Do rookies know more about how brake tests work?

Always thought that truck air brakes were derived from train air brakes. That is, separation results in the brakes setting. Kinda surprised it wasn't required before 75.

 

Westinghouse Air Brakes were train based by Law. Roughly 1870. Before that brakemen walked the train on the roof applying by handwheels on each car hoping it's fast enough on all of them to stop that train or control it downgrade etc.

Eventually when trucks came along in world war one and we adopted them for our commerce after, Airbrakes became a safe option on those. I think a for example 1950 Cabover from Freightliner featured air braking drum pads made of all things aluminum. And showed improvements until 1975 and the end of the 123 braking system then. Eventually mid 90's protection valve was needed by new law to be on tractors. That changes things a little bit.

Ive driven everything from the late 50's on up to 2013 models at auction before I turned in my CDL which had 31 years on it by then. I generally did not have too many issues with brakes on trucks of all model years. Ive had a couple and those stories are told and retold in my previous posts.

 

The Trailer if it leaves the tractor with the modern system the trailer loses it's air supply and then the spring brakes take over relatively quickly. I have experienced one breakaway on the Tydings Bridge on 95 southbound in Maryland near Havre de Grace when our Container was bounced out of our 5th wheel and luckily landed on the aft drive tires which held them there until we drifted to a halt on the shoulder. The glad hands stayed connected to the tractor lines and the trailer did not try to lock up or get away any worse than it did. The entire road around us and rear of us was FULL of rush hour wannagethomes rolling at 80 and we were rolling with them with the Ford 9000 day cab then. My driver was a EMT part time trucker rescuing me in the right seat that night. It was literally my very first trainee. And I had to come up with a battle plan in a few moments from a dead sleep after I felt that trailer leave the 5th wheel.

 

Never had that pleasure! I bet that would pucker your nether region right quick!

 

Eh not so much. I did squeal like a little girl watching that #### container and frame come off there. If a big strong put together trucker with everything under the rug smelling nice squealed like that...

Pending wrecks bring out the worst, especially if all I can do is sit there and watch it.

 

I appreciate your legwork.

I offer this thought. I hope I wrote it plainly.

It is my thinking that people have stopped common courtesy or halted a part that carries a compassion to help their brothers and sisters in difficulty within the industry. On really bad days, I'll just haul her in to about 60 and just drift while everyone else ram each other down on both sides of me while I am looking for a quiet place to park. Here in Arkansas people either ram something much bigger than themelves. Sometimes they open fire. Which is really unfortunate and exploses their weakness of knowledge and open to a condemnation of our Society who knows better.

 

I think sometime around 91 or 92 when they changed from articulated license to CDL they made knowledge of the air system part of the written test. Don't quote me on the date but I remember taking the test. I know they weren't making you perform air tests because I took my road test in a hotshot rig with juice brskes. I don't know how I managed that one, because the GVW was only 26k. I've always been lucky when it comes to breaking rules, must be my good looks, lol.