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The brake system is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Faulty or poorly adjusted brakes contribute to about one-third of truck-caused crashes in the United States. Knowing how to properly use and maintain brake systems can help prevent serious injury or damage to property.
Frequent hard braking can compromise brake system performance and increase maintenance costs. To get the most out of your brakes:
Note: These guidelines assume good weather and reasonable traffic. More dangerous conditions may require greater following distances.
Regularly inspect brake systems to ensure optimum performance. Even if you can't look under the vehicle, you can listen for air leaks, check low air signals and look for component damage. Include a thorough brake inspection with every pretrip inspection.
Always keep an eye out for hazards to avoid slamming on your brakes. Hard braking can potentially lock your wheels and send you into a skid. Spread your braking over the longest possible distance by braking early and reducing your speed gradually. If you need to take evasive action, don't brake and swerve at the same time. Apply brakes first to slow the vehicle down as much as possible then release the brakes to swerve.
Vehicle and trailer brakes are designed for a full load and can overpower an underweight trailer, resulting in locked wheels. Be cautious when trailers are empty or cargo is unevenly distributed to prevent jackknifing.
Using your engine brake or retarder (i.e. Jacobs brake) on a slippery surface can lock up the drive axle and cause jackknifing. Steer out of skids and minimize braking until the vehicle is under control.
When approaching a curve, apply your brakes while the vehicle is traveling in a straight line. Slow down to the point that you can apply a little power as you turn. Downhill turns are especially prone to jackknifing. If you're going down a steep hill and wish to turn off to the left or right, don't assume the trailer will follow you. The trailer's momentum tends to carry it straight down the hill, so slow down or come to a stop before turning.
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