Trolley Brake
Posted by BornWeb2144@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 41 comments
My company just purchased many new 2026 day cabs. I got one today and noticed there’s no brake handle inside the cab. The maintenance guy stated that all new trucks are going to not having this feature. I read that’s it’s a DOT violation not to have a brake for the trailer inside the cab.
What’s your thoughts on this?
Resident-Sherbert-89@reddit
You sure there’s not one on the dash? It’s a push down lever about 2 inches wide on the Pete’s and kw
throwed-off@reddit
I use mine everyday during my pre-trip.
As soon as I start inching forward I use the trolley valve to test the trailer brakes, then I do a tug test. It's also handy for diagnosing air leaks on the service (blue) side of the trailer's air system.
DoctorZebra@reddit
I never had one until I started hauling fuel. After I finally got one, I proceeded to never use it or see the point of having it.
InsaneAdam@reddit
I find it helpful when stopping or slowing on snow or potentially ice. Also good to check the grip conditions by using it and seeing how easily your tires slide or how good they slow you down.
cliowill@reddit
It's also good for doing brodies In an empty snow-covered parking lot.
InsaneAdam@reddit
Haha 🤣
Truck drifting is not for the rookies that's for sure.
ChaseJulien@reddit
In my opinion, it’s better to use an acceleration check to test for traction than a brake check. Less chance of everything going sideways and easier to recover.
InsaneAdam@reddit
Yes don't press the break pedal to check. Use only trailer breaks with trolly lever. If don't have trolley level then acceleration grip test is next best option.
cliowill@reddit
I have driven with them , and without them . Successfully.
RoosterzRevenge@reddit
It's not a DOT violation.
BornWeb2144@reddit (OP)
49 CFR §393.43 and §396.3 I think it is
cliowill@reddit
I believe there is a misinterpretation of this.
RoosterzRevenge@reddit
It's not, most fleets don't order trucks with it. It's a convenience not a requirement.
Financial-Prize9691@reddit
I never had a trolley break until I bought my own truck. Now that I have one I can't imagine driving without it.
Delicious_Peace_2526@reddit
You use it while your driving?
Financial-Prize9691@reddit
Um how else would you use it?
Delicious_Peace_2526@reddit
To test the trailer brakes. What do you do with it when you’re driving?
Financial-Prize9691@reddit
I don't use it for emergency braking and I can apply light pressure without locking it down, it's adjusted to do 5, 15, and 50 psi depending on how far I pull it. Off the top of my head.
They hold my spare McDonald's headset.
When I am backing into a dock to keep my hill assist from engaging.
If I am at a tight dock I can engage my trolley and force the trailer to pivot quicker. I have a long truck and I do a lot of small airport pickups meant for 40 ft trucks.
If my trailer swings out from under the truck from wind or ice threatening to jacknife, light consitant pressure and a little acceleration will pull it back behind the truck.
Slow me down without doing a hard stop, also mine doesn't kick off the cruise control.
Hold me on a hill especially a stop light so my hill assist doesn't engage.
When I am pulling someone else's trailer, they are not burning my brakes up. For some reason I put 600k miles on my last set of brakes.
When I'm bobtail, I can use them to back off someone tailgating because they flash the brake lights, rarely do this but I am not a saint. Everyone has things they are not proud of.
When I am sliding my tandems with a manual release.
I'm sure there are other situations, that's all I got right now. I'm trying to figure out how to use them for a PTI to be honest.
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit
I want one on my truck now.
Ornery_Ads@reddit
I can say I definitely find it useful...primarily for diagnostics and pretrip stuff, but couldn't drive without it? Not even close.
ChaseJulien@reddit
That’s because now you own the truck. Company drivers have no reason to only use the trailer brakes.
treesmith1@reddit
Most larger companies haven't had them for a while.
guard3rd@reddit
Yall talking about the Johnny bar?
IgnoringHisAge@reddit
He is
Tape_Face42@reddit
Just another example of how stupid this industry has gotten. The trolley brake is an important safety feature. But nahh, lets have rigs that just slam on the brakes for no reason instead.
Western-Willow-9496@reddit
It’s an optional device, like Jake or exhaust brakes.
InsaneAdam@reddit
Having exhaust aka Jake breaks is not an option. Without them you can't go down a mountain loaded in anything but low gear and 3 mph. If you're a truck driver you can try going down without using them but you'll be using the run away truck ramp if your not in that first gear the whole time.
Tape_Face42@reddit
Yes, and Jake/exhaust brakes are important safety features.
DoctorZebra@reddit
Important safety feature? I've been driving for almost 20 years and have never used it outside of a parking lot when testing it. I guess I've just never seen the point of applying trailer brakes without applying tractor brakes as well.
Tape_Face42@reddit
You don't use it to pre-trip?
w3stvirginia@reddit
What makes it safer? I haven’t had one 6 years and don’t feel any less safe.
Tape_Face42@reddit
Two things:
Pre-trip, it's a great way to pressurize the service brakes of the trailer to check for leaks.
Another great option to keep control on slick surfaces and prevent a jackknife.
floydguitarist@reddit
Seen less of them in my later years of driving, I used them to slide tandems all the time
jmzstl@reddit
Not a DOT violation. My company also doesn’t have it, but we have the blue pre-trip button that functions the same way. It’s just more awkward to use while driving.
Tape_Face42@reddit
That's interesting, pre-trip is my most common use for the trolley brake. I'd still prefer an actual trolley brake handle though.
Western-Willow-9496@reddit
What you read was there must be a manual and automatic way to operate the EMERGENCY (spring) feature of the trailer brakes. That would be the “red knob” and the tractor protection valve, not a trolley bar.
Extra_Significance81@reddit
My 23 KW has it as a press lever on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. They are getting good at hiding them
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
It’s not a violation. Companies like Schneider wouldn’t spec their trucks with a built in violation.
Not having one sucks though, though you can work around it.
Sea-Count-5298@reddit
Am I missing something. How would you move the tandems without a trailer brake.???
indysbestprodriver@reddit
Um. But setting the trailer breaks. You know the red knob. Or in some trucks, it is electronic now.
THExPILLOx@reddit
I've driven many trucks over the years without trolley brakes. It being a regulation seems sus but I don't feel like looking it up. But many large fleets spec them out of the truck.