Who Pays The Ticket?

A good reason to have a seperate trailer brake arm in you tractor, mark the rods with the brakes released, then wedge your coffee mug under the trailer arm and crawl under and see how much travel they have moved.

No trailer brake arm? Mark the rods, and then use something the wedge between the front edge of the seat and the brake pedal. I have used window squeegees and tire thumpers.

 

I don't know about other States, but I have been asked by CA (coop inspectors) if our company has the Company Responsibility form on file....and on this form, there are 3 levels (options) for the company to take responsibility; (1) mechanical, (2) electrical, and (3) weight. If the company does not have this form of accepting responsibility on file, the responsibility falls on the driver. And without this "responsibility form", the citation (assuming something is out of whack) names the driver being the one cited.

As to the actual "stroke travel"...no I don't get under and inspect the travel distance every inspection...however, before I pull out of the parking area (every time), I do a tug/brake test, then a rolling brake check...if the brakes feel soft/mushy then I will check for adjustment (using the pry method) and adjust accordingly. Here, (US) a driver is not required to be "certified" through DMV but every company I have worked for has (as part of the orientation) given a brake training section, and a company card for completion is given to the driver.

Now...why did you have to throw in this mix the never ending debate issue of the 15 minute inspection? Just trying to "muddy the waters".....ain't ya?!?

 

The reason why your ticket was $5000 was because so many of your companies' drivers got nailed. Same with us. I pointed out to the safety guy that not one of the loads we take up there require we take 95 straight up, rather go over to 495, as it's a bit quicker. And more direct.

 

Unfortunately, this is the result of the CSA, since both companies and drivers played this game of who did what, now both get hit with points, BUT the ticket/fine still gets put on the driver as they are the person responsible for making sure the vehicle is safe BEFORE driving it. If you know of a condition that exists before driving it, you are required to document it and get it repaired before driving it. Key word here you need to understand, DOCUMENT. If there will be a saving clause for you, it's this.

This may be illegal, however he made his choice and I would agree with others, he may have done himself a favor by getting fired.

I agree completely.

Ahh here is the pivot point that Company Drivers need to understand, but have refused to accept. If they refuse to fix it, you are legally required not to drive it. It's that simple. Until company drivers get this through their head, nothing will change. You are responsible, so act responsibly. If that means quitting a company that you have to fight to get to fix their equipment, then you and the industry at large will be better off.

Since as you say "truck drivers are a dime a dozen", then why freak? It's easier to get another job with a clean record, than to explain why you didn't leave while your record was being trashed by a company that believes that mantra. If drivers don't raise themselves above the "dime a dozen" mentality, how can you expect employers to?

Now, here is where we can get into the meat of the subject. If you have documented REGULARLY through pre-trip inspections, post-trip inspections, etc, and note that "company refused to fix" you MAY have helped yourself during inspection. The post-trip is documentation required of the driver. The company must......

396.11 FMCSA Regulations

If you do your job, and they don't do theirs, who do you call? Well, there happens to be an FMCSA Safety Violation complaint website for drivers to complain about their company. This link will show that: http://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov/HomePage.asp

This is the description that you see when going to that page with a 1 888 number, in case the links don't work.

- FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database website

I hope this helps someone. I know it's rather long, but this is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. CSA = Compliance, Safety and Accountability. This program is the best chance that drivers have of improving their lot. Bad companies can be weeded out. Bad drivers can be weeded out. Good companies and good drivers can benefit from doing their job, while those that don't deserve it won't.

As drivers, CSA is our friend. It can help put clout behind the driver's word. It can improve our working conditions and income by getting rid of the destructive elements.

But for that to happen, drivers MUST learn their FMCSA regs, do their job, and demand others do theirs. This will help you also not feel helpless. It empowers you. Stop being victims.

Good Luck

 

Simple solution to the slack adjusters:use disk brakes.
Nothing to measure.

 

Your state might have dragged there feet on this project. Free money, never seen a bridge take so long . Heck don't ever replace it and your states financial problems are over!


And your overweight permits are overpriced too.

 

There was a disc brake application with slack adjusters garbage trucks used to run them down here.
they adjusted like drum brakes.

 

If you drive the same truck and trailer all the time, you can color code your pushrods.
You would use green for the first inch of travel and yellow for next half inch and red there after.
With a quick glance you could see if you were needing adjustment.
Also if I was written up for brake adjustment, I myself would ask to visually see the inspectors measurements as I don't trust them.

 

YES...YES...the signs were all over the place, as far back as the state of Connecticut, and as far back as Massachusetts. a driver had PLENTY of notice, to go around. But now the north bound side hasn't any signage as the work is done NORTH bound only.

If the "maximum" IS $3,000 how were the drivers being fined MORE THAN THAT..??

i call BS on this. did you PERSONALLY GET THAT $5,000 ticket for your company..??? AGAIN, B.S...

what the trooper's were doing (and still do) is use "discretion" when giving the over-weight/over axle size fines. many troopers (who are all on detail/OT pay doing this work, that the fines are also paying for) hand out tickets "up to" the MAX of $3,000. some drivers (actually the companies) DO NOT get that high a fine. HOWEVER, what might be happening is, to "teach a particular company a lesson", THAT COMPANY may be getting the MAX FINE (of $3,000), since so many of thier drivers are apparently too stupid to READ AND FOLLOW the detour signs..???

true, but still costly to buy/order from the factory when spec'ing out a new truck, or to retrofit from drum brakes.

 

ummm, you guys are making this WAY TOO complicated.

there is no need for special tools. there is no need for special paint to mark one inch.

ALL IT TAKES IS A PLAIN AND SIMPLE VISUAL. and you don't even need to be on the ground. unless you have back plates covering the brakes.

just look at the darn things. if you see ANY spacing between the brakes and drums. THEY ARE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. PLAIN AND SIMPLE AS THAT.

if your slack travels 2 inches. then you will probably see a very very small spacing. but to see a HUGE GAP. well, THERE'S YOUR SIGN.

does your truck have a brake pressure gauge. cuz misadjusted brakes will ALWAYS cause that gauge to read higher when the brakes out. meaning your brakes are working harder. THERE'S YOUR SIGN.

it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know your brakes are out of adjustment. it doesn't take any tools either. other then your eyes.

it doesn't take two people to measure the travel.

and yes, it's the drivers job to check ALL aspects of the brakes. cracks in the shoes. worn out shoes. out of adjustment. EVERYTHING.

NO, you're not allowed to work on them. including adjusting them. that's against dot regs. unless your certified by your company. ((( don't know about the o/o's though.)))

VISUALIZE YOUR BRAKES. KEEP EM ADJUSTED ON THE ROAD. AND DOT WILL NEVER KNOW. you can buy an 8mm wrench for CHEAP. and save yourself that BIG FINE.

when my slacks on my trailer don't work. all it takes is a 500 mile drive to take out the adjustment. so to say your adjust them when your home once a week. doesn't cut the mustard. and makes your other brakes work much harder.