Brake Tubing and Hoses on Freightliner Trucks

A driver received a violation for 393.45(b) 393.45(b) read: “Break tubing and hose INSTALLATION. Break tubing and hose must-“ 393.45(b)(2) read: “Be secured against chaffing, kinking, or other mechanical damage; and (3) Be installed in a manner…” Understanding the law: 393.45(b): instruct the EOM how to design the truck. Freightliners clearly fail to design its trucks in full compliance with the law. NTSA clearly fail to prohibit the sale of trucks that are not in full compliance with the law. DOT inspectors nationwide clearly fail to understand the law and allow trucks with known safety defect on our roads. Amazingly as it is, 393.45(b)(2) permit a hose to be found on a CMV if: {chaffing, kinking, or other mechanical damage}. What 393.45(b)(2) prohibited is a hose to NOT be SECURED against… Again: the requirement is for a hose to be secured against! Our investigation found that all of Freightliners trucks designed with a hose that is NOT secured against {chaffing, kinking, or other mechanical damage}. We met with Henry Albert, of Freightliner’s team run smart. Henry explained the way trucks are been manufactured. Per Henry, human error can place the hose either secured against or not. Henry explained how Quality Control does not fail a truck for been in violation of the law. Henry is driving Freightliner’s flag ship. Henry insisted that we will examine his truck. Same violation of the law was found in Henry’s truck. Same violations are found in almost every Freightliner truck out there. All tickets that have been given to freightliners owners are clearly a designed flaw. A hose that is not ‘secured against’ will not last the lifetime of the vehicle. Friegthliner fail to supply trucks that are in full compliance with the law. Freightliner set it’s costumers to fail. There are several effects of freightliners actions. Costumers are failing roadside inspections: this result in lost time, expensive road side repairs, a truck been placed out of service, and a significant impact on carriers CSA scores, and drivers PSP & DAC. Carrier CSA severity points have dramatic impact on carrier’s ability to stay in business, obtain insurance, and have direct and indirect immediately and long term impact on carrier bottom line. Driver’s violation has direct impact on driver’s ability to find and retain jobs. Clearly a recall is in order: Freightliner MUST take immediate actions to provide a hose that is in full compliance with the law, at no cost for it’s long time customers. CVSA: CVSA must retrain its road side inspector to fail trucks that are not in full compliance with the law. We are asking the FMCSA to make CVSA do it’s part to keep our roads safe.

393.45 needs to be enforced.

Please DO contact me. ALL Freightliner trucks are in violation of the law. Roadside enforcement needed to resolve this risk. I have tried to attach supporting documents.