adjusting brakes yourself

I understand that...I wasn't really addressing your post.
Most companies don't want to have drivers messing with that stuff anyway for obvious reasons.
But to say that you need to firmly apply and hold the brakes to adjust them is just wrong and tells me that the person posting that doesn't have a clue how the adjusters operate.

 

All tis check is compressor recovery time. If you want to check your brakes you've got to get out of the cab. There really easy to learn to adjust, I mean really easy. There is so much more that is actually important to check under the truck, spring, frames, axles, hose's. As they say "You really have to be there"

 

I've heard an IL DOT cop say that this is a bit of a judgement call on their part. He said something to the effect of "if a driver has the tools and seems to know what they're doing, they will probably be allowed to, but if someone has to get on a cell phone and call someone else, 'which wrench do I use, which way do I turn it...' nope, they're not going to be allowed to adjust them."

 

REMEMBER:

a. Most of these guys can't even get under the truck!

b. If they ever did get down there...You'd need a tow truck to stand them back up!

 

Wow, So sorry I forgot, your right. Id better tell them about the saftey device then. there is a long pole right in the middle that is to secure your safetyline to so when you need out you won't be stuck.

 

You talking about the guy blocking the fuel island so he can shuffle in wearing flip flops, sweat pants and a shirt that won't cover his gut so he can get some more food for his GIANT cooler and 300 more oz of coffee and can't park in the lot because of "health" problems? (which according to him is hereditary) Here he is having a small snack at a truck stop.


Yes, I made that one long sentence on purpose.

 

A good firm press three times. There. You happy now? Look, the point is that drivers with automatic slack adjusters get put out of service every day because they don't put enough pressure on the brakes to get them to adjust.

 

My point is...They will adjust under normal use and don't require any special attention at all.

IF THEY DO REQUIRE ANYTHING OTHER THAN NORMAL USE TO ADJUST...THERE IS A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION INVOLVED.

 

No they get put out of service because they do not know how to pretrip, adjust brakes and so on. There is no excuse for getting put out of service. Get out and actually check the truck and it will never happen. In 3 million plus miles I have never been put out of service for any reason. Lazy drivers get put out of service, If you don't know how learn. Its not tough. If you drove for our company and you were to get put out of service because of a item you should have taken care of on your pretrip, You will need a job when you get to the yard.

 

The only problems I have had involving a self-adjusting brake also involved getting that adjuster replaced at the shop, first chance. You need to check them not drive threw the parking lot trying to clear off the bed.