Are Better Brakes In the Future?

March 3, 2015

Better Brakes For Better Stopping

For any commercial truck driver, one of their worst nightmares is getting into an accident because the vehicle in front of them brakes too fast. That type of scenario is a recipe for disaster, and a need for improvements in braking systems has been a reality for years. In recent years, a lot has been done to increase the response rate of trucks for commercial tractors, and according to a recent FleetOwner article, it's possible that we may be seeing even more improvements in the near future.

2009 - A Year of Change

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set new requirements in place that called for a decrease in the stopping distances of commercial trucks. As a result, most companies complied by replacing their existing braking systems with enhanced S-cam drum brakes. Of course, stopping requirements vary based on the weight of the load you're carrying, but the new brakes made braking safely much easier on truck drivers. Weight remains a factor, and although the new requirements helped, the experts knew there was more that needed to be done.

ADB Brakes

As time went on, engineers saw a need for improvement in drum brake technology as well. They wanted a brake that would perform well, but that would allow for a more even distribution of the weight of the truck's freight. That, in turn, would also improve fuel efficiency. ADB brakes are said to last a lot longer before they need to be serviced and changing brake pads is done much quicker than with drum brakes, unless the rotor needs to be changed as well. Friction is also a concern, which is something that is going to be addressed in the near future. It's possible that ADBs will be made without a torque plate an an effort to move toward electronic brakes.

In short, braking systems are improving! Want to know more? Check back right here at truckertotrucker.com.

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