Air disc brakes have the potential to provide Class 7-8 vehicles greater braking power, shorter stopping distances and improved safety. They are becoming increasingly Power liftgates provide trucking operations great benefit and value for the work they can perform and simplify. A variety of configurations and designs ensure liftgates can be successfully applied to a variety of industry vocations including cold-chain logistics, pickup and delivery operations, and urban city delivery just to name a few. Yet as with any technology, attaining the maximum benefit and service life from liftgates relies on proper preventive maintenance. If your operation relies on liftgates to get the job done, are you maintaining these systems properly? ATA’s Technology & Maintenance common on new tractors and trailers but just as is the case with traditional S-cam brakes, proper specification and maintenance is a must for optimal performance, service life, and return on investment. 

Manufacturers promote the fact that today’s air disc brakes have longer service intervals and reduced maintenance costs than their earlier generation predecessors that help lower cost and downtime. Some fleets say otherwise because of reports of shorter service life intervals and increased maintenance costs as compared to the latest generation S-cam drum brakes. In some cases, such shortcomings are attributable to improper maintenance and repair and if a fleet struggled to maintain S-cams, they likely will struggle to maintain air disc brakes also. 

ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) has developed a number of recommended practices designed to help fleet managers spec and maintain air disc brake systems. During this session, panelists from our S.6 Chassis & Brake Systems Study Group will review these practices in depth and provide their expert guidance on how to get the most out of disc brake technology.

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