Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/641412
commercial carrier journal | february 2016 33 Look for loose parts like chambers, the slack adjuster, brackets and air lines that may be hanging low and may hook on road debris." Mendy suggests drivers build pres- sure in the air system while keeping parking brakes applied, then walk around the truck to listen for leaks. "Look at the air gauges to see if the compressor is building correctly," Mendy says. "Check to see if the ABS or electronics components warning lamp is illuminated." A slack adjuster with an excessive stroke may indicate an out-of-adjustment wheel end and a possible worn shoe, he says. "Most of the time, you can hear (air leaks), and they are indicative of a lot of things," Petresh adds. Morrison says drivers should inspect the pad thickness visually or measure caliper position with a ruler and in- spect the rotors for cracks every four to six months. "This also helps reduce potential hard-part failures by being proactive in preventive maintenance," he says. Once a problem is identified, drivers should seek advice from their manager. "Find someone quickly before moving the vehicle," Mendy says. "Call dispatch, and have them make a service decision." "The brake system must be inspected and repaired, if needed, by a qualified technician," Bowers adds. "Any poten- tial brake system issue must be properly inspected, so never attempt to move the unit until that inspection and repair have been completed." Often overlooked Another part of a proactive inspection, Petresh says, is to remember there is something behind the tractor that often gets overlooked. "Spring brake issues on trailers pop up because trailers don't get a lot of the maintenance they should get," he says. "If it feels like the trailer is pushing the tractor, there's a problem on the trailer side." Another problem, Petresh says, is that pre- and post-trip inspections often are not consistent and loosely enforced. "We try to encourage fleets or the operator to implement inspection requirements, or even expand them so the drivers are more capable and more knowledgeable of what to look for," he says. "Walking around without serious- ly looking at it isn't going to show [the driver] anything. What they need are some guidelines with what they should be looking for." Untitled-6 1 1/15/16 9:04 AM