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Semi-trucks weigh somewhere between 35,000 and 80,000 pounds. That is a lot of weight to stop once it gets going, which is what makes the braking system so vital on a semi. Having a damaged, improperly functioning or worn-out brake system is a danger to all those on the roadways. Therefore, it’s important for drivers to be aware of brake issues that could plague their rig and know what signs to look for to get ahead of the problem.

What Kind of Brakes Do Semi Trucks Use?

Before looking at what can go wrong, one should consider the makeup of the semi-truck brakes themselves. Most semi-trucks utilize a brake system consisting of three parts. This includes air brakes, parking brakes, and emergency brakes.

The overall system is cleverly designed and works amazingly well in most cases. Air brakes utilize friction, which is applied to the brake pad to compress the air that’s stored within the truck’s tank to push against a piston that will put pressure on the brake pad.

Parking brakes are another element of the system, and they keep the rig from rolling away when parked, hence the name. Emergency brakes, as one might imagine, are equally important to large machines like big rigs. Some rigs are even equipped with automatically engaging emergency brakes, though others must be manually engaged.

Common Semi-Truck Brake Issues

The following are some of the most common causes of semi brake issues:

1. Imbalanced Brakes

Brake shoes come in pairs. Therefore, they are meant to wear evenly. However, in some cases, they become imbalanced and wear improperly or unevenly. This makes one side weaker and can lead to brake issues. Signs of this include squeaking or scraping noises, or a truck that is less responsive to braking than designed.

2. Improper Loading

Loading a rig correctly is vitally essential, as improper loading can cause all sorts of issues, not excluding problems in stopping.

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3. Improper maintenance

Brakes, as well as many other aspects of a semi, need to be constantly maintained to ensure they are working as designed. We aren’t talking about a minor issue if a huge semi-truck can’t stop. This is serious. So, maintenance is a must, especially for the braking system and the emergency backups.

4. Over-braking

Drivers don’t want to overtax the braking system by braking needlessly or using excessive force.

5. Brake Fade

Brake fades occur when drivers inadvertently overheat the brake drums by over-braking or over-pumping the brakes. Brakes fades are a weakness of the air brake system. Creating this issue can be avoided by using short, hard, intermittent brake applications instead of holding the brakes for long periods of time.

6. Brake Lock

This happens when the brake shoe on the truck becomes stuck. Signs of this include a sluggish acceleration, almost like the truck is being held back. This is because the shoe is struggling to release itself after being engaged.

7. Damaged Airline

Due to its air system, brakes can become damaged when certain parts of the truck’s airline itself are either punctured, cracked or broken. This means the air is no longer being pressurized properly and can lead to ineffective braking.

What To Do if You Experience Brake Failure

There is nothing scarier for a truck driver than being unable to make their rig stop due to brake issues. Some ways experienced drivers can offset these issues and keep themselves and others on the roadways safe are as follows:

• Downshift
• Use the emergency brake to stop.
• Pump brakes (if hydraulic)
• Find an escape route
• Use an escape ramp

Keep all the information outlined above in mind to ensure the semi brake system is functioning properly.

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Improving fuel economy not only saves drivers money, but also benefits the environment by releasing fewer emissions into the air and reduces a nation’s dependence on oil and oil imports. Reducing the amount of driving we do—by carpooling, using public transportation, and combining trips—has the greatest effect on how much gas each person uses.

Drive More Efficiently

Our driving habits have a significant impact on fuel efficiency.

1. Go Easy on the Pedal

Speeding, braking, and rapid acceleration waste gas. Depending on the type of vehicle, poor driving habits can negatively affect fuel economy between 15% and 30%. Based on the current national average of $3.09 per gallon (for regular gasoline), driving sensibly, and not like a race car driver, can lead to an equivalent gas savings of between 31 cents and $1.24 per gallon.

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2. Slow Down

Gas mileage efficiency tends to decrease above 50 miles per hour. According to fueleconomy.gov, for every five miles per hour that exceed 50 mph, drivers pay an equivalent of about 22 cents more for each gallon of gas. While each vehicle has its own optimal speed for fuel efficiency, speeding can result in 7% to 14% reduced fuel economy. Driving at slower speeds can save 22 to 43 cents per gallon.

3. Turn off the Car

Idling gets zero miles per gallon and collectively consumes several billion gallons of fuel per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The California Energy Commission (CEC) advises that vehicles should be turned off if the expected wait will be longer than 10 seconds, since an idling vehicle can burn as much as one gallon of gas each hour.

Turning the car off can save about 3 cents per minute.

4. Fill Your Tank Early in the Morning—or Late at Night

Fuel is dispensed by volume. If you fill your tank when it is coolest outside—early in the morning or late at night, and avoid the heat of the day—the fuel will be denser. As a result, you will get more gas for the same amount of money.

The Bottom Line

Reducing the amount of driving we do, whether it’s by carpooling or foregoing an unnecessary trip, is perhaps the most effective way to decrease the amount of gas that each person uses and make fill-ups at the gas station last longer. Proactive steps can be taken to improve fuel efficiency by paying attention to and changing gas-guzzling driving habits, and following a vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Improved gas mileage is good for you, good for your car, and good for the environment.

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For a truck driver, stress can be all around you. From driving long hours, meeting deadlines, driving through hectic traffic, or simply being away from a support system, like family and friends, it’s easy to see how driving a truck can create a lot of stress for a person. However, stress doesn’t have to ruin your day or affect your health. With healthy tactics to cope with your stressors, you can alleviate your stress and its control over you.

1. Meditate

Before starting the engine, take a moment to meditate. Clear your head and regulate your breathing – doing this will allow you to start your day with a clear head. Meditation can also relax the muscles by effectively alleviating tension on your body and creating more mental clarity. Meditating before or after your driving shift has many benefits, including these, and understanding why meditation is good for your overall health will create more peace in your life.

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2. Listen to Audiobooks or Podcasts

Audiobooks and podcasts can be great ways to get your mind off your stressors – driving-related or not. Before you start driving, pick a compelling book or podcast that peaks your interest – not something that might put you to sleep! Allowing yourself to listen to the words spoken aloud might give you the opportunity to catch up on some reading, news, or interesting thoughts, but it can also help take your mind off your stressor(s). As you listen, however, just make sure you’re always properly focused on driving safely!

3. Get Out and Stretch

If you are at a truck stop, gas station, or rest area, take a minute to stretch. Stretching can relax the muscles that might be tense from your long drive – moreover, it can clear your mind and help prepare you for the remainder of your drive.

4. Listen to Music

If audiobooks or podcasts aren’t your things, listen to music instead. When you are in a stressful situation, try playing calming music, such as classical music or something even simpler, like ocean sounds or babbling brooks (if you’re driving, or if you know that calming music can make you drowsy, turn it off once your stress has subsided). However, if you don’t like classical or other calming music, just pick an artist, genre, or song that you will enjoy – find the music that helps you take your mind off your stressors and makes you happy (not tenser)!

5. Be Mindful

Most people are thrown into stressful situations that they have no control over, and they waste energy focusing on things that they can’t change (bad drivers, heavy traffic, weather, road reroutes, and changes at work or in the industry, to name a few). And, while it’s great to try to create positive changes when you can, it’s also important to be mindful of the situations – or thoughts – that you just need to step away from. Be mindful of the situations or topics that cause you stress, and try to avoid them. If situations or thoughts that trigger these stressors pop up, try to think about things that make you happy, or try any one of the steps above!

Don’t Let Stress Control You

Stress is a natural thing that almost everyone encounters on the job, but for truck drivers, that stress often multiplies. We know that dealing with life on the road, as well as leaving behind family for various periods of time, can be very stressful. That’s why we hope these healthy ways to relieve stress while driving, along with many more ideas on the web, will help ensure that stress doesn’t control you. If these tactics to control truck driver stress don’t work for you, or if you’re dealing with long-term stress, anxiety, or depression, be sure to seek medical help from a professional.

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You may save a lot of money by performing preventative fleet maintenance. A well-maintained car consumes less gasoline, breaks down less frequently, and contributes to lower operating costs. Taking a proactive attitude also allows you to stop issues in their tracks before they become dangerous.

Of course, like with many things in business, saying it is simpler than doing it. It is not always the case that good intentions translate into successful action. Human error, unplanned growth, and inadequate driver training can all wreak havoc on your fleet’s overall health—and when your cars’ condition deteriorates, so does your bottom line. So, what can you do to ensure that your fleet is in tip-top shape?

1.Look After Your Tires

The whole driving experience is heavily influenced by tire pressure. It has an influence on the vehicle’s handling, fuel efficiency, and overall wear and tear. Keep in mind, however, that tire wear will not be consistent throughout your fleet. Weather, road conditions, and individual driving habits can all influence how rapidly tires deteriorate. As a result, it’s critical that your fleet inspector check the pressure before and after each journey. Drivers must monitor it while on the road, especially on longer trips.

Your drivers and fleet management should keep an eye on overall tire deterioration in addition to pressure checks. According to one recent research, worn tires can reduce a light truck’s handling abilities by up to 28 percent, so make sure you check tire wear on a frequent basis.

Get a free repair estimate today! Call us today at 407-334-7200.

2.Keep Your Vehicles Clean

You wouldn’t meet a client with muck on your shoes (or at least we hope you wouldn’t). Similarly, having an unkempt fleet does nothing to improve your company’s image. Keeping your cars clean and polished gives your organization a professional appearance and gives your drivers a better sense of job satisfaction while they’re on the job.

Keeping the exterior of your car clean also aids in the early detection of concerns such as corrosion and degradation. Establish a working partnership with a fleet maintenance company that can assist you in keeping your fleet in good shape. They can handle car cleaning, freeing you up to concentrate on other aspects of your organization. They’ll also be professionally taught to recognize problems early on, before they become bigger, more expensive problems.

3. Preventive maintenance

Vehicles that are well maintained have fewer unscheduled repairs and downtime. Oil changes, tire rotation/inspection, and basic vehicle safety checks are examples of preventive maintenance. Maintain tire rotations and general vehicle checks on a regular basis, whether you follow oil change intervals at a specified mileage or utilize an oil life monitor. All too frequently, this is the only time a vehicle is thoroughly evaluated for fluid levels, tire air pressure, and other issues.

To get more information about us, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Or call us right now for a road service on: repairtrucktrailer.com

Semi-trucks range in weight from 35,000 to 80,000 pounds. Once it gets rolling, that’s a lot of weight to stop, which is why a semi’s braking system is so important. Everyone on the road is at risk when their braking system is broken, malfunctioning, or worn out. As a result, it’s critical for drivers to be aware of potential braking problems and know what indications to look for in order to avoid them.

Common Semi-Truck Brake Issues

1. Brake Shoes: Brake shoes are sold in pairs. As a result, they’re designed to wear evenly. However, they can become unbalanced and wear unevenly in some circumstances. This weakens one side and might cause braking problems. Squeaking or scraping noises or a truck that is less sensitive to braking than it should be are signs of this.

2. Incorrect Loading: Properly loading a rig is critical, since improper loading can result in a variety of complications, including troubles stopping.

Brakes, like many other parts of a semi, must be serviced on a regular basis to ensure that they are operating properly. If a massive semi-truck can’t stop, we’re not talking about a trivial issue. This is quite serious. Maintenance is therefore essential, particularly for the braking system and emergency backups.

Get a free repair estimate today! Call us today at 407-334-7200.

3. Over-brake: Drivers do not want to overwork the braking system by braking too hard or too often.

Brake Fade happens when drivers mistakenly overheat the brake drums by braking too hard or pressing the brakes too hard. The air brake system has a flaw in the form of brake fade. Instead of holding the brakes for lengthy periods of time, use short, forceful, intermittent brake applications to avoid this problem.

4. Brake Lock: This occurs when the truck’s brake shoe becomes jammed. A slow acceleration, almost as if the vehicle is being held back, is one sign of this. This is due to the shoe’s inability to disengage after being engaged.

5. Damaged Airline: Due to its air system, brakes can become damaged when certain parts of the truck’s airline itself are either punctured, cracked or broken. This means the air is no longer being pressurized properly and can lead to ineffective braking.

Call us today at 407-334-7200 to get your maintenance!

What To Do if You Experience Brake Failure

There is nothing scarier for a truck driver than being unable to make their rig stop due to brake issues. Some ways experienced drivers can offset these issues and keep themselves and others on the roadways safe are as follows:

• Downshift
• Use the emergency brake to stop.
• Pump brakes (if hydraulic)
• Find an escape route
• Use an escape ramp

Keep all the information outlined above in mind to ensure the semi brake system is functioning properly.

To get more information about us, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Or call us right now for a road service on: repairtrucktrailer.com