A question for you new drivers.

This reminds me of this guy, backing under a trailer king pin jumped 5th wheel. After I watch him crank his butt off I walk over.. hey buddy drop your air and then pull out. What do you mean he said. I don't k ow wether to feel sorry for the drivers or the companies that hire them!

 

cap full of rubbing alcohol poured into the glad hands, then charge, set, charge. Set, roll backwards if you can find a place with traction. I find rolling back to work better than dragging the tires forward. You can always crawl in the slush afterwards. I've never beaten brakes free in almost 25 years.

 

This particular problem is not caused by ice in the brake lines. It is because the brake shoes (typically the lower one) is frozen to the drum.

 

Last part first - it is taught, but there is only so much a person retains in a short time span. My companys training program has been likened to drinking drom a fire hose. Shifting, backing, logs, trip planning, pre trips/maintence, paperwork, load securment, permits, scaling, basic etiquette - its a lot. Would you rather have me spend 30 minutes making sure the guy can back without hitting you or spend that time talking about freeing up brakes?

It all gets covered, just somethings are more in depth. Somethings just dont make sense until you have some experience and perspective.


To the first part - last winter I backed into a dock at a small store. Guys forklift broke down in the trailer, couldn't get anyone out until the next morning. No big deal because the next stop didnt deliver until the next morning, then I was going home. Finished getting unloaded the next morning, but couldn't move - all four frozen solid. Wailed on as best I could, then called road repair. By the time the guy got to me I had the front axle released, but it took another hour before the mechanic got the rears released.

 

I THINK you "tap" on the break drum. I've driven since 1994, and simply stop with brakes released in cold wet weather to let brakes dry before setting them. I've never beaten my brakes free. I just add a cap full of rubbing alcohol to my airlines and charge, set, charge until the brakes free up.

 

There are drivers that call breakdown to replace a fuse. smh

 

Thanks.

 

I carry de-ice spray that I will spray into the drum and let sit about 2 mins before I start with the hammer... Usually 2 or 3 good smaks and it rings like a bell, Music to my ears when laying on the frozen ground, under a trailer, in 10 inches of snow!!! This was a very common problem at the company I used to work for as most of our equipment sat through the winter, with only 2 or 3 trucks running. And I NEVER set my trailer brakes unless I'm dropping the trailer, on a dock, or some other situation that requires they be set.