the light is supposed to come on when the key is turned on for a self test. No light means system isn't working.

 

From what I read in CSA2010. ( there is a good chance I can't read) You get 4 points if the amber light at the end of the trailer doesn't work at all. Like Heavyd said, test the light, light comes on then goes off, good.

Light doesn't come on at all, 4 points to you.

Light stays on, Carrier gets all the points.

I am now carrying a list of violations in my truck just in case some Officer wants to write it up. Also to help interpret the rules with them.

http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/SMSMethodology.pdf

 

CSA 2010 does not assign ratings to individual drivers . See question #7
http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/FAQs.aspx?role=MC

 

§393.55 Antilock brake systems.
(a) Hydraulic brake systems. Each truck and bus manufactured on or after March 1, 1999 (except trucks and buses engaged in driveaway-towaway operations), and equipped with a hydraulic brake system, shall be equipped with an antilock brake system that meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 105 (49 CFR 571.105, S5.5).
(b) ABS malfunction indicators for hydraulic braked vehicles. Each hydraulic braked vehicle subject to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section shall be equipped with an ABS malfunction indicator system that meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 105 (49 CFR 571.105, S5.3).
(c) Air brake systems. (1) Each truck tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997 (except truck tractors engaged in drive-away-towaway operations), shall be equipped with an antilock brake system that meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 121 (49 CFR 571.121, S5.1.6.1(b)).
(c)(2) Each air braked commercial motor vehicle other than a truck tractor, manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 (except commercial motor vehicles engaged in driveaway-towaway operations), shall be equipped with an antilock brake system that meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 121 (49 CFR 571.121, S5.1.6.1(a) for trucks and buses, S5.2.3 for semitrailers, converter dollies and full trailers).
(d) ABS malfunction circuits and signals for air braked vehicles.
(d)(1) Each truck tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997, and each single-unit air braked vehicle manufactured on or after March 1, 1998, subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section, shall be equipped with an electrical circuit that is capable of signaling a malfunction that affects the generation or transmission of response or control signals to the vehicle's antilock brake system (49 CFR 571.121, S5.1.6.2(a)).
(d)(2) Each truck tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 2001, and each single-unit vehicle that is equipped to tow another air-braked vehicle, subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section, shall be equipped with an electrical circuit that is capable of transmitting a malfunction signal from the antilock brake system(s) on the towed vehicle(s) to the trailer ABS malfunction lamp in the cab of the towing vehicle, and shall have the means for connection of the electrical circuit to the towed vehicle. The ABS malfunction circuit and signal shall meet the requirement FMVSS No. 121s of (49 CFR 571.121, S5.1.6.2(b)).

(d)(3) Each semitrailer, trailer converter dolly, and full trailer manufactured on or after March 1, 2001, and subject to the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, shall be equipped with an electrical circuit that is capable of signaling a malfunction in the trailer's antilock brake system, and shall have the means for connection of this ABS malfunction circuit to the towing vehicle. In addition, each trailer manufactured on or after March 1, 2001, subject to the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, that is designed to tow another air-brake equipped trailer shall be capable of transmitting a malfunction signal from the antilock brake system(s) of the trailer(s) it tows to the vehicle in front of the trailer. The ABS malfunction circuit and signal shall meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 121 (49 CFR 571.121, S5.2.3.2).


(e) Exterior ABS malfunction indicator lamps for trailers. Each trailer (including a trailer converter dolly) manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 and before March 1, 2009, and subject to the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, shall be equipped with an ABS malfunction indicator lamp which meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 121 (49 CFR 571.121, S5.2.3.3).

 

Wire up your ABS wire in your tractor pigtail to a switch in the dash. ABS working normally- leave it on. ABS light comes on- turn switch off- light goes off. Inspected? Turn light on, turn light off. Easy.