TEN FOUR MAGAZINE - TRUCKING ON-LINE MAGAZINE FOR TRUCKERS

Tech Tips and Tid Bits...

GIVE IT A BRAKE
NEW BRAKE TESTING MACHINE
HELPS ENSURE TRUCK SAFETY

Being around trucks all his life, 71 year-old Rod Stallings has seen and done a lot. He can remember riding along with his father in a chain-driven Mack, back in the late 1930's, hauling gasoline between Bakersfield and Signal Hill. You think the Grapevine is a tough climb (and descent) now, you should have tried it then. Having been a driver for 13 years, a dispatcher, a mechanic and, for the last 30 years a repair shop owner, Rod has seen trucking from every angle, and his experience and expertise speak for themselves. Rod recently contacted us with his concerns and some tips regarding brakes and brake safety - and more specifically, the new rules concerning Performance-Based Brake Testers.

Performance-Based Brake Testers (PBBTs) are devices that asses vehicle-braking capabilities by measuring brake forces at each wheel or by measuring overall vehicle brake performance in a controlled test. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta recently announced a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) final rule establishing pass/fail criteria for use with these new machines. The new rule, which became effective back on February 5th of this year, applies to all commercial motor vehicles and combinations weighing over 10,000 pounds.

Only PBBTs that meet specifications developed by the FMCSA can be used to determine compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). This new final rule does not replace existing brake performance requirements, but provides alternative testing methods. One of the few machines that were approved by the FMCSA was a unit designed and built by an Australian company. Rod purchased one of their portable models five years ago even though, back then, the machine was way ahead of its time. But today, with this new rule in place, now is the time.

Vehicle Inspection Systems (VIS), a division of Nepean Technologies, designed and manufactured their machine originally for the Australian DOT. Having withstood the rigorous testing procedures performed by the FMCSA, the VIS machine was approved and is now a valuable asset to Rod Stalling's shop - Rod's Truck Repair, in Downey, California. For five years, Rod has been using his VIS machine and his customers love it - some won't even consider buying a used truck until it can pass Rod's VIS machine test.

The old way of testing brakes was to perform a visual inspection of the entire system, which included marking and measuring the push-rod travel at each wheel. This was a tedious task that could often take two hours to complete. The VIS machine checks not only the brake's performance but also the suspension, front end, alignment and motor mounts - in only fifteen minutes. The machine also analyzes the truck's air system and can check to see if a trailer's brakes are in balance with the tractor's brakes.

The VIS machine gives a computer printout of the weight on each brake, it tells you if the brakes are balanced, if you have "hot spots" on your drums, if your drum's are out of round, and how much drag (rolling resistance) your system has. Due to the high cost of fuel right now, excessive drag on your truck is something you simply can't afford (not to mention it will cause premature wear on your truck's components). If your brakes, tires and/or alignment are causing significant resistance, your truck's fuel efficiency will be seriously affected, costing you more per-mile to run.

Some might think that their automatic slack adjusters and ABS systems keep them from having to worry about their brakes, but Rod would disagree. In fact, he says too many truckers are living with a false sense of security because they rely on their slack adjusters to keep their brakes in tune. The truth is, even with automatic slack adjusters and anti-lock brakes, you should have your system checked twice a year, and have your brakes adjusted every time you get inspected. Brake safety is just too important to ignore.

Brakes and brake systems have come a long way since Rod was a kid. Back in his early days of trucking he can remember many close calls involving faulty or under-powered brakes. Years ago, truckers carried blocks of wood with ropes attached to them in case they had to stop on a hill and the truck's brakes wouldn't hold. The driver would jump out and throw the block under a wheel to keep the truck from rolling. When it was time to go, the trucker, while sitting in his seat, would yank the block out with the rope and pull it into the cab, then be on his way. Yes, truck brakes have come a long way.

Having one of the only few VIS machines on the west coast, Rod encourages truckers to run their rigs over his machine, and he doesn't say that lightly or just to drum up some business. He says it because he knows the challenges that truckers face today, and he knows that peace of mind is priceless. It costs about $100 to run your truck over the machine, but if you get any needed work done at his shop, Rod waives the fee.

It's only a matter of time before the CHP and other law enforcement agencies get these machines and start running trucks over them. With the current testing practices, officials can only inspect 8-10 trucks a day. With a VIS machine (or another like it) they could check 60 trucks a day - and with a portable unit, they could do it anywhere (roadside inspections).

Wouldn't it feel good to know that your truck is safe and operating the way it was designed? The VIS machine is great at finding not only big problems, but little ones as well. And as Rod says, "If you get the little things fixed, they won't become big things." Take it from a guy who's been in trucking for over 50 years - get your truck tested. For more details about the VIS machine, visit www.gotovis.com or call Rod at (562) 803-4422. You can find the entire FMCSA brake rule at http://dms.dot.gov (docket 6266).