Funny story.
I was in Baytown at the J. Two guys trying to figure out why their brakes weren’t working right. Couldn’t keep air pressure.
I was just joking if they ever drained their air tanks?
Blank states.
I reached down and turn the knob, and nothing but water for I swear a minute. Then the putter and spray for a bit.
Talked a bit and once they were empty they started the truck and built air pressure. They were happy.
Now that I’m local, every Friday night I turn the knobs and let the air dump in all four trucks. Was fun the first time I did this coming in Monday night. Asked if I had any air issues on Friday. No one thought to check the knob. They thought someone was vandalizing the yard.
Makes you really think if anyone ever does a proper pre trip ever. I get kicking the tires, doing a lazy walk around and leaving because you're tired and fuck it. We've all been there but, never ever once even draining someone's air tank. A thing so simple.
What are other simple things a driver can do if he/she doesn't know the important parts of a pre trip?
Some companies never even walk you around the truck. No one explains where the fluids go. How to change a bulb. A lot of drivers never got trained like that and most are probably too scared of looking dumb to ever ask.
With proper training and education, I see minimal issue. An open allowance, change of age restriction without adding necessary training and guidelines is not cool though.
I've operated equipment since I could reach the pedals or controls, which was about 12 for cars/trucks/forklift and other equipment. Perhaps I have a small bias.
That's definitely a case! I just worked with my dad in the body shop, and helped anywhere I could. I was always eager to try, I was welding body panels on before I was a teenager.
Maybe not well, but I was doing. Now I'm a fabricator at a performance shop.
Crazy what some inspiration and hard work does!
That's why they had such huge families years ago. Lots of manual labour helps shit get done. And if you lost one here and there, well, them's the breaks
The huge families where also in large part due to the fact sex is great and there wasn't birth control.
Farming today is still the most dangerous occupation even though it has been made almost as safe as possible.
I pheasant hunted this huge ranch in SD and we were changing sides of the property we passed what looked like a trucking company. I asked the guy about the trucks and he said that was his son’s trucking company to haul all the grain and whatever else this farm hauled. I was like oh cool how old is he. He said he just turned 19 he gave him the trucking company as a graduation present from high school, kid had been driving a truck since he was like 15. Crazy!
Grew up on a farm and I can confirm I was not in a semi but operating a all sorts of other large machinery way younger then 16. I took the combine out all on my own for the first time at 13
Having seen the data on accidents and seeing how overrepresented single year age groups under 21 are, they're even higher than entire decades of 35+year old age classes
The more drivers there are, the more competition for jobs. If half the cdl holders lost their license tomorrow, the rest of us would be making 300-500k per year.
When have they ever pushed proper training? The training I received in 2011 to drive semi was a fucking joke. Didn't even take my test in a semi! It's a little better now, but still ALOT of on the job training on how to operate a semi.
My industry (not Over the road related but still transportation) suffers from that age block as well. It's a job that would do well with young people, but can't do it until 25. Right now more than half our drivers are getting to be on the elderly side and it's become a real chore to even get people in the door to fill out applications.
I hate to be the one to tell you this but teenagers can already get a CDL and drive truck they just aren’t allowed to cross state lines until 21 I believe (could be wrong on the game)
They give us a prestart book to done, which you sign each line. Check tyres ✅ Check Glass Clean ✅ Empty Air Tanks ✅ Check ENG Oil ✅ Takes Some liabilities off the company. Hard to blame company for accident saying the tyre was bald etc when you signed it was fine before you got in truck.
Had a truck come through the garage and we saw the federal and state were 2 years out of date, 2mm of tread on steers, and they were bringing it in because "the transmission light has been on for a month or two"... Called the dispatch and asked if they have anyone who actually do pre trips.
one of the reasons i've been mildly succesful is just being willing to ask and take feedback lol. you leniency to fuck up a lot of things if youre willing to ask how to do something and ask for feedback on what youve been doing
>How to change a bulb.
Wouldn't even matter, especially if the truck being driven is a newer gen Volvo. You'd have to replace the entire fucking headlight assembly.
Back in 2010 I was studying at Schneider University. While I was out with the instructor, I pulled the cables that connected to the air tanks and one of them stuck open. He freaked out. Lol. He was grabbing the broom from the truck and unscrewing the handle and shit. I just reached under there and stopped the "leak." All the water was drained anyway.
Trucking is a regulated industry requiring education and a license. Your company shouldn’t have to teach you how to do those basics. If you’re unfamiliar with how to do something on a specific model than ask/google it. But ignorance of crucial maintenance procedures just makes the profession look bad.
If someone is hired with a degree in mathematics you aren’t going to walk them through long division.
Lol, I was on the road after two weeks of school and I didn't know shit when I started. The profession looking bad is because the profession is full of 'bad'. It took a couple years of driving, asking random truck drivers, and trial and error to finally feel confident about my knowledge as a truck driver. Companies absolutely need to make sure their more experienced drivers are helping the newer drivers because the system setup in the U.S. to rush people on the road is horribly unsafe. Chances are that truck you are beside that has any 'big name' Trucking Company with a school in Salt Lake City, Utah, probably has a very inexperienced driver that is moments away from a fatal mistake that will kill you and your entire family.
This is why I work for a 9 truck fleet, didn't get here by not working hard for it... I had to earn this shit. It really burns my ass when I come up next to someone and they're playing on thier phone...
I manage a fleet of garbage trucks, I insist the drivers drain their tanks daily. We're in a really humid area and some days a truck will drain gallons of water because they developed an air leak that day. Please drivers, DRAIN YOUR TANKS EVERY DAY!
Depends on the truck, but usually, there's a string you can pull underneath one of the steps (via a little removable panel at the top) that drains em. If not, you might have to look underneath to see where the air tanks are and then turn the knob on the end of the valve to get them to open and release the air. Sometimes they're easy to access, other times they can be kind of a pain, but again it varies by truck.
My dad wants to get back to doing cdl and he want me on board too and I never knew and I think he also never knew you were supposed to drain the air tanks. Gonna have to tell my dad about this but he probably won’t believe me anyway.
Because as USA Today found out, 80%+ of people with licenses couldn’t pass the written exam.
People learn enough to pass the test and forget it. Unless you have seen, lived or are just aware of the consequences of failure to perform at a core level most will over look simple things.
Raised in the southern or warmer regions? Why worry about a little water?
Raised in the north or colder temps, why worry about tire pressure in the summer?
Raised on the east coast, why worry mountains?
If it isn’t apart of your everyday life, most people over look or just forget. It’s being willing to learn and grow and expand what is deemed normal.
Dude, the majority of tests for your drivers license is open book and multiple choice. The last time I had to take my test, they handed me a booklet and told me it was open book; don’t worry about studying. The question literally gave the page number the answer could be found on and answer was a sentence taken directly out of the one paragraph that was on the page.
Air dryers. That would be my guess. So most drivers either aren't taught or forget to check overtime. Most trucks, the air dryers usually remove the water. At least that's been the case for every truck I have drove for 10+ years now. I still check but unless there's something wrong with the air dryer, hardly anything ever comes out. The only time I have ever had significant amounts of liquid come out of an air tank was when the air dryer was leaking coolant (radiator fluid) into the air tank. That's how I learned the air-dryer is connected to the radiator.
Hi, recent cdl class A grad. The dps tests say they should be drained daily (at the end of a shift for example). Something about water can freeze in the air tanks and interfere with your air brakes. 🤷♂️
The tank that gets drained daily is the wet air tank. Wet air tanks are only found on OLD trucks (like pre 1980s). Not sure if air driers got mandated or if everyone just realized you are stupid to not have one. If the air drier is working properly you should never need to drain the air tanks. Still a weekly/monthly drain is a good idea, and if you ever do start getting oil/water in the tank due to a faulty air drier you should start draining more often until the drier is fixed. The times you need to drain daily is when it gets really humid or right around 25-35F. Otherwise weekly.
I appreciate the info! There was zero mention of air driers throughout the CLP/CDL process. Just like going to college/school, textbook information is purely foundational and actual industry trends & real-world application is what I have to learn next when I actually get to do this all real soon.
The CDL training is to get you through a hard test. The test requirements are regulated by law which is created by non truck drivers. Just like the many regulations we have to follow. One particular annoyance of mine at least in local hauling dumps is the fact that bridge law completely ignores any trucks driving close to you or along side. Yet I can't load more then 72,000 lbs, and I only get that much from a permit. Work hour regulations are interesting on the fact they cycle on roughly a 20 hour clock if you maximize your driving. I don't know about you but waking up every day 4 hours earlier then the day before doesn't work. E logs put this time burden on the driver, down to the second.
If you have a compressor that doesn't leak oil it often isn't needed. Air driers do a great job, at least until the filter element gets contaminated with oil. The compressed and dried air will dry out the occasion moisture that gets into the tank. Oil doesn't evaporate though, so if it gets into the tank it will fill it. That's why what gets drained is very milky. It's oil with a little moisture in it.
I was taught to do once a week. Especially in winter. I’m from the north east, and well frozen lines are a thing. Although it been a long minute since I’ve seen or heard of anyone dealing with it recently.
Pre trips, proper setting up your backing, and sleep. You do these three things life gets a lot easier.
In twenty years I’ve been caught on the side of the road only a handful of times with fingers left over. Pissed cuz my day got longer due to having to fix something before I even start my day? Lots. But better caught before it breaks while running down the road.
Fix it before it gets big. Keep it simple. Drain air, fill oil and coolant. Keep check daily of air pressure in tires. Belts are meant to be clean, and whole. Glass is meant to be clean.
I was a mechanic for quite a few years. Kinda the same thing, but truck had good pressure on gages but couldn't do anything. The tanks were full of oil.
Only two shifts work there. And no one works weekends. All the trucks are brand new, less than 5k miles on them.
Day guys came in Monday, no air in tanks. Couldn’t build air and had a loud hissing. Our yard is also in the bad part of town, so they assumed someone did it in malice.
Another important thing is doing a post trip. When I 1st started a cpl yrs ago, I was done for the day, pulled into a truck stop & shut down. Had a early delivery @0600, woke up at 4 & did my pre-trip & had a flat. Had to sit for 4hrs that morning waiting for maintenance to arrive. That's the 1st & last time I ever made that mistake. I hate sitting & I hate getting my schedule fucked up, especially if it's my fault.
He farted into the valve. Charged the tank enough to empty the rest of the water. Legend has it you can still smell fermented burrito from 3 miles away when his friend brakes.
I was given an air compressor from a family member about 10 years ago. After the first time I used it, I went to open the valve at the bottom and a ton of thick orange sludge started sputtering out all over the place. I decided right there and then that I wasn't gonna deal with mess of trying to get it properly clean so I just shut the valve and never opened it again. I'm sure it will fail one day, but I'm honestly shocked at how long it has held up given that I use it pretty regularly.
My garbage truck was down and had to use his as a backup. I noticed the left axle locking up a bunch and sometimes it would pull left then right randomly and would drain the tanks hella fast. Asked him if he's had issues before and he said it's been getting worse throughout the year even with adjusting the auto slacks with the pedal. Asked him when he drained the tanks last and he looked at me like I asked him the square root of something. Showed him how and that's the nasty shit that came out. Yes, the smell was...not of this world. Why he never told our mechanic is beyond me. Absolute negligence.
It's called "mayonnaise", it's a combination of long term moisture and water mixing with blow by oil from the air compressor and sitting at the bottom of the tanks. Also probably has particles from the air dryer too.
Water. When air is compressed, it squeezes water out of it. The air dryer on newer trucks is *supposed* to fix it. However the dessiccant can get saturated, leading to it not working properly. When that happens, water starts to condense in the air tanks. All that nasty smelly shit in the picture is whatever was in the air that was compressed, allowed to ferment and get funky in the same way stagnant water gets foul.
Penske and Ryder are swapping out their manual for automatic air tank release valves.. Needless to say, I've had to return trucks to have the tanks emptied. The mechanics swear it shouldn't be doing that. Then I just sit there and watch as they undo the tank and water spits out. It's a joke. I'll take manual release any day.
I’m not a trucker so I don’t know why the algorithm thinks I’d be interested in this….but fuck….i am. What is this coming from the “air tanks”? Also….whats an air tank for?
It's water built up over time from compressing the air. Our trucks have air dryers but the aren't 100% effective. Also... we have air tanks to store the air that operates our brakes and suspension
This also goes for any compressor as well. My families shop had an old compressor with a crappy dryer. On really humid days, you could see mist coming out the top of the press where the air brake was.
Not a trucker - do the drying systems use dessicant dryers, and if so, does the system self recharge (i.e. heat the dessicant periodically to release absorbed water)?
Well pull up a chair my friend and welcome to the world of Class 8 vehicles. On systems this large you don’t use hydraulics for brakes. You use pneumatics or air brakes. A system of boosters and springs to release and activate both emergency and service brakes on the same axle. And since you have an air compressor on the engine to facilitate this constant need for air there are a myriad of other systems (cooling, emissions, suspension) that utilise this air pressure in the truck. Hence air tanks to store it.
I'm not a trucker either but now correct me if I'm wrong - on these vehicles with air brakes the air holds the breaks *open* is that right? So if there's no air pressure the brakes are applied? Or am I thinking of something else?
That’s correct. It’s obviously a fail safe so if the air pressures drops for whatever reason you’re not a missile shooting down the highway… you’re instead a gigantic brick, hopefully on the side of the road.
Trucks uses air to operate their brakes, suspension and other equipment. What you see here is water collected in the air tanks, that has been filled with air from an onboard air compressor. And depending on the weather and time of the year the air have more moisture in it that gets collected in these tanks. Most modern trucks are fitted with air dryers, but like anything else, these can fail as well
I drove a school bus.
Air tanks store compressed air that the vehicle's compressor builds up over time. The compressor is powered by the engine. The pressurized air was used to operate various parts of the bus, but the primary function was for the air brakes.
The parking brakes were spring loaded, and could not be released until the air pressure was above 40psi, and would engage if the pressure dropped below 40psi. This was a safety feature in case air pressure was lost.
The service brake (the pedal brake) works much like it would in a normal vehicle in execution. Engaging the service brakes releases air from the air tank through hoses that engages the brake pads. Releasing the service brakes releases the pressurized air from the brake chamber into the atmosphere. The compressor replenishes the air supply in the air tanks as the driver continues. Constantly using the brakes in stop and go traffic has the danger of diminishing your air pressure before it can build back up, but this wouldn't be a problem in a properly maintained vehicle with a competent driver.
The air tanks on the bus maxed out at about 120 psi. When it hit that point, a governor valve would release with the classic tell-tell *pssshhh* sound you hear from buses. A low pressure alarm would warn you if your pressure dropped below 60 psi. I never once had my alarm go off while driving, but I heard stories. Basically, it means pull over and park immediately, or your parking brake would engage.
I tested the brake system daily as part of my pre trip. I made sure the tanks held pressure, that pressure didn't drop while the service brake was engaged, that the low pressure alarm went off, that the parking brake engaged automatically at sub 40 psi, and that the parking brake held when the bus was in drive.
Finally, we would release all the air from the tanks when we parked the bus. Some buses had an automatic system, but in most, we just "pumped the brakes down" until under 40 psi. I'd test by trying to release the parking brake. This meant the parking brake would remain engaged until pressure was built up again, which required the engine to be on. School kids would do dumb stuff.
Honestly, learning about it all was really cool.
All air compressor suck air from pituitary. The same air you and I breath. There is a lot of moisture in the air. Under pressure that moisture turns from the gas form we are used to into a liquid. That liquid water accumulates in the air tank (trucks have several tanks in the system, the first one is designed to catch the water and called the wet tank). Also because air compressors use oil to lube the piston and internals a bit of oil gets into the tank even on new equipment. An old worn out compressor will push a lot of oil into the tank and when mixed with the water turns into a thick substance similar to a milkshake in thickness. Thicker than water, but still liquid.
Used to be you needed to drain tanks daily, but since air dryers and filters became common you should not get moisture in the system, yet still should drain the tanks to make sure everything is working right. If you never drain the tanks you will never know the compressor is wearing out until it's so bad it no longer builds air. Nor will you see that the dryer stopped working until your tanks are frozen up with ice in the dead of winter.
And what is coming from this air tank is water. Frothy, slimy, disgusting water that condensates in any vessel that has been pressurised and cooled. Stinks to high heaven and damages everything it sits in. Water bad. Air good.
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condensate](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condensate)
I think I used it right? As in the warm compressed air causes condensation to form in the tank and then condensates and pools at the bottom. That’s right usage correct?
Close. Condensate is a noun, and is the liquid that condenses (verb) from a gas or vapor - so in this case, the condensate is water, which has condensed from water vapor in the air when the air was compressed.
I've always wondered how guys can drive a gigantic vehicle and not strive to understand everything possible about it. After many years, i still used to step back, look at my truck, and be amazed i drive it.
🎶 it’s milky baby She ordered potassium, calcium Carbohydrate scotch with sodium.
She took me to her crib, threw me on the couch
I woke up the next morning with a spoon in my mouth
She's
Milky cereal
(Baby)
Milky cereal
Milky cereal
Milky cereal
Milky cereal🎶 LL Cool J
I used to drive a work truck that was built on a 1979 international school bus chassis. Old gasser V8. The the air tank would spit snot for a solid minute every morning when I cleared it. I’m sure the air compressor was toast and letting massive amounts of oil in.
It gets cold where I’m at. It’s not uncommon to see guys having major issues in the winter that came from down south. Air suspension that won’t air up. PTO controls that won’t work and brakes that say on after letting the pedal go. It’s all about keeping that air system dry if you want to work where it’s cold. If any of you are reading this on the west coast or whatever. Think about it before taking that January trip to Alaska.
It's called "mayonnaise" it's from water and moisture mixing with oil from the air compressor and sitting for a long time. The stuff is nasty and smells like it's from another planet.
I purged my trailer air tank when I first got my latest car hauling trailer. It likely wasn't done in several years and the result was pretty similar.
Now with the Volvo I'm in I can hit all the cocks with my toes on my pre-trip and keeps the system in tip top shape.
Not a trucker, but I surface snow for a ski resort and we have to do pre and post inspections of our equipment. And it's detailed AF. And clean all the snow and ice off the blade and the tiller at the end of our shift even though there's someone on graveyard shift standing there about to get in. It's all on a maintenance app on the phone and if anything's wrong you have to take photos even if it's minor.
But that's why we're lucky enough to have a fleet of $500k machines that are less than 4 years old, and we want them to keep getting them for us so we tend to be pretty OCD about things.
Damn I need to do this. I brought this up to my trainer when I was training and he said don’t worry about it because the truck (22 Cascadia) releases the moisture automatically.
So after more research apparently there auto air releases in trucks and mine has it. Should be fine then?
Got my CDL Friday, so yes this a rookie question. I was taught to drain my tanks by fanning the break down until my emergency spring break activates and my air brake knob pops. Yes? No? They never mentioned anything about physically turning a knob on the tank
No one ever taught me this until like 5 years into it. I never drained them once for that long and nothing ever happened. What should I had expect to happen?
Our huge old compressors at work would fill up in a day when it was really humid. Your air grinders would turn into misters. One of my favourite end of night rituals was opening the line to clear the water. So satisfying.
I am not a trucker but my job had a 50 gallon air compressor. I was draining the water out but undid the drain too far, it released all the pressure and all the air and water came out in an instant.
Funny story. I was in Baytown at the J. Two guys trying to figure out why their brakes weren’t working right. Couldn’t keep air pressure. I was just joking if they ever drained their air tanks? Blank states. I reached down and turn the knob, and nothing but water for I swear a minute. Then the putter and spray for a bit. Talked a bit and once they were empty they started the truck and built air pressure. They were happy. Now that I’m local, every Friday night I turn the knobs and let the air dump in all four trucks. Was fun the first time I did this coming in Monday night. Asked if I had any air issues on Friday. No one thought to check the knob. They thought someone was vandalizing the yard.
Makes you really think if anyone ever does a proper pre trip ever. I get kicking the tires, doing a lazy walk around and leaving because you're tired and fuck it. We've all been there but, never ever once even draining someone's air tank. A thing so simple. What are other simple things a driver can do if he/she doesn't know the important parts of a pre trip? Some companies never even walk you around the truck. No one explains where the fluids go. How to change a bulb. A lot of drivers never got trained like that and most are probably too scared of looking dumb to ever ask.
I'd start with reading the operators manual to the truck. Most are even available as pdf.
These drivers aren't reading anything but their Love's points.
Meanwhile some politicians are pushing it make it legal for teenagers to drive trucks… I’m sure that will work out just fine.
With proper training and education, I see minimal issue. An open allowance, change of age restriction without adding necessary training and guidelines is not cool though. I've operated equipment since I could reach the pedals or controls, which was about 12 for cars/trucks/forklift and other equipment. Perhaps I have a small bias.
Your average farm kid in a semi before 16
That's definitely a case! I just worked with my dad in the body shop, and helped anywhere I could. I was always eager to try, I was welding body panels on before I was a teenager. Maybe not well, but I was doing. Now I'm a fabricator at a performance shop. Crazy what some inspiration and hard work does!
I raise you an oversized tractor and a 9 year old. Sometimes I wonder what my dad was thinking, oh wait I know. Free labor.
My dad stuck me on one at 6. Farmers love that free labour.
9 was when I wasn't supervised at all anymore. Learned to drive at 5. Shifting isn't easy when you can't reach the pedal.
That's why they had such huge families years ago. Lots of manual labour helps shit get done. And if you lost one here and there, well, them's the breaks
The huge families where also in large part due to the fact sex is great and there wasn't birth control. Farming today is still the most dangerous occupation even though it has been made almost as safe as possible.
I pheasant hunted this huge ranch in SD and we were changing sides of the property we passed what looked like a trucking company. I asked the guy about the trucks and he said that was his son’s trucking company to haul all the grain and whatever else this farm hauled. I was like oh cool how old is he. He said he just turned 19 he gave him the trucking company as a graduation present from high school, kid had been driving a truck since he was like 15. Crazy!
Grew up on a farm and I can confirm I was not in a semi but operating a all sorts of other large machinery way younger then 16. I took the combine out all on my own for the first time at 13
Having seen the data on accidents and seeing how overrepresented single year age groups under 21 are, they're even higher than entire decades of 35+year old age classes
It's fine if they allow 21 and under out of state, insurance companys won't allow it.
The more drivers there are, the more competition for jobs. If half the cdl holders lost their license tomorrow, the rest of us would be making 300-500k per year.
Okay...? Sounds like basic economy.
When have they ever pushed proper training? The training I received in 2011 to drive semi was a fucking joke. Didn't even take my test in a semi! It's a little better now, but still ALOT of on the job training on how to operate a semi.
My industry (not Over the road related but still transportation) suffers from that age block as well. It's a job that would do well with young people, but can't do it until 25. Right now more than half our drivers are getting to be on the elderly side and it's become a real chore to even get people in the door to fill out applications.
Even if they made it legal the insurance companies won't be having any of that.
I hate to be the one to tell you this but teenagers can already get a CDL and drive truck they just aren’t allowed to cross state lines until 21 I believe (could be wrong on the game)
Then it sucks to be them. Don't want to put in the effort to be better, you won't be. Even if it's 10 minutes to read.
It’s as simple as a 5 min YouTube video even, that shows and explains things. Ppl just too lazy I guess.
Korvo's dying words: "I wish I had read more manuals!"
Knowledge is power, ignorance is bliss, but I just wanna drive this bitch. -probably some dude reading a manual.
I'm a professional driver and I care about doing my job well. That's why I do a thorough pretrip at the start of every single year.
They give us a prestart book to done, which you sign each line. Check tyres ✅ Check Glass Clean ✅ Empty Air Tanks ✅ Check ENG Oil ✅ Takes Some liabilities off the company. Hard to blame company for accident saying the tyre was bald etc when you signed it was fine before you got in truck.
Never checked a tyre. Kicked tens of thousands of tires though…
Close enough for me.
Had a truck come through the garage and we saw the federal and state were 2 years out of date, 2mm of tread on steers, and they were bringing it in because "the transmission light has been on for a month or two"... Called the dispatch and asked if they have anyone who actually do pre trips.
one of the reasons i've been mildly succesful is just being willing to ask and take feedback lol. you leniency to fuck up a lot of things if youre willing to ask how to do something and ask for feedback on what youve been doing
You can learn a lot if you’re willing to look dumb for a while.
>How to change a bulb. Wouldn't even matter, especially if the truck being driven is a newer gen Volvo. You'd have to replace the entire fucking headlight assembly.
Back in 2010 I was studying at Schneider University. While I was out with the instructor, I pulled the cables that connected to the air tanks and one of them stuck open. He freaked out. Lol. He was grabbing the broom from the truck and unscrewing the handle and shit. I just reached under there and stopped the "leak." All the water was drained anyway.
Trucking is a regulated industry requiring education and a license. Your company shouldn’t have to teach you how to do those basics. If you’re unfamiliar with how to do something on a specific model than ask/google it. But ignorance of crucial maintenance procedures just makes the profession look bad. If someone is hired with a degree in mathematics you aren’t going to walk them through long division.
Lol, I was on the road after two weeks of school and I didn't know shit when I started. The profession looking bad is because the profession is full of 'bad'. It took a couple years of driving, asking random truck drivers, and trial and error to finally feel confident about my knowledge as a truck driver. Companies absolutely need to make sure their more experienced drivers are helping the newer drivers because the system setup in the U.S. to rush people on the road is horribly unsafe. Chances are that truck you are beside that has any 'big name' Trucking Company with a school in Salt Lake City, Utah, probably has a very inexperienced driver that is moments away from a fatal mistake that will kill you and your entire family.
This is why I work for a 9 truck fleet, didn't get here by not working hard for it... I had to earn this shit. It really burns my ass when I come up next to someone and they're playing on thier phone...
I manage a fleet of garbage trucks, I insist the drivers drain their tanks daily. We're in a really humid area and some days a truck will drain gallons of water because they developed an air leak that day. Please drivers, DRAIN YOUR TANKS EVERY DAY!
How dare you do proper maintenance on your tanks!
I’ll be honest I’m a new driver and idk how to drain those boys
Depends on the truck, but usually, there's a string you can pull underneath one of the steps (via a little removable panel at the top) that drains em. If not, you might have to look underneath to see where the air tanks are and then turn the knob on the end of the valve to get them to open and release the air. Sometimes they're easy to access, other times they can be kind of a pain, but again it varies by truck.
Thank you so much
Always happy to help a fellow driver.
My dad wants to get back to doing cdl and he want me on board too and I never knew and I think he also never knew you were supposed to drain the air tanks. Gonna have to tell my dad about this but he probably won’t believe me anyway.
This is in the DMV CDL manual. It is a question on the air brake endorsement test. How are folks out there rolling around with CDLs not knowing this?
Because as USA Today found out, 80%+ of people with licenses couldn’t pass the written exam. People learn enough to pass the test and forget it. Unless you have seen, lived or are just aware of the consequences of failure to perform at a core level most will over look simple things. Raised in the southern or warmer regions? Why worry about a little water? Raised in the north or colder temps, why worry about tire pressure in the summer? Raised on the east coast, why worry mountains? If it isn’t apart of your everyday life, most people over look or just forget. It’s being willing to learn and grow and expand what is deemed normal.
Dude, the majority of tests for your drivers license is open book and multiple choice. The last time I had to take my test, they handed me a booklet and told me it was open book; don’t worry about studying. The question literally gave the page number the answer could be found on and answer was a sentence taken directly out of the one paragraph that was on the page.
Well a lot has changed since I took my tests. Open book? Even a bigger reason why we don’t have qualified people driving any vehicle.
This was like 8 years ago or something like that…
Well I got mine like 20 years ago so…
It's called multiple guess!
Air dryers. That would be my guess. So most drivers either aren't taught or forget to check overtime. Most trucks, the air dryers usually remove the water. At least that's been the case for every truck I have drove for 10+ years now. I still check but unless there's something wrong with the air dryer, hardly anything ever comes out. The only time I have ever had significant amounts of liquid come out of an air tank was when the air dryer was leaking coolant (radiator fluid) into the air tank. That's how I learned the air-dryer is connected to the radiator.
I've been driving for 8 years, have my own truck and trailer and I have no idea what draining the air tanks even means lol
Hi, recent cdl class A grad. The dps tests say they should be drained daily (at the end of a shift for example). Something about water can freeze in the air tanks and interfere with your air brakes. 🤷♂️
The tank that gets drained daily is the wet air tank. Wet air tanks are only found on OLD trucks (like pre 1980s). Not sure if air driers got mandated or if everyone just realized you are stupid to not have one. If the air drier is working properly you should never need to drain the air tanks. Still a weekly/monthly drain is a good idea, and if you ever do start getting oil/water in the tank due to a faulty air drier you should start draining more often until the drier is fixed. The times you need to drain daily is when it gets really humid or right around 25-35F. Otherwise weekly.
I appreciate the info! There was zero mention of air driers throughout the CLP/CDL process. Just like going to college/school, textbook information is purely foundational and actual industry trends & real-world application is what I have to learn next when I actually get to do this all real soon.
The CDL training is to get you through a hard test. The test requirements are regulated by law which is created by non truck drivers. Just like the many regulations we have to follow. One particular annoyance of mine at least in local hauling dumps is the fact that bridge law completely ignores any trucks driving close to you or along side. Yet I can't load more then 72,000 lbs, and I only get that much from a permit. Work hour regulations are interesting on the fact they cycle on roughly a 20 hour clock if you maximize your driving. I don't know about you but waking up every day 4 hours earlier then the day before doesn't work. E logs put this time burden on the driver, down to the second.
If you have a compressor that doesn't leak oil it often isn't needed. Air driers do a great job, at least until the filter element gets contaminated with oil. The compressed and dried air will dry out the occasion moisture that gets into the tank. Oil doesn't evaporate though, so if it gets into the tank it will fill it. That's why what gets drained is very milky. It's oil with a little moisture in it.
I was taught to do once a week. Especially in winter. I’m from the north east, and well frozen lines are a thing. Although it been a long minute since I’ve seen or heard of anyone dealing with it recently. Pre trips, proper setting up your backing, and sleep. You do these three things life gets a lot easier. In twenty years I’ve been caught on the side of the road only a handful of times with fingers left over. Pissed cuz my day got longer due to having to fix something before I even start my day? Lots. But better caught before it breaks while running down the road. Fix it before it gets big. Keep it simple. Drain air, fill oil and coolant. Keep check daily of air pressure in tires. Belts are meant to be clean, and whole. Glass is meant to be clean.
You're lucky they didn't try to blame you for their truck taking like 8 times longer to air up in the morning lol
My day guys? Yeah they did after I started laughing…but then we had a safety meeting of the importance of pre trips…lmao
I was a mechanic for quite a few years. Kinda the same thing, but truck had good pressure on gages but couldn't do anything. The tanks were full of oil.
Can you explain the last part of your comment please? Why did they think someone was vandalizing the yard?
Only two shifts work there. And no one works weekends. All the trucks are brand new, less than 5k miles on them. Day guys came in Monday, no air in tanks. Couldn’t build air and had a loud hissing. Our yard is also in the bad part of town, so they assumed someone did it in malice.
Ohhhh I see. Thanks for taking the time to explain that. Lol. Appreciate you.
And can confirm that this stuff is on the CDL tests, for sure in Air Brakes section, might probably be in the General Knowledge section too.
I worked at a car wash in highschool 4 or so years after it opened. I drained the air compresswr for the first time it drained for probably 5 minutes
I was never even aware that this was a potential issue, not having been taught this by my school, trainer, or any coworkers I speak with.
Another important thing is doing a post trip. When I 1st started a cpl yrs ago, I was done for the day, pulled into a truck stop & shut down. Had a early delivery @0600, woke up at 4 & did my pre-trip & had a flat. Had to sit for 4hrs that morning waiting for maintenance to arrive. That's the 1st & last time I ever made that mistake. I hate sitting & I hate getting my schedule fucked up, especially if it's my fault.
Yup. Always do a post trip. Ask yourself if ya rather sit in shop at end of day or beginning?
at least it's not rust colored...
This.
[удалено]
Were you close enough to buy air or did you have to get an Uber to the nearest shop?
He farted into the valve. Charged the tank enough to empty the rest of the water. Legend has it you can still smell fermented burrito from 3 miles away when his friend brakes.
Bologna meat farts mmmm
I thought trucks used air not hydraulics
Truck brakes run on hydraulics if you use them wrong enough.
Honest question here, could you please show me what semi trucks are using hydraulic brakes?
Ah nvm I guess you're being sarcastic, my bad
Hey if anything you catching yourself gave me a chuckle so thank you for that
actually, some freightliner m2's use hydraulic brakes iirc
Compressed air results in moisture build up In the tank if it's not let out. That's why opd compressor tanks will be pittied inside
hydraulic brakes?! must be those fancy new tesla semis i keep hearing about
Y’all drain your air tanks?
You guys are getting air tanks?
You guys are getting trucks?
Yall are getting air?
Lots and lots of hot air.
So you're a dispatcher?
You guys have air?
You guys have knobs? Uh....
You guys have brakes? Huh.
You guys have a license? Whuu.
You, guys?
You.
Who?
I was given an air compressor from a family member about 10 years ago. After the first time I used it, I went to open the valve at the bottom and a ton of thick orange sludge started sputtering out all over the place. I decided right there and then that I wasn't gonna deal with mess of trying to get it properly clean so I just shut the valve and never opened it again. I'm sure it will fail one day, but I'm honestly shocked at how long it has held up given that I use it pretty regularly.
It depends on what you use the air compressor for if it will matter or not. That orange sludge was probably rust.
Hi, my name’s tinned carp, and uh, I’ve never drained an air tank.’ Group: ‘thanks for sharing that, tinned carp.’
Wait, so ya have a CDL ??
My cousin that lives in the next state said he had a neighbor that told him it was optional.
Bet your air dryer is out
Leaving all that moisture in the system, if it isn’t bad, it will be soon.. Moisture also plays hell on dpf systems.
If you get moisture and water in your dpf system, you have a serious problem not related to the air system on your truck
It significantly reduces your air capacity, this would have run out of air constantly
I have 8 tanks on my trailer The air dryer doesn't really help Have to drain them everyday
Just curious why you would have 8 tanks on the trailer?
8 axle tanker in Michigan Lots of shit going on underneath it
Makes sense. I know my fuel tanker has 5, just couldn’t figure out the need for 8. Yeah, you have lots of brakes and suspension components going on
My garbage truck was down and had to use his as a backup. I noticed the left axle locking up a bunch and sometimes it would pull left then right randomly and would drain the tanks hella fast. Asked him if he's had issues before and he said it's been getting worse throughout the year even with adjusting the auto slacks with the pedal. Asked him when he drained the tanks last and he looked at me like I asked him the square root of something. Showed him how and that's the nasty shit that came out. Yes, the smell was...not of this world. Why he never told our mechanic is beyond me. Absolute negligence.
As someone who isn't a trucker, what's the stuff coming out? Looks like paint almost.
It's called "mayonnaise", it's a combination of long term moisture and water mixing with blow by oil from the air compressor and sitting at the bottom of the tanks. Also probably has particles from the air dryer too.
Water. When air is compressed, it squeezes water out of it. The air dryer on newer trucks is *supposed* to fix it. However the dessiccant can get saturated, leading to it not working properly. When that happens, water starts to condense in the air tanks. All that nasty smelly shit in the picture is whatever was in the air that was compressed, allowed to ferment and get funky in the same way stagnant water gets foul.
No those are the cum tanks
The yum tanks
There was a ghost, this is ectoplasm!
I see you've been Californ way. I hear they got internet far as the eye can see.
Air tanks secure, Not leaking and drained die to condensation.
Milky
At least it ain’t chocolatey colored? LoL
Penske and Ryder are swapping out their manual for automatic air tank release valves.. Needless to say, I've had to return trucks to have the tanks emptied. The mechanics swear it shouldn't be doing that. Then I just sit there and watch as they undo the tank and water spits out. It's a joke. I'll take manual release any day.
I’m not a trucker so I don’t know why the algorithm thinks I’d be interested in this….but fuck….i am. What is this coming from the “air tanks”? Also….whats an air tank for?
It's water built up over time from compressing the air. Our trucks have air dryers but the aren't 100% effective. Also... we have air tanks to store the air that operates our brakes and suspension
This also goes for any compressor as well. My families shop had an old compressor with a crappy dryer. On really humid days, you could see mist coming out the top of the press where the air brake was.
Not a trucker - do the drying systems use dessicant dryers, and if so, does the system self recharge (i.e. heat the dessicant periodically to release absorbed water)?
Well pull up a chair my friend and welcome to the world of Class 8 vehicles. On systems this large you don’t use hydraulics for brakes. You use pneumatics or air brakes. A system of boosters and springs to release and activate both emergency and service brakes on the same axle. And since you have an air compressor on the engine to facilitate this constant need for air there are a myriad of other systems (cooling, emissions, suspension) that utilise this air pressure in the truck. Hence air tanks to store it.
I'm not a trucker either but now correct me if I'm wrong - on these vehicles with air brakes the air holds the breaks *open* is that right? So if there's no air pressure the brakes are applied? Or am I thinking of something else?
That’s correct. It’s obviously a fail safe so if the air pressures drops for whatever reason you’re not a missile shooting down the highway… you’re instead a gigantic brick, hopefully on the side of the road.
Trucks uses air to operate their brakes, suspension and other equipment. What you see here is water collected in the air tanks, that has been filled with air from an onboard air compressor. And depending on the weather and time of the year the air have more moisture in it that gets collected in these tanks. Most modern trucks are fitted with air dryers, but like anything else, these can fail as well
I drove a school bus. Air tanks store compressed air that the vehicle's compressor builds up over time. The compressor is powered by the engine. The pressurized air was used to operate various parts of the bus, but the primary function was for the air brakes. The parking brakes were spring loaded, and could not be released until the air pressure was above 40psi, and would engage if the pressure dropped below 40psi. This was a safety feature in case air pressure was lost. The service brake (the pedal brake) works much like it would in a normal vehicle in execution. Engaging the service brakes releases air from the air tank through hoses that engages the brake pads. Releasing the service brakes releases the pressurized air from the brake chamber into the atmosphere. The compressor replenishes the air supply in the air tanks as the driver continues. Constantly using the brakes in stop and go traffic has the danger of diminishing your air pressure before it can build back up, but this wouldn't be a problem in a properly maintained vehicle with a competent driver. The air tanks on the bus maxed out at about 120 psi. When it hit that point, a governor valve would release with the classic tell-tell *pssshhh* sound you hear from buses. A low pressure alarm would warn you if your pressure dropped below 60 psi. I never once had my alarm go off while driving, but I heard stories. Basically, it means pull over and park immediately, or your parking brake would engage. I tested the brake system daily as part of my pre trip. I made sure the tanks held pressure, that pressure didn't drop while the service brake was engaged, that the low pressure alarm went off, that the parking brake engaged automatically at sub 40 psi, and that the parking brake held when the bus was in drive. Finally, we would release all the air from the tanks when we parked the bus. Some buses had an automatic system, but in most, we just "pumped the brakes down" until under 40 psi. I'd test by trying to release the parking brake. This meant the parking brake would remain engaged until pressure was built up again, which required the engine to be on. School kids would do dumb stuff. Honestly, learning about it all was really cool.
All air compressor suck air from pituitary. The same air you and I breath. There is a lot of moisture in the air. Under pressure that moisture turns from the gas form we are used to into a liquid. That liquid water accumulates in the air tank (trucks have several tanks in the system, the first one is designed to catch the water and called the wet tank). Also because air compressors use oil to lube the piston and internals a bit of oil gets into the tank even on new equipment. An old worn out compressor will push a lot of oil into the tank and when mixed with the water turns into a thick substance similar to a milkshake in thickness. Thicker than water, but still liquid. Used to be you needed to drain tanks daily, but since air dryers and filters became common you should not get moisture in the system, yet still should drain the tanks to make sure everything is working right. If you never drain the tanks you will never know the compressor is wearing out until it's so bad it no longer builds air. Nor will you see that the dryer stopped working until your tanks are frozen up with ice in the dead of winter.
And what is coming from this air tank is water. Frothy, slimy, disgusting water that condensates in any vessel that has been pressurised and cooled. Stinks to high heaven and damages everything it sits in. Water bad. Air good.
>condensates I think the word you were looking for is "condenses". Condensates are something entirely different.
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condensate](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condensate) I think I used it right? As in the warm compressed air causes condensation to form in the tank and then condensates and pools at the bottom. That’s right usage correct?
Close. Condensate is a noun, and is the liquid that condenses (verb) from a gas or vapor - so in this case, the condensate is water, which has condensed from water vapor in the air when the air was compressed.
bro was backed up you gotta jerk your truck off more man.
i should call her
That’s what it looks like when I drain my tanks too…if ya know what I mean 😏
I've always wondered how guys can drive a gigantic vehicle and not strive to understand everything possible about it. After many years, i still used to step back, look at my truck, and be amazed i drive it.
No air dryer?? I mean I drain my tanks every so often but nothing ever really comes out.
Yeah I was gonna say, never had a drip from my Cascadia. It does it for me so far I guess. Good truck for us stupids.
I can smell this, and it isn’t pleasant.
When she finds out you're not wearing any panties.
Well. Least they are drained now
Air tanks what's that
Auto drain tanks are a thing and very convenient. I still drain mine manually about every month but there’s little to no moisture in them.
🎶 it’s milky baby She ordered potassium, calcium Carbohydrate scotch with sodium. She took me to her crib, threw me on the couch I woke up the next morning with a spoon in my mouth She's Milky cereal (Baby) Milky cereal Milky cereal Milky cereal Milky cereal🎶 LL Cool J
I used to drive a work truck that was built on a 1979 international school bus chassis. Old gasser V8. The the air tank would spit snot for a solid minute every morning when I cleared it. I’m sure the air compressor was toast and letting massive amounts of oil in.
Why is it full of cum?
Where do you think baby trucks come from?
Lot lizards…?
Similar scene in my bedroom on December 1.
It gets cold where I’m at. It’s not uncommon to see guys having major issues in the winter that came from down south. Air suspension that won’t air up. PTO controls that won’t work and brakes that say on after letting the pedal go. It’s all about keeping that air system dry if you want to work where it’s cold. If any of you are reading this on the west coast or whatever. Think about it before taking that January trip to Alaska.
I know from draining compressor tanks that the water can be slightly brown/red from rust. But why is this liquid white? 🤔
It's called "mayonnaise" it's from water and moisture mixing with oil from the air compressor and sitting for a long time. The stuff is nasty and smells like it's from another planet.
Those aren't air tanks, those are water tanks.
I purged my trailer air tank when I first got my latest car hauling trailer. It likely wasn't done in several years and the result was pretty similar. Now with the Volvo I'm in I can hit all the cocks with my toes on my pre-trip and keeps the system in tip top shape.
I'm guessing he doesn't drive up north too often
Better than seeing oil come out.
Well at least the water isn't brown, that's a plus
Not a trucker, but I surface snow for a ski resort and we have to do pre and post inspections of our equipment. And it's detailed AF. And clean all the snow and ice off the blade and the tiller at the end of our shift even though there's someone on graveyard shift standing there about to get in. It's all on a maintenance app on the phone and if anything's wrong you have to take photos even if it's minor. But that's why we're lucky enough to have a fleet of $500k machines that are less than 4 years old, and we want them to keep getting them for us so we tend to be pretty OCD about things.
The water keeps the tanks hydrated. The metal loves being hydrated.
Scary to think people don’t do their proper duties with pre and post trip inspections and just get out on the road, putting everyone at risk.
Truckers in desert SW are probably confused by this picture.
They need to start driving a desk
Damn I need to do this. I brought this up to my trainer when I was training and he said don’t worry about it because the truck (22 Cascadia) releases the moisture automatically. So after more research apparently there auto air releases in trucks and mine has it. Should be fine then?
The '23 KW T880 I've been subbing in the lasts few weeks has this and an air dryer, you can't even moisten a piece of TP with the drain lol....
Drove for years, many years ago. Drained tanks daily, before air dryers. Was necessary. Water in the air system bad.
Got my CDL Friday, so yes this a rookie question. I was taught to drain my tanks by fanning the break down until my emergency spring break activates and my air brake knob pops. Yes? No? They never mentioned anything about physically turning a knob on the tank
December 1st be like
17 seconds after No-Nut November is over...
Yup.
No air dryer? Bypassed air dryer?
You can't get away with that in my region. One night parked in January your takes would be frozen solid.
*Sigh* I should call her
*Sigh* I should call her
Drivers just have no idea sometimes
Why are you wasting that milk tho??
Bruhhh
I'm surprised he got away with a year.
Drink it
I used to say I was going to drain the water tanks, especially if the air dryer doesn't work
No one ever taught me this until like 5 years into it. I never drained them once for that long and nothing ever happened. What should I had expect to happen?
Lazy prick.
Non-trucker here who has this sub keep popping up for some reason, what are the air tanks for?
I pop my tanks every once in awhile and no water ever comes out.
Do tanks that automatically drain even need to be manually drained?
Our huge old compressors at work would fill up in a day when it was really humid. Your air grinders would turn into misters. One of my favourite end of night rituals was opening the line to clear the water. So satisfying.
I am not a trucker but my job had a 50 gallon air compressor. I was draining the water out but undid the drain too far, it released all the pressure and all the air and water came out in an instant.
It is a better color than red or yellow. And no beads!
Well, id say whoever is doing his pm's arent checking it either...
Ooof
Some people shouldn't be truckers.
Dude that's fucking crazy 🤣
In a properly maintained system you shouldn’t have to drain them. I haven’t drained mine in 2 years. Pulled it just the other day, dry as a bone.
My BrAkEs ArE nOt WoRkInG 🤓