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Push the brake pedal down. Control the pressure so the vehicle comes to a smooth, safe stop. If you have a manual transmission, do not push the clutch in until the engine rpm is down close to idle. When stopped, select a starting gear.
When you brake hard on slippery surfaces in a vehicle without ABS, your wheels may lock up. When your steering wheels lock up, you lose steering control. When your other wheels lock up, you may skid, jackknife, or even spin the vehicle.
ABS helps you avoid wheel lockup. The computer senses impending lockup and reduces the braking pressure to a safe level, and you maintain control. You may or may not be able to stop faster with ABS, but you should be able to steer around an obstacle while braking and avoid skids caused by over-braking.
Having ABS on only the tractor, only the trailer, or even on only one axle still gives you more control over the vehicle during braking. Brake normally.
When only the tractor has ABS, you should be able to maintain steering control and there is less chance of jackknifing. But, keep your eye on the trailer and let up on the brakes (if you can safely do so) if it begins to swing out.
When only the trailer has ABS, the trailer is less likely to swing out, but if you lose steering control or start a tractor jackknife, let up on the brakes (if you can safely do so) until you gain control.
When you drive a tractor-trailer combination with ABS, you should brake as you always have. In other words:
There is only one exception to this procedure: If you always drive a straight truck or combination with working ABS on all axles, in an emergency stop, you can fully apply the brakes.
Without ABS, you still have normal brake functions. Drive and brake as you always have.
Remember: If your ABS malfunctions, you still have regular brakes. Drive normally, but get the system serviced soon.
Remember, if your ABS malfunctions:
Having ABS on only the tractor, only the trailer, or even on only one axle:
ABS helps you avoid wheel lockup. How does it work?
When you drive a tractor-trailer combination with ABS, you should brake as you always have. In other words:
When you drive a tractor-trailer combination with ABS, you should brake as you always have. In other words:
You may or may not be able to stop faster with ABS, but you should be able to:
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