Adjusting Brakes

DOT doesn't require ASE certification (I'm sure you know that).
Depends on what you were attempting to repair on your brakes, as to them laughing at your company certification card.
For minor & typical brake adjustment (manual adjusters) that carrier's card is "DOT" sufficient. (unless they clearly see you're hacking the operation)

 

Knowledge is Power. Had Maryland try that scare on me. Didn't work.

 

One employer asked for a summary of my training or experience adjusting brakes. This was noted in my personnel file (for their protection).

 

like i said.

brake adjustment is the easiest thing next to adjusting mirrors.

the wrench will only go ONE way. unless the slack is completely messed up. and it will turn really easy. untill it hits the drum. then it gets hard and that's when you stop.

beats the heck out of sitting around, wasting time somewhere. costing the company money for a road call.

and yes, i'm ASE certified. for cars.

drivers that are out to make it sound like a difficult task. are drivers that just really don't care to do it, or learn it.

you learn to walk, talk, and poop. but your too afraid to crawl on the ground. put a wrench on a bolt and turn the darn thing.

technically, your supposed be to under there looking at the things anyways. along with the rest of the trailer under there. you also get to see if things move around while your under there adjusting that bolt. like worn bushings.

your eyes, the only tool you need. to see that your brakes are out of adjustment. because there will always be a gap between the shoe and the drum.

 

With the advent of self-adjusting slack adjusters, most companies will discourage you from "messing with them".
Trouble is, many drivers don't know what "to do" and "not to do" when it comes to slack adjusters or brake adjustment.
Back when manual adjusters were commonplace, knowing how to adjust brakes was common, and straight forward.

I still know many drivers who don't know exactly how automatic (self-adjusting) slack adjusters work, so don't feel bad.
Here's a good video showing how they work.
IMPORTANT: They only are able to "adjust" if your brake application is fairly hard (higher than approx 80 psi pressure).
Easily done a couple times a day, while stopped.

 

If the brake was cammed over that means that the shoes were so thin the s cam reached the end of its travel and turned over backwards making you brakes work backwards on that spot. Who ate you working for if you don't mind? Or if you want PM me.

 

There are still lots of us out here who started driving in the 80's and 90's. Adjusting brakes was as common as fueling up or washing windows. Not many self adjusters at the time. I learned to adjust brakes before I ever bumped a dock.

I seem to remember a lot more drivers actually pre-tripping back then too.

 

Why would any driver put a wrench on an automatic self-adjusting slack adjuster? Just curious.
Personally, I won't put a wrench on a self-adjuster. (with 1 very rare specific exception)
Reason is simple. If it requires a wrench, that means the self-adjusting slack adjuster's internals are defective.
If a part is defective, the only proper thing is to change the part.
If it didn't hold it's setting via automatic, it won't hold it's setting via manual.

If it's known you, as a driver, had put a wrench to an automatic slack adjuster, then get into a wreck...
you can literally kiss your trucking career goodbye.
(Unless you can prove in court you had documented certification that showed you were 100% qualified and your actions were 100% proper)