Is it illegal when a trucker change tire on the road by him self?

There is no law, regulations or code that says a driver can not do any service or repairs.

If you have the tools and appropriate parts, there is no reason you can’t do the repairs.

 

Change the tire. You're legal. Try to get as far off the road as you can.

 

Apparently in communist Canada it is illegal. Tire shop has to torque the lug nuts………

 

Sounds like an Ontario thing. Never heard anything like that out here.

 

So where do you stow all that tire changing equipment on the truck?
And why would you keep all that stuff on the truck in the first place?

 

When I started driving for Monson Trucking in the 90's we ran Daytons...when we were issued a truck(International Cabover) it came with a 20 ton bottle jack, lug wrench, and spare tire mounted on a Dayton rim (supply your own cheater bar). Could change a flat and be on your way in no time in those days as Daytons don't need to be torqued nearly as much as pilot hubs or budds.

 

Im not him. But ive done my own tire swaps. Doesnt take as much as you would think either. Ive carried a full spare + rim in my spare rack before. Just use a jack or 2x4 with your trucks air system. Carry a torque wrench and a mini air impact set up to hook to your service line.

Takes up about the same room as 5 gallon bucket and as long as your side box aint a pigstye theres more then enough room. To swap tires off the rim just add a can of ether, a good sparker or box of matches (never needed them but i do have them) and a pair of breaker bars. Breaker bars also double as prypars and tarp adjustment stick so no extra room taken up.

Bonus points for space if you have a tool box someplace. As for why? Ever lost a tire or worse two in the middle of no where with the nearest service truck being a good 3 to 12 hours away if you even HAVE signal? I have!

 

When did the DOT start carry'n torque wrenchs ?
And do they put you OOS if the lug nuts are over torqued ? And make you back them off untill they are at the recommended torque specifications ?
Most the Diesel Cops I've had dealings with aren't smart enough to read a torque wrench let alone know the correct procedure to check the torque
what's next .. head bolt torque ?

 

Easy, air jack 20 ton, air impact, spare on the catwalk. Start to finish used to swap container tires out in 30 min or less. Was a O/O so doing it myself saved a lot of money. Would bring the trailer back to my yard and swap out my good spare and put the busted one back on before taking it back to BNSF then put in a maintenance request at check in.