All You Need to Know About Your Semi-Truck’s Braking System

Your semi-truck’s braking system goes a long way in keeping you safe on the road. That’s why you’ll want to familiarize yourself with a few techniques to brake correctly.

Check out this guide where our experts at Carolina International Trucks have highlighted a few things you’ll need to keep in mind when applying the brakes on your semi-truck. Read on to learn more, and for more information, swing by one of our dealerships in South Carolina.

Avoid Slamming the Brakes

The first braking technique you’ll need to follow is avoiding slamming on your brakes. This can cause your braking system to lock up, and your rig might end up flipping over.

Approach Hill Descents Correctly

When driving your semi-truck, you will encounter a hill or two. If you aren’t alert, you might start skidding or swaying, jeopardizing your safety and the safety of others around you.

To avoid this, you’ll want to feather your brakes by quickly changing the pressure you put on them. You’ll also need to tap the brake lightly to manage the speed and avoid holding it down. Feathering is particularly useful in preventing slides on icy patches—so keep this in mind.

Straighten Out

If you have attached a trailer to your semi-truck, make sure that both are in alignment when you brake. You’ll also want to straighten out from any turn before applying the brake. Failing to observe this simple rule can result in your vehicle starting to slide, and you might lose control of your rig completely.

Increase Stopping Distance

The payload you are hauling, in addition to the size of your attached trailer, can influence the time your rig will take to come to a complete stop. That’s why you’ll want to increase your stopping distance to stay safe on the road. Ideally, you should expect your semi-truck to take twice as long to stop as your commuter vehicle.

We hope you find these tips handy when operating your semi-truck. For more information, connect with our experts at Carolina International Trucks. We have dealerships throughout South Carolina, including Columbia, so reach out today.