DOT: Air Brakes


Overview/Description
Target Audience
Expected Duration
Lesson Objectives
Course Number


Overview/Description
Commercial vehicles are used every day to transport both goods and people. An important safety feature on these vehicles, the air brake system is used to control speed. The US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the use of air brakes and sets standards for maintaining and operating these systems to ensure they are used and maintained properly. Drivers of vehicles equipped with air brakes need to know the components of the systems, how they work, and how to use them, and make sure they're operating safely. This course introduces the components that work together to create an air brake system, guidelines on operating a vehicle equipped with air brakes, and checklists for inspecting air brake systems and the air brakes on both single and combination units. DOT: Air Brakes was developed with subject matter support provided by EnSafe Inc., a global professional services company focusing on engineering, environment, health and safety, and information technology.

Target Audience
Operators of commercial vehicles and other trucks which use air brake systems

Expected Duration (hours)
0.5

Lesson Objectives

DOT: Air Brakes

  • match components of the air brake system with how each component contributes to the operation of that system
  • determine whether the test results performed on a given air brake component or system indicate a safety concern
  • match potential braking situations to how you should respond to safely operate your vehicle
  • determine whether the findings of a pretrip brake inspection indicate a safety concern
  • Course Number:
    esh_sah_b53_sh_enus