Broken Spring in the Spring Brake Housing
| Entry Date | May 25, 2004 |
|---|---|
| Issue Number | 04-015-VEH |
| Name | Daniel Litzner |
| Agency | Michigan State Police |
| Address | MichiganUnited StatesMap It (opens in a new tab) |
| Committee | Vehicle Committee |
| Status | Closed |
| Summary of Issue | I stopped a 6-axle trailer. Three of the 6 axles were equipped with spring brakes. When the gladhands were disconnected from the trailer during the tractor protection/breakaway check, only the 3 axles equipped with spring brakes applied. One of the 6 brakes on these axles was defective (broken spring- no application). The 3 axles not equipped with spring brakes should have applied using spring pressure, but did not. Of the 12 available brakes required for stopping only 5 were operable. The trailer at the time of the stop was loaded with approx. 60,000 lbs. |
| Justification or Need | What determines that the breakaway device is inoperable. |
| Request for Action | Please clarify OOS criteria 1.c.(1) - Inoperable breakaway braking system on trailers. If 7 of 12 required brakes are defective, is the breakaway brake system operable or inoperable? If the answer to the question is inoperable, should the number of brakes required to be working be twenty percent or greater as defined in 1.a.? |