They put those brake check pull off's there for a reason.

Out of curiosity, what do you guys do at those brake check stations? I pull in and leave. But I also work on my own truck, and I have an ISX, so I never use my brakes going down hill anyway.

But what are you supposed to do? Check clearance? Adjust brakes?

 

Basically just make sure they work before going down the grade.
A lot of states (California,North Carolina,Tennessee,West Virginia,Utah just to name a few) set up surveillance cameras at the brake check areas to make sure drivers are actually stopping there to do a brake check. If they see a truck bypass it and then wreck down on the grade they can review the footage to see if that driver stopped before going down! Once they see that said driver failed to stop as mandated that driver is in some serious trouble!
Layman’s terms: You’re in deep s*** ,Jack!!!

 

I pull into a brake check get out to do my walk around and noticed spring for airlines broke and is now between tires . Needless to say I was happy I wasn’t lazy .

 

tighten the straps, just do a walk around

 

I'm a company guy but to be honest I pull in stop tug the trolley handle and then go on down.

If I've been driving all day I'll get out and do a walk around too. Caught some loose hub bolts that way once.

 

Pull in, come to a complete stop, truck in neutral and give the brakes one full push to the floor so the automatic slack adjusters can do their thing. If you hear a clunk, come off the brakes and do it again. If you hear a clunk, roll forward a foot and repeat until the brakes don't clunk. Then proceed down the hill.

 

Watch TikTok videos for a minute…then slap it in the big hole and let her eat!

 

Smoke your brakes rolling into the check station..Now that they are preheated, roll on!

Most of those check stations are clogged up with trucks taking a ten anyway..I don’t bother.

 

I'm usually pretty light on my brakes coming down a grade. I've gone down the grapevine several times without touching my brakes. My engine brake does the work and basically the heavier I am, the slower I go down a grade anyway.
I do grades routinely running the West as I do. So, don't have any issues with them. But, always respect them. Never take one faster than is safe for my weight. For going down a grade, it's all about weight. I do stop at the mandatory brake check spots, but have to confess, I don't really do anything while there.