checking brake lights
 

I was helping my little brother with his CDL permit test and was reading the manual again. One thing I noticed is that it said you must check the marker, turn, 4 way, tail, and BRAKE lights seperatly. So how do you check the brake lights? I dont know of any way to turn on the brake lamps only and have enough time to walk back and check them, wait maybeI do....a rubber tarp strap on the Trolley bar??? :D

I remeber just walking around and making sure that the lights were working, ie brake lights turned on with marker lights.

Just curious

If it is dark, you can see them glow with the mirrors when you hit the pedal.

He needs to check them on his CDL skills test, it will be during the day. I told him to walk around when the parking lights are on. That trailer lights them all up. Just tell the tester that they are working..lol

I still cant think of how to check that they are getting brighter, especially since your SUPPOSE to do a pre-trip yourself and may not be anyone around, etc.

may be a stupid question but here it goes...
When you put on your trailer breaks , engine off, key on, doesn't the break lights come on?

NM... found it

section 2.4 checking single lights
Turn on stop lights ( apply trailer hand break or have a helper put on the break pedal )

Some trucks won't hold the trailer brake handle in the "on position" when you let your hand off. The T2000 I drove the handle would spring back to off when you let go of it.

I noticed that some makes of trucks would flash the brake lamps on the trailer when the 4 way flashers were on, instead of just the turn signal lamps. That would make it simple to check that the brake lamps weren't burned out at least.

My Freightliner Columbia doesn't have a hand brake and I have no helper. I start my day at 4am so it's dark and I can see the brake lights in the mirrors.

I know the hand brake on mine will only turn them on as long as I hold it on.

Nice.... so I found the first lie in the CDG. Hope they stick to there lie when I take the test. :roll:

Yeah I don't know why they went from the under steering wheel bar that would stay where you put it to the ones where you have to hold it. I suppose the manufacturers were getting complaints about people riding around burning up their brakes with them engaged partly.

Brake Lights Check
 

Put a long stick between the seat and the brake pedal, thereby pushing the brake pedal down and activating the brakes and the brake lights. Can also check the brake stroke when wheels are chocked. BOL

I use a bungee cord around the shifter to hold the trolley brake in the on position

when i took my test i just had the inspector do it

ClassicXL: What happened to the nose of your truck?? :shock:

Didn't see a school bus stop or something??? :lol:

i could not help it i found this pic of the argosy's Werner use to run and just had to put it on the board. It seems like they all disappeared off the face of the earth when Werner got rid of them. I don't think i have ever seen one on the road with these colors since

Re: checking brake lights
 

Just back up to a JB Hunt truck and mash the brake...look in your mirror and if he's taken on a funky pink color you're good to go.

Most Driver's I observe... check their Brake lights with a pen. They mark the little box on their pretrip inspection sheet with a check. :?

When i took my class A test i told the examiner (once i had done all other in cab items including all the brake test) that i would now check my lights, she told me she would spot for me to check them, i stayed in the cab while she motioned for me to check all the lights.

pain was the truck i was supposed to take had a fuel leak the morning i was supposed to take it, so my friend and i had to boot someone (friends company owned the trucks) out of his truck so i could take it, got there and when i did my light check the none of the lights worked due to a bad connection in the turn signal box, when the examiner noticed this she came to the door as i was smacking the hell out of the box and they started working. when they did she told me OK don't touch it again they are working... lol and i did my road test.

i guess my point is the examiners aren't "out to fail you", and are understanding if its something they can help with. mine was very friendly and i spent my entire road test talking about everything under the sun with her (even got her phone number).

if you are ready and know what you are doing they seem to be ready and willing to help you.
I've gone thru the test 2 times once for my class B and now for my class A(cause like a dumb ass i just thought oh well all ill ever want to drive is a dump truck) and have good experience's both times.
Just relax take your time and be nice