OOSC, Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, d. Trailer Brakeaway and Emergency Braking
| Entry Date | January 25, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Issue Number | 11-006-VEH |
| Name | Lieutenant Doug Shackelford |
| Agency | North Carolina State Highway Patrol |
| Address | 512 North Salisbury StreetRaleigh, NC, 27604United StatesMap It (opens in a new tab) |
| Phone | 919-715-8683 |
| Fax | (919) 715-8196 |
| [email protected] | |
| Committee | Vehicle Committee |
| Status | Closed |
| Summary of Issue | ?393.43 Breakaway and emergency braking.(d) Breakaway braking requirements for trailers. Every trailer required to be equipped with brakes shall have brakes which apply automatically and immediately upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. With the exception of trailers having three or more axles, all brakes with which the trailer is required to be equipped must be applied upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. The brakes must remain in the applied position for at least 15 minutes. There are occasions when a CVSA ceritfied inspector stops a truck with a trailer that utilizes electric brakes. During the inspection process it is sometimes discovered that the emergency brakeaway device from the electric brakes is attached to the safety chains between the truck and trailer and not directly attached to the towing unit. |
| Justification or Need | Based on the current verbage in 49CFR 393.43d and in the North American Standard Out-of-Service (OOSC) condition on page 24 (d. 1 & 2),improper attachment of an emergency breakaway devise is not addressed and therefore is open for individual interpretation. |
| Request for Action | Add # 3 to the OOSC indicating that improper attachment results in an Out of Service condition. #3 When a breakaway system is attached to a safety chain,other means of attachment from the trailer,or not directly attached to the towing unit. |