Allstate Commecrial Driver Training School explains the proper way to inspect the wheels & tires of a large commercial tractor-trailer.

Seymour, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/09/2013 -- A truck driver's job involves much more than simply driving a truck - any qualified operator also needs to know how to inspect and maintain his or her rig. It doesn't matter if you know how to make your tractor trailer tapdance and pirouette, if you aren't capable of performing thorough pretrip, en route and post-trip inspections, sooner or later stuff will fly off your rig and smash a passenger vehicle.

Allstate Commecrial Driver Training School, the premier CT truck driving school, offers both hands-on truck driver training and comprehensive preparation for the all-important CDL test. Along with good knowledge of traffic law and driving, the test also requires the candidate to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a tractor-trailer's mechanical systems, such as the air brake system, suspension and so on. A candidate needs to understand how to conduct regular inspections of critical systems at every stage of a trip in order to qualify for a Class A CDL CT license.

For a large commercial vehicle, regular and thorough tire and wheel inspections are absolutely crucial. A recent article by Allstate explains the basics of a wheel & tire inspection and outlines good practices for this important procedure.

First, the driver needs to ensure that all the bolts are properly tightened, and that the bolt holes on the wheel haven't become stretched and distorted. Pay note to any corrosion or rust that may weaken the structural integrity of the wheel assembly. Test the bolts with a wrench. If a wheel isn't properly secured, it could come off in transit, and a loose truck wheel careening over a highway can cause severe damage to passenger vehicles.

Next, the tires need to be thoroughly inspected for any large cracks or tread separation - any gaps that reveal the ply are serious weaknesses that could cause blow-outs. Even if the tire isn't broken, odd bulges or distortions can be precursors to a violent break and should be examined with concern.

Measure the depth of the treads to make sure they're within legal standards. A tire with tread depth of less than 2/32 inches isn't street legal. Truck tires being expensive as they are, a worn-out tire can be re-treaded in some cases.

These are just some of the procedures that a truck driver needs to conduct as part of a proper tire and wheel inspection. Go to the original article to read more, and sign up to truck driving courses at Allstate in order to receive a true hands-on education in every aspect of operating a commercial tractor-trailer.

About Allstate Commercial Driver Training School
Allstate Commercial Driver Training School is Connecticut's premier CDL training facility - founded in 1975, the school is open 7 days a week and provides expert training in CDL Class A, Class B and forklift operation.

Contact Info:

Allstate Commercial Driver Training School, 249 Pearl St., Seymour, CT 06483 203-922-8252
http://www.allstatetraining.com/

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Seymour, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/23/2013 -- Driving a tractor-trailer truck is a difficult business - you have to operate a large and unwieldy piece of machinery, day after day, on roads of varying quality, surrounded by heedless motorists and sometimes even bicyclists whose mistakes you could end up paying for. You have to know how to make turns in a large and heavy vehicle, how to back up to a loading dock with few visual cues. Truckers are subject to stringent safety regulations and liability, and have to know not just how to operate their truck but how to maintain it as well. Even shifting gears in a large truck is something akin to rocket science.

To help trucking candidates, Allstate Commercial Driver Training School - a Connecticut-based training facility that helps candidates obtain a commercial driver's license in the state - publishes a number of useful materials that are designed to explain certain basic aspects of trucking and help CT CDL license( http://www.allstatetraining.com/index.php/courses ) candidates understand what they're in for. The latest article( http://ezinearticles.com/?Tractor-Trailer-Air-Brakes-And-Why-They-Matter-For-Your-Commercial-Drivers-Test&id=7720430 ) introduces the principles of a truck's air braking system.

Unlike passenger cars that use a hydraulic system filled with brake fluid to transmit pressure from the pedal to the brake assembly, a large commercial vehicle uses compressed air. The reasons for this are manifold - with a brake fluid system, attaching and detaching a trailer suddenly becomes a messy and spill-prone business; air bubbles are more likely to enter the system in the process, jeopardizing its effectiveness; due to the large stresses and heat generated in the course of attempting to bring an extremely large and heavy vehicle to a stop, a liquid may end up vaporizing and introducing gas into the system, again creating the danger of malfunction.

For these and other reasons, large trucks take in air via an engine-driven compressor, store it in several tanks at high pressure, and use it to actuate brakes when needed. This system, while more versatile in many ways, is also significantly more complex than a passenger car brake system, which is why CDL tests include extensive questioning about air brake operation and maintenance - the CT CDL( http://www.allstatetraining.com/index.php/courses/cdl-a-program ) test, for example, has an entire section devoted to the system.

The Allstate article explains the basic composition of the system, which includes a compressor, main air tank, safety valves, air lines, brake drums and wheel assemblies. The article also discusses the truck safety brake, which activates automatically when the air brake system suffers a loss of pressure.

For more detailed information, please check out the original article.

About Allstate Commercial Driver Training School
Allstate Commercial Driver Training School is Connecticut's premier CDL training facility - founded in 1975, the school is open 7 days a week and provides expert training in CDL Class A, Class B and forklift operation.

Contact Info:
Allstate Commercial Driver Training School,
249 Pearl St Seymour, CT 06483
(203) 922-8252
http://www.allstatetraining.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm