Service and repair

What causes brake imbalance and how can you prevent it?
A balanced brake system is when the entire brake system, from front to back, (including the tractor and trailer) react at the correct time to produce equal timing and brake pressure.
March 1, 2023
trailer tires rotating
Tire wear patterns telling of overall truck maintenance
Correctly reading and interpreting tire wear can save you money, enhance safety and alleviate maintenance headaches.
July 1, 2011
Tread patterns on a truck tire
Troubleshooting brake imbalance
A balanced brake system is one in which all the vehicle’s brakes apply and release at about the same time, with each brake developing the appropriate braking force for its respective load.
February 1, 2023
blue semi-truck being flipped
Trucksmiths embracing change
The trucking industry has been changing since horse drawn wagons started being replaced by the first Mack Brothers motorized vehicles in Manhattan in 1904.
January 29, 2023
Mechanic tearing down an engine
MEMA's Wilson: This might be the year for right to repair
"We believe this is the Congress to get this done," says MEMA's Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Ann Wilson.
January 18, 2023
Three people on stage at a conference.
Step-by-step air brake inspection
If you are inspecting brakes, you should become familiar with federal and state periodic inspection requirements because anyone performing required periodic inspections must meet specific criteria in terms of experience and training.
January 4, 2023
transervice technician
Air brake system anatomy
Three basic systems of air brakes you should be familiar with before attempting maintenance or replacement work.
December 7, 2022
drum brake kit
Filters often an unintended casualty of extended intervals, forgetfulness
Joining Matt and Jason on this week's 10-44 is NationaLease Vice President of Truck Technology and Maintenance Joe Puff.
October 27, 2022
mechanic holding an oil filter
Female diesel techs find challenges in entering 'male-dominated industry'
Among the biggest challenges facing female diesel technicians is gaining the respect of their male counterparts.
October 18, 2022
WyoTech student
Why trucking companies need an on-site truck repair shop
In-house maintenance offers time and money savings, more reliability and more options.
October 17, 2022
trucking service bay
More women becoming diesel techs, but not fast enough to meet demand
Leaders in the diesel tech field admit women are often better than men when it comes to working with computers surrounding mechanics, but old stereotypes around gender roles are holding the industry back from attracting women to the field.
October 13, 2022
WyoTech student
Recovering flooded vehicles requires careful service and follow-up
Hurricane Ian flooded plenty of vehicles, trucks among them. Some will be scrapped while others can be restored to road-worthy status after taking diligent steps to ensure water intrusion has been thoroughly addressed.
October 10, 2022
Floods, particularly saltwater floods, can leave metal parts especially vulnerable to corrosion. 'I would seriously think about undercoating that body and frame. Cleaning and undercoating it. That's the only thing you can do to prolong the life,' said Angelo Cinquegrana, assistant vice president of field operations at Amerit Fleet Solutions.
Caliper stuck? Tips for unfreezing a frozen brake caliper
Caliper pistons that are not returning properly, or appear to be seized in the bore, can be caused by residual hydraulic pressure keeping the piston applied.
October 5, 2022
brake caliper
Brake relining and restoration
Carefully measuring lining thickness is recommended, but if you are performing a visual inspection, look for lining thickness that is slightly higher than the rivet heads that secure it to the brake shoe.
September 7, 2022
Silverback brake
Trimble, Navistar integration streamlines outsourced maintenance process
Connected maintenance is part of Trimble's broader Connect and Scale 2025 strategy, which is centered on building cloud platforms to streamline the industry lifecycle of transportation from procurement to planning to execution.
August 16, 2022
Trimble TMT Fleet Maintenance
Selecting the right brake lining
The brake system is the means by which force is applied, but the brake lining is actually the component that bears the brunt of all the heat, weight, energy and force created during braking.
August 3, 2022
drum brake lining
Maintaining proper tire pressure presents 'huge opportunity in today's volatile fuel market'
Aside from keeping an eye on the numbers at the pumps, tire experts advise keeping a close eye on tire pressure to help maximize fuel economy at a time when fuel prices have reached historic highs.
July 2, 2022
Transervice technician checking tire air pressure on a semi-truck
Valvoline opens first heavy-duty service center
The Valvoline Heavy-Duty Fleet Services center technicians perform PMs and oil and filter changes; component checks; transmission and differential service; and DOT inspections, all in 75 minutes or less.
June 16, 2022
tool tray
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Top Stories
Women in Trucking member Angelika Mangino is the group's Member of the Month for April. Though more women are entering the filed, a WIT survey showed that safety remains a top concern among female drivers.
Recruiting & retention
Female trucker surveys divide proponents on pay and cab design
Industry leaders agree on safety and respect as top issues among surveyed female truck drivers but disagree on pay and cab design.
Pilot Flying J station
Mergers & Acquisitions
Pilot Company names new executives as part of Berkshire Hathaway ownership
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Technology
How technology is working to prevent your yard from becoming a trucking graveyard
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Safety
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