Medium duty and heavy truck inspections?

Matt Saunoras · September 14, 2013

I am going after my medium/heavy duty inspection license for Pennsylvania and was wondering if anyone here services or inspects trucks in this class? In PA my catagory 1 inspection license allows me to annuallly state inspect any vehicle under 17,000 lbs GWVR. Anything above that needs a semi-annual inspection and you must have a catagory 3 license. This license allows you to do anything 17,000 and above plus all trailers rated at 10,000+. What messes everything up is that F-550s fall into this class and I frequently service trucks this size. Right now no one in the shop has a cat 3 license and even if we did the shop does not meet the requirements for an inspection station. The new building will however and they're trying to get 2 of us certified

Now I don't do anything medium duty but I passed the written part of the test last week. Next Friday I've got to take my hands on tactile exam and quite honestly I have no idea what to expect. I've read the manual cover to cover and took the 2 ford web courses on air brakes but other than that....

From what I've learned over the years we're typically tested on a subject long before we know anything about it. When I took my first state inspection test for cat 1 I was 6 weeks into automotive school and never worked on anyones car but my own. Atleast there was some instruction though. We looked at and took measurements on brake rotors, pads, shoes etc (all on the bench) and did an inspection of a car already hoisted for us. Didn't pull wheels or anything requiring tools so I hope the test is similar to that.

Anyone have any insight on what I should be looking for? 80% of the inspection process is similar to a light truck but it's the systems I'm unfamilar with that worry me.

Aaron · September 14, 2013

Do you know how to adjust and measure air brakes?

Matt Saunoras · September 14, 2013

Nope, can't say that I do. I know the specs for lining thickness but to actually check them on a vehicle? No idea. I am aware that there are slack adusters on the back side of the service brakes but I can't say I actually know anything about adjusting them in.

What about checking kingpins? This is another concept I'm unfamilar with

Aaron · September 14, 2013

Kingpins support the axle and lift up and down on the wheel with a pry bar, shake wheel at top and bottom. Like checking ball joints.

Slack adjusters are of two types, self adjusting or automatic, or manual.

There are also long stroke and short stroke chambers, easily identified by their air port shape.

I will post more specific stuff later. Having a hard time staying awake at the moment.

Matt Saunoras · September 18, 2013

I'm not going to lie. I've learned a lot more by watching videos on youtube. Don't get me wrong, I rarely take advice from internet videos but seeing some repairs performed and watching some air brake tutorials helped me envision bigger trucks a little more.

I feel a lot better about the test now, I'm pretty sure if you set a truck in front of me I could identify most of the basic components and criteria for inspection.

I think I'll be fine as long as they don't make me use the headlight aimer again :scratch:

Jim Warman · September 18, 2013

Not sure about where you live, Matt. I have air brake endorsement on my drivers licence but I am not allowed to work on air brakes without a heavy duty certification. Automotive licence only covers juice brakes..... though I appear to be allowed to work on electric, electric over hydraulic, surge hydraulic and vacuum brakes.

Some of the other considerations you may encounter (read that as SHOULD) will include first aid kit, fire extinguisher, safety devices such as positive air shut downs (not a requirement in our area unless it is a criteria for entry into a facility - but if one is present, it must work as intended) fifth wheel wear and operation, (oh, I have gotten into some furballs over some of these) placards and company markings (the latter is a GVW thing) and ever so many things that being out of the saddle for nearly 7 months help me disremember.

Your local authority should have a guide manual for requirements and criteria. Often, the language can be wishy-washy (good old "lawyerese" for CYA). Me? I would rather someone be angry at me for being overbearing than have another memorial service to attend.

Aaron · September 18, 2013

A good read up here anyways is the CVSA out of service criteria.

I think you can read it online but I can't seem to locate it at the moment.

Matt Saunoras · September 19, 2013

Yeah my current drivers license (non-CDL) limits me to vehicles under 26,000lbs. Actually I am not allowed to drive a vehicle with air brakes unless I have a medical card. I am going to have to get one of those for sure but I'm not sure about pursuing my CDL at the moment. It would be nice but it's going to take some time and some training.

I called one of my old asset instructors and it turns out he's the one giving the test. I told him everything I've reviewed and he assured me I'll be fine. He'll even help me with the headlight aimer

Matt Saunoras · September 21, 2013

Well I believe I passed the test. Not overly difficult I'm just not used to looking at a larger truck. The one truck was an International 7600 and the other was a Hino. Both medium duty box trucks. I looked at the Hino and it had a burned out left low beam, right headlight was out of adjustment, and it had a busted spring in the right rear brake chamber. When you pressed the brake down you could hear it bind up and pop. Everything else was fine on the truck. They had us measure some pads, shoes, drums and rotors on the bench. Then I looked at a few air brake components set up on a test stand and identifed the concerns. I took kingpin measurements on the International but it had pretty much no play.

I should get my new inspection license in about a month but we won't be doing larger inspections until we're in the new shop.