Who Pays The Ticket?

Seems funny when signs first went up Posted weight was 20 ton or what ever. And all mt trucks could cross the bridge. This was an enforcement nightmare. Too much work to collect their money. So in the name of safety it was posted for no more than 2 axles.

Put some of those people to work in RI fix your bridges!

 

as time wore on, the continued bridge inspections uncovered MORE damage that was previously thought, requiring less axles and weights.

put some people to work.>??

please do not make me laugh. the unemployment office, actually LAID OFF some thier workers..!!!

 

If you have a CDL with an air brake endorsement, you are qualified as per the regulations...no experience necessary.


http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=396.25

 

Now thats one I never noticed and the man that did my new entrant audit mustn't have known either. Or maybe this has been changed since 2008?
He insisted I put the piece of paper in my file. Thats good to know anyone with a air brake endorsement can do brake inspections.
Just imagine all them swift driving school graduates adjusting their brakes??

 

Nope...not all that new. Got a green book current to August 25, 2005 sitting next to the computer and it is in there, too.

 

Here's where you are confusing the INSPECTING and REPAIRING. Read that cite again. It says inspections - ANNUAL INSPECTIONS. IE DOT Inspections. Inspections do not equate with repairs/adjustments. That you must be qualified for.

O/O are, by nature as equipment owners, allowed to do their own maintenance on their trucks, so they can be qualified as you saw with the paper in your file allowing you to make those repairs and stating you are qualified.

CDL holders themselves, however are NOT DOT qualifed/certified technicians for the purposes of that rule. Had that discussion with a DOT officer before, since I'm also a mechanic, but not certified or qualified per DOT rules to adjust/repair brakes without that piece of paper.

With laws/rules/regulations you have to read the wording carefully if you're going to try and implement it.


You won't find Swift drivers adjusting brakes, or even inspecting them properly ... they couldn't even teach drivers how to properly test the ABS light system on tractor/trailers.

 

I have one paper that statee inspecting and one that states repairing. That means the man was only half wrong.
I stopped doing trailer work before the yellow abs light got out good, is that light like the one in the truck on for a second and off if everything is working properly?
I remember the famous 121 brakes by kelsey hayes the first attempt at abs trailer brakes in the 70's and 80's great failure.

 

Do those papers specify different brake types you're authorized for? ie. One for manual adjusters and one for automatic adjusters? If not I may stand corrected.

Yes, in a way. It behaves as a bulb check and go/nogo system check. What you do is turn the ignition key to the first stop so you have power to the electrical system but not starting it. Look to the trailer light and it should go on for 2-3 seconds and then go off and also you should hear the ABS system solenoids doing a self test (clicking). If the light doesn't go on, or won't shut off, you have a problem. It's a simple test that seems to not be getting done and that's why when you look at the CSA score inspections you see tons of these:

Violation: 393.55(e) ABS - malfunctioning lamps towed CMV manufactured on or after 3/1/1998, manufactured before 3/1/2009 (Non-OOS)

This one pertains to the trailer external light. There are other sections pertaining to the Tractor, tractor to trailer, etc, and these are likely because someone tried disabling the signal from the tractor to the trailer because they figured if it wasn't lit, scale houses wouldn't notice and they could skate. But with enforcement up, more than likely they'll get caught with a simple roadside test when it doesn't come on when they are told to just turn the key to the on position without starting the truck.

Are you referring to the original ABS requirement on buses to have ABS systems. but when the ABS failed the brakes also failed? That was a debacle, yes.

 

I got a fine for a brake out of adjustment in Alberta Canada. It is $238 for that fine. My company has the policy of if it is a driving violation then it is on the driver. If it is an equipment violation then the company pays for it.

 

You weren't being coerced into signing any promissory note. You as an employee are an investment, and as such you will only have a job so long as your employer sees a sufficient rate of return on their investment. When you make an error which costs your employer a significant enough chunk of change that he is considering firing you over that mistake, the employer is left with two options. He can either fire you, in which case he's probably going to have to recruit & train your replacement...or he can try to recover some of what you cost him from you. By law, he cannot deduct from your wages without your permission, so if he is to recover the money he lost due to your mistake, you've got to authorize the deductions.

So now his decision is based upon whether or not you are willing to repay him what you cost him due to your screw up. Either you sign, agreeing to pay him back as you continue to work, or you refuse to sign in which case you are fired. If he wasn't allowed to even ask you to authorize the deductions, you would have just been fired.

All he did was allow you the opportunity to keep your job.