The Importance of an Air Brakes Course
If you drive a commercial motor vehicle with air brakes in Ontario, you must pass an air brakes test to have the air brakes restriction removed on your commercial driver’s license. If you don’t pass the test, you won’t be allowed to drive a vehicle with air brakes. One way to prepare for the test is to take an Air Brakes Course at a reputable driving school like Trukademy. These courses are great for company personnel, professional drivers, and even supervisors. Everyone should know the proper way to operate a vehicle with poor brakes, and what can happen if an untrained driver tries to operate a vehicle with air brakes.
What are Air Brakes?
Simply put, an air brake is a brake system using compressed air. It is a friction-type brake that works when compressed air presses a piston to apply pressure to the brake pad, stopping the vehicle.
Air brakes made braking more precise and safe around the world. They originally were designed for railroad locomotives. These brakes are now used on buses, trucks, railroads, and amusement-park rides. The modern systems are always changing and being updated, so drivers need to review the fundamentals to stay up-to-date on training. By doing so, drivers can reduce their company’s maintenance costs.
What Does the Course Teach?
In the course, you will learn about the components of an air brake system and how it all works. You will also learn about breaking fundamentals, testing and maintaining the proper function of the system, and how to handle system failures if they occur. In a commercial vehicle, the air brake system is a critical component, and under the driver’s responsibility. The driver needs to know the theory and practical use of the system.
Students learn and understand the importance of air brake safety. They learn to reduce the risks with poor braking and troubleshoot system problems. Those who take the course also learn how to maximize the performance of the air brake system. The participants will learn proper stopping distances and vehicle braking dynamics. Pre-trip inspection can identify the most basic defects and is part of the course as well.
Classroom and in-cab training is provided, giving the students the best training and test preparation possible.
Once finished the course, each student or participant will have all new information and updated knowledge to operate and maintain an air brake system. This shows an employer has a commitment to the standard of care and diligence to safety. Taking this course at top school like Truckademy is the best way to have safe, well-trained drivers on the road.
