|
|
There's a truck and trailer brake testing facility right next to Jo'burg's container terminal in City Deep that is seriously under-utilized. Don't get me wrong, this is not a punt for the owners of the test facility but rather a call to transporters to make use of the facility - and others like it - in the interests of better brake performance, lower CPK and most importantly, road safety writes
Paul Collings.
Owned and run by air brake importers, ACSA-MAG, the high-tech, computer-driven test facility is designed specifically to diagnose air brakes on trailers. According to Graham Grant, workshop manager at ACSA-MAG: "Trailer brakes aren't adequately tested by the test stations that do the annual certificate of fitness (COF) tests. Evidence of this is provided by the fact that we are often called on to conduct investigations of accidents; specifically to determine the status of the truck and trailer brakes and whether it was, in fact, brake failure that caused the accident. Quite frankly, most of the vehicles have brakes that are in terrible shape."
 |
 |
|
A
UNITRANS tanker
pulls in for a brake diagnosis and service. More
transporters should do the same, especially on their
trailers. |
ACSA-MAG’S
Sean Annandale with a new ABS
unit (above right) |
Sean Annandale is the technical manager, air brakes, at ACSA-MAG: "There's definitely a lack of knowledge among mechanics with regards to proper air brake maintenance. We need to educate, put them on brake courses so they can learn about safety-critical components and how to set them. We see brakes with push rods in the wrong holes in slack adjusters, crimped air hoses and mismatched springs. There's no way those brakes can work properly."
The test facility is able to pinpoint where brake faults lie and optimally configure the air brakes according to the data plate on the trailer. Annandale says: "Very often, trailers carry the wrong data plate. Drivers are unaware of what it means to the overall safety of the trailer - and so are the cops!" Acsa-mag can also diagnose hydraulic brake systems for faults.
 |
HONCHO’S:
Brake
men - from left, Arthur
McCallum, Rod Ralph and Graham
Grant of ACSA-MAG |
Brake school
One company taking the bull by the horns with regards to educating truck technicians about air brakes is WABCO which runs an ongoing 'brake college' at its head office in Johannesburg. According to Mike Raath, marketing director, WABCO Automotive South Africa, there's a dire need for training, especially on ABS and EBS technologies.
"Traditionally, an air brake fitter was a mechanic. Nowadays, electricians are more suited to the job, having a better grasp of the electronics involved," says Raath.
Raath believes the traffic authorities also need training to properly enforce law on ABS on trailers. He cites an incident in Mpumalanga where a truck was pulled over by a traffic officer and ordered to slam on brakes. The driver did just that and his ABS kicked in bringing him to a 'straight' and uncomplicated halt. "Aha!" cried the officer. "Your truck did not skid! Your brakes are faulty. I must issue you a fine."
Attending the brake college are trailer builders, sales personnel as well as transport mechanics/technicians. "There's a lot to learn when it comes to ABS, EBS and air brakes in general. Many truckers suffer misconceptions that could result in serious accidents. Disconnecting the ABS does not save brake linings and welding a trailer with an ABS blows the unit."
Knowledge is power and the more you, your mechanic and your driver know about truck brakes, the more money you'll save on discs, linings and shoes and the safer your rig will run. Whether it's getting your brake system expertly diagnosed or attending the brake college, it's all about having a comprehensive understanding of your overall braking system.
