FRONT-WHEEL BRAKES REQUIRED ON TRUCKS RULE AFFECTS MEDIUM-, HEAVY-DUTY RIGS
LEO ABRUZZESE | Jan 27, 1987


"The Department of Transportation reversed a longstanding policy and ordered truckers to install properly working brakes on the front wheels of all medium- and heavy-duty rigs.

The agency's new requirement, which is expected to draw fire from some fleets and many truck drivers, is designed to improve highway safety by

helping tractor trailers make faster, more stable stops.Industry insiders immediately questioned whether the new standard would sway the thousands of drivers who routinely disconnect or disable front-wheel brakes.

Moreover, some engineers raised fears the new brake requirement could actually lead to weaker brakes on some big rigs.

The department's new brake rule is in response to a truck safety law approved by Congress last session.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which established uniform national standards for truck driver licensing, also ordered the secretary of transportation to require operating brakes on all wheels.

Existing federal law has allowed truckers to remove front-wheel brakes on any three-axle tractor or straight truck.

The new rule mandates steering axle brakes on all vehicles over 10,000 pounds manufactured after July 24, 1980.

Truckers will have until Feb. 27, 1988, to reconnect existing front-wheel brakes or reinstall brakes that had been removed."

https://www.joc.com/front-wheel-brakes-required-trucks-rule-affects-medium-heavy-duty-rigs_19870127.html#:~:text=HEAVY%2DDUTY%20RIGS-,FRONT%2DWHEEL%20BRAKES%20REQUIRED%20ON%20TRUCKS%20RULE,MEDIUM%2D%2C%20HEAVY%2DDUTY%20RIGS&text=Existing%20federal%20law%20has%20allowed,manufactured%20after%20July%2024%2C%201980.

Not sure about grandfathered no front axle brakes before 1977, which has to be today an extreme rarity.

Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.