It appears we’re still having issues with trailer suspensions after 10 years of knowing about this problem...why??
Notice in pics 1 & 2 where the airbags on both sides are rubbing the rear frame rails...eventually this will wear a hole in the bags!!
(Pic #1) Right side airbag
(Pic #2) Left side airbag
We know what causes this problem as shown before, but lets remind the class with pics 3 & 4 of worn out spring arm bushings...or in this case, both are totally deteriorated...
(Pic #3) Right side spring arm
(Pic #4) Left side spring arm
Now comes the scary part...this trailer has been going up and down the highways unchecked, bags rubbing against the frame rails by our drivers for how long!!??!!
And even scarier, this trailer was just PM’d in Feb (not by our shop thank goodness)...you can’t convince me that these bushings deteriorated in just 3-4 months, so how in the hell did this trailer pass a PM inspection!!??!!
Our barn in Indy was the same, except no trailer shop. But, this is a classic example of putting money before safety. These pictures look serious enough to put the trailer out of service. Do you think a Inspector @ a weigh station would down this trailer if he saw it? I think he would. Like I said a moment ago, money before safety. And not just your outfit, ABF did it all the time. In fact they all do it. Some more than others. von.Von
I work in a yard with a trailer shop. They are ok with it running to destination. Those bushings are a major job. The only other alternative is to cross load the trailer.
Define “good pre-trip”?? If you mean walking by and toe tapping the tires while whistling dixie, no, the defect will not be found. If you mean simply squatting down and looking under the trailer from the rear, yes, the airbags can easily been seen when rubbing the frame rails.Would a good pre-trip by the driver catch this problem? Or, did a driver see the problem, but pull it anyway for fear of being delayed to long & costing money him in the process? von.
Correct, it takes about an 8 hour shift to correct the defect but that’s better than the alternative...blowing out the bags on the road and having to wait on the hook to be rescued.Von
I work in a yard with a trailer shop. They are ok with it running to destination. Those bushings are a major job. The only other alternative is to cross load the trailer.
We were told that worn, or in this case, deteriorated bushings were not a DOT violation...I beg to differ...or at least the airbags rubbing the frame rails would surely get you put out of service.Our barn in Indy was the same, except no trailer shop. But, this is a classic example of putting money before safety. These pictures look serious enough to put the trailer out of service. Do you think a Inspector @ a weigh station would down this trailer if he saw it? I think he would. Like I said a moment ago, money before safety. And not just your outfit, ABF did it all the time. In fact they all do it. Some more than others. von.
No comment....RR you have to remember this co. Only fixes things that aren’t broke?????
We were told that worn, or in this case, deteriorated bushings were not a DOT violation...I beg to differ...or at least the airbags rubbing the frame rails would surely get you put out of service.
Sure...and it sucks out loud when the diaphragm lets go and the trailer is your lead!! I’ve had to “MacGyver” a few of these in order to get off the road or get to the yard.Pintle Hitch Air Chamber
Anyone EVER inspect this? Do most even know it's there?
I doubt it, but we should. It's easy enough, and pretty important.
I wish the new trucks would have a manual..............a manual transmission!!
You are aware, aren’t you, that’s an oxymoron?How thorough is, or supposed to be, a PM of a tractor and/or trailer?
don't you know the company mottoI take dolly's out of service almost everyday due to chunks of tread missing in tires or waves of flat spots. It's incredible that people will even put dolly's back when a light cord doesnt work. You discover it when your hooking your set and by then it's now your problem. Dolly's that come in on hooked sets that are screwed up due to missing tread etc.
It would be nice if something was done to those who leave this :: for others to deal with!! I understand that nobody is perfect and we all miss things but it’s obvious by some of the :: I find that there’s plenty of drivers who don’t even look...even though it’s their job and it’s the LAW!!I take dolly's out of service almost everyday due to chunks of tread missing in tires or waves of flat spots. It's incredible that people will even put dolly's back when a light cord doesnt work. You discover it when your hooking your set and by then it's now your problem. Dolly's that come in on hooked sets that are screwed up due to missing tread etc.
Management team probably made up of ex-Conway drivers who got their nuts busted for the slightest things. Perhaps they don’t wanna pass on that ‘legacy’ to this next generation of drivers.It would be nice if something was done to those who leave this :::: for others to deal with!! I understand that nobody is perfect and we all miss things but it’s obvious by some of the :::: I find that there’s plenty of drivers who don’t even look...even though it’s their job and it’s the LAW!!
It seems over the last 10 years or so our company has become soft, like they’re afraid to discipline because they might hurt someone’s feelings...and this is the result of those actions IMO!!
Writing up equipment because of a dent/damage in order to CYA is fine, but to put equipment “out of service” because of a dent is not only a waste of time but it’s a waste of money and resources as well...which could lead to negative impacts on our AIC!!With the new paperless system nothing will ever get fixed unless you let someone know about it. Who knows who looks at those now. Someone put a trailer out out of service on the new system because there was a dent in it. Stated it wasn’t roadworthy. I looked over it twice just to make sure I didn’t miss anything...just a dent. I called my supervisor to let him know and to see if he wanted to swing the freight. Needless to say I rolled out with a dented trailer haha.
In order to attract and retain the best employees, company’s used to have probation periods (usually 180 days) as part of the hiring process and strict yearly reviews in order to retain the highest quality employees. Now companies are just happy to have warm bodies and are scared to death of offending someone...and then they wonder why things are the way they are!!Management team probably made up of ex-Conway drivers who got their nuts busted for the slightest things. Perhaps they don’t wanna pass on that ‘legacy’ to this next generation of drivers.
With the new paperless system nothing will ever get fixed unless you let someone know about it. Who knows who looks at those now. Someone put a trailer out out of service on the new system because there was a dent in it. Stated it wasn’t roadworthy. I looked over it twice just to make sure I didn’t miss anything...just a dent. I called my supervisor to let him know and to see if he wanted to swing the freight. Needless to say I rolled out with a dented trailer haha.