C.M.R. 16, 222, ch. 1, § 222-1-200, subsec. 222-1-200-70

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Subsection 222-1-200-70 - TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS

1. BRAKES

A. SERVICE BRAKES

(1) Reject vehicle if there is an absence of braking action on any required brake(s).

(2) Reject vehicle if there are any missing or broken mechanical components including: shoes, lining pads, springs, anchor pins, spiders, cam rollers, push-rods, Scams, and air chamber mounting bolts.

(3) Reject vehicle if there are any loose brake components including air chambers, reservoirs, spiders, valves, and camshaft support brackets.

(4) Reject vehicle if there is any audible air leak at brake chamber (Example; ruptured diaphragm, loose chamber clamp, etc.).

(5) Reject vehicle if there is a mismatch across any axle of air chamber size or slack adjuster length.

(6) Reject vehicle if any brake is past the readjustment limit. Stroke shall be measured with engine off and reservoir pressure of 90 to 100 p.s.i. with brakes fully applied.

B. BRAKE DRUMS AND ROTORS

(1) Reject vehicle if there are any external cracks or if there are cracks that open upon brake application. Do not confuse short hairline heat cracks with flexural cracks.

(2) Reject vehicle if any portion of the drum or rotor is missing or in danger of falling away.

(3) Reject vehicle if any drum or rotor is worn beyond the manufacturer's specifications.

C. BRAKE HOSES AND TUBING

(1) Reject vehicle if there is any hose with damage that is through the outer reinforcement ply.

(2) Reject vehicle if any hose bulges or swells when normal air pressure is applied.

(3) Reject vehicle if there are any audible leaks.

(4) Reject vehicle if two hoses are improperly joined (such as a splice made by sliding the hose ends over a piece of tubing and clamping the hose to the tube).

(5) Reject vehicle if any air hose is cracked, broken or crimped.

(6) Reject vehicle if any tubing is cracked, damaged by heat, broken or crimped.

D. ELECTRIC BRAKES

Note: When checking electric brakes on trailer or semi-trailer, tow vehicle or equivalent substitution should be utilized.

(1) Reject vehicle if there is an absence of braking action on any wheel.

(2) Reject vehicle if trailer or semi-trailer is required by 49 CFR Part 393 to have a properly functioning device to activate the brakes in the event of a breakaway from the towing vehicle, and device is not present, or if any component of the device is missing, fails to function properly, or if the breakaway device battery has a voltage level of less than 12.4 volts.

NOTE: Vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more, engaged in commerce or otherwise subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations must meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part § 393. Technicians are directed to these regulations for complete requirements and specifications.

2. LIGHTING DEVICES

A. TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM

(1) Reject vehicle if any signal lamp is missing or fails to operate properly in a vehicle that was originally manufactured on or after January I, 1953 and was equipped with turn signals.

(2) Reject vehicle if any signal lamp lens is broken or missing.

(3) Reject vehicle if any signal lamp lens is not red or amber to the rear. Amber rear turn signals must not be wired together with parking or marker lights so as to be steadily illuminated.

(4) Reject vehicle if any electrical connection is not tight and secure, or show signs of excessive corrosion, or if any bare wire is exposed on the connection terminals.

(5) Reject vehicle if the signal lamp housing is not securely fastened.

(6) Reject vehicle if any required signal lamp fails to operate properly with each throw of the switch.

B. STOP LAMPS

(1) Reject vehicle if any stop lamp does not produce a steady or pulsating red light to the rear with the brakes applied.

(2) Reject vehicle if a lens is broken or is not red.

(3) Reject vehicle if the lamp housing is not securely fastened.

C. REAR LAMPS, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS, REAR LAMP COMBINATIONS, AND REFLECTOR(S)

(1) Reject vehicle if the tail-light bulbs do not produce sufficient light so as to be visible from a distance of I 00 feet or more behind the vehicle.

(2) Reject vehicle if all the taillights do not produce a red light.

(3) Reject vehicle if any tail-light is broken, missing,

discolored, or does not fit properly.

(4) Reject vehicle if the lamps are not securely mounted in the center or to the left of the axis.

(5) Reject vehicle if any lamp does not operate properly.

(6) Reject vehicle if the license plate light bulbs do not produce sufficient steady white light to illuminate the entire rear license plate from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.

(7) Reject vehicle if the lamp housing is not securely fastened.

(8) Reject vehicle if all tail and rear plate lights do not operate properly in all switch positions.

(9) Reject vehicle if temporary repairs are made with colored tape.

(10) Reject vehicle if rear lights are obstructed in any way.

(11) Reject vehicle if all lighting devices and reflectors do not meet requirements of applicable federal or state laws. Inspection Technicians should note that trailers or semi- trailers used in commerce might be subject to 49 CFR Part 393 .

(12) Reject vehicle if there is not at least one (1) red reflector securely attached to the rear of the vehicle. The reflector may be part of a rear lamp.

(13) Reject vehicle if equipped with LED lights and 50% or more of the LEDs are not functioning.

D. WIRING AND SWITCHES

(1) Reject vehicle if any wiring is broken, abraded to the point of showing bare wire, or shows evidence of burning or short- circuiting.

(2) Reject vehicle if the wiring is in poor condition, is improperly installed, or is so located as to incur damage.

(3) Reject vehicle if any connection is loose or shows signs of excessive corrosion.

3. TIRES, WHEELS, RIMS, AND WELDS

A. Reject vehicle if the weight carried exceeds tire load limit. This includes overloaded tires resulting from low air pressure.

B. Reject vehicle if any tire is flat or has a detectable leak.

C. Reject vehicle if any tire has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall.

D. Reject vehicle if any tire has any tread or sidewall separation.

E. Reject vehicle if any tire has a cut where ply or belt material is exposed.

F. Reject vehicle if any tire is mounted or inflated so that it comes in contact with any part of the vehicle. (This includes one tire of a dual wheel set that contacts the other).

G. Reject vehicle if any tire is marked "Not for highway use" or has similar language indicating that it is not intended for use on a public way.

H. Reject vehicle if any tire has less than 2/32 inch tread when measured in accordance with Maine law.

I. Reject vehicle if any wheel uses a lock or side ring, and that lock or side ring is bent, broken, cracked, improperly seated, sprung or uses mismatched ring(s).

J. Reject vehicle if any wheel or rim is cracked, broken, or has elongated bolt holes.

K. Reject vehicle if any fastener (spoke and disc wheels) has any loose, missing, broken, cracked, stripped or otherwise ineffective fasteners.

L. Reject vehicle if there are any cracks in welds used to attach a disc wheel to a rim.

M. Reject vehicle if there is any crack in a weld attaching tubeless demountable rim to an adapter.

N. Reject vehicle if there is any welded repair on an aluminum wheel on a steering axle.

O. Reject vehicle if there is any welded repair other than disc to rim attachment on steel disc wheel(s) mounted on the steering axle.

4. AXLES AND SUSPENSION

A. Reject vehicle if there is any U-bolt(s), spring hanger(s), or other axle positioning part(s) that is cracked, broken, loose or missing that results in the shifting of an axle from its normal position. (After a turn, lateral axle displacement is normal with some suspensions. Forward or rearward operation in a straight line will cause the axle to return to alignment).

B. Reject vehicle if any leaves in a leaf spring assembly are broken, missing or welded.

C. Reject vehicle if any coil spring is broken, welded or missing.

D. Reject vehicle if any rubber spring is missing or broken.

E. Reject vehicle if one or more leaves are displaced in a manner that could result in contact with a tire, rim, brake drum or frame part.

F. Reject vehicle if there is a broken torsion bar spring in a torsion bar suspension.

G. Reject vehicle if there is noticeable deflation in the air suspension system, i.e. system failure, leak, etc.

5. FRAMES

A. Reject vehicle if any frame member is cracked, broken, loose, or sagging.

B. Reject vehicle if there are any loose or missing fasteners, including fasteners attaching functional components.

C. Reject vehicle if there exists a condition likely to cause the body or frame of the trailer or semi-trailer to contact a tire or any part of a wheel assembly.

6. COUPLING DEVICES AND DRAW BAR / TOWBAR EYE.

A. Mounting to Frame

(1) Reject vehicle if any fasteners are missing or ineffective.

(2) Reject vehicle if there is any movement between mounting components.

(3) Reject vehicle if any mounting angle iron cracked or broken.

B. mounting plates

(1) Reject vehicle if there are any missing or ineffective fasteners.

(2) Reject vehicle if there are any welds or "parent metal" is cracked.

(3) Reject vehicle if there is more than 3/8 inch of horizontal movement between the pivot bracket pin and bracket.

(4) Reject vehicle if there are any cracks in the attachment welds.

(5) Reject vehicle if the kingpin is loose, broken, deformed,

cracked, has 1/8 inch wear or more, or is field welded, unless the kingpin has been remanufactured using a process certified by a professional engineer.

(6) Reject vehicle if the upper fifth wheel plate is cracked, loose, warped, or worn so that an area less than 75% is in contact with the lower fifth wheel plate.

(7) Reject vehicle if the fifth wheel's attaching members are rusted so that the fifth wheel plate may become detached.

C. Drawbar / Towbar Eye

(1) Reject vehicle if any part of the eye is reduced by more than 20%.

(2) Reject vehicle if there are any cracks in the drawbar or towbar.

(3) Reject vehicle if there are any cracks in the attachment welds.

7. SPLASHGUARDS

Reject vehicle if trailer or semi-trailer is not equipped with suitable guards that will effectively reduce the spray or splash of mud, water or slush caused by the rear wheels.

8. REAR END PROTECTION

Reject vehicle if the trailer or semi-trailer is required under federal regulation (49 CFR 393.86) to be equipped with rear end protection, and such protection is absent or is not structurally sound.

9. RETRO REFLECTIVE SHEETING AND REFLEX

REFLECTOR

Reject vehicle if the trailer or semi-trailer is required under federal regulation (49 CFR 393.13) to be equipped with retro reflective sheeting or an array of reflex reflectors, and the sheeting or reflectors are not present.

C.M.R. 16, 222, ch. 1, § 222-1-200, subsec. 222-1-200-70