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Post by northernfarmer on Apr 12, 2024 8:59:02 GMT -6
Hardrockacres, I can see where your coming from having seen first hand what some people will do and in that example of the farmer, being that he knew full well he had what I assume were brake pot diaphragms leaking, he actively cages the pots ... that's bordering on a wilful criminal act to drive a unit with multiple caged brakes that was not headed directly to a shop to be repaired. The irony is I bet that same farmer if he used an RV .. pickup and holiday trailer etc for holiday time, he makes sure the brakes are good on it !.
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Post by OptimallyDismal on Apr 12, 2024 8:59:19 GMT -6
In Manitoba all semis are 1 year inspections, farm or commercial. It used to be 6 months commercial and 1 year for farm. I have never caged a brake drum yet, I have changed lots of pots out if they are suspect, or if I buy either a truck or trailer I replace the pots, then they all match and are the right length. I cannot say I have seen any that I have taken off that matched, every rod is a different length usually. Pretty sure they were installed by "professionals" in certified shops, because they were fleet units that had regular inspections. When I am looking at equipment that has stickers on them it is amazing on how many, that a 3 minute walk around shows they don't qualify for that sticker. I am fed up with the shoddy inspections we get that we pay $1500 to $2000 for that have a very real danger of wheels falling off due to improper installation, this is the most basic and simple job there is, and yet if you are driving that unit, YOU are the one responsible for that crash unless it happens right in front of the shop when the overtightened studs snap off with the side pressure of turning out on the highway. I have never had any brake work required in an inspection, I have the level on my license that I can adjust brakes, have never had to. Have been told that they HAVE to find something wrong with the unit or they will come under scrutiny from the DOT. I would like to see the DOT disbanded as well, all I see there is harassment from some arrogant clowns, that take pleasure in costing the driver as much as possible and making things as difficult as possible. I have had very little to do with them myself, but the experiences of others can only be described as corruption. I don't know the answers but I can't afford this level of safety and I don't have confidence the system is providing the level of protection that it should. This also applies to the small vehicle inspections, everyone knows they are a farce, the garages make a fortune on this, everyone knows somewhere they can get anything "safetied".
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Post by meskie on Apr 12, 2024 9:35:40 GMT -6
I have lots of stories about the DOT pulling me over. We are close to the scales so they are around here all the time. Few years ago they had a new officer that stopped me in the spring when I was going to get sone seed from a friend that is on a secondary highway. 350bu of oats in a tandem trailer and he was going pull the portable scales out to weigh me. I gave him my scale ticket but he couldn’t understand it cause it was in pounds. As he was walking back to his vehicle he noticed that my trailer gauge was pretty much at 0psi so he decided I wasn’t overweight.
There is a reason they are called mermaids…..
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Post by generalchaos on Apr 12, 2024 10:31:24 GMT -6
One summer I was mowing the ditch leading up to the intersection of two highways where I live. The DOT pulls up and says I have to get rid of the grass clippings on highway. I said excuse me. He said it’s a hazard. It was short grass because I had done it a month prior. I had to blow it off with the mower. Power trip.
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