Mobile trailer repair on I-80 in central Nebraska

Through freight on I-80 is joined here by reefer and livestock trailers working the plants and feedyards around Lexington. A trailer can stop a load even when the tractor runs perfectly, and lights and air leaks lead the list.

Crosswinds across the Platte valley are hard on doors, and the long open stretches between Gothenburg and Kearney leave a lot of road where a pigtail or a leaking bag can strand you.

Field trailer work

• Seven-way plug, pigtail and marker or brake light faults
• ABS lamp and wheel sensor trouble
• Gladhand, air line and valve leaks
• Brake chambers, slack adjusters and adjustment
• Air-ride bags and height control valves
• Landing gear legs and crank handles
• Swing door hinges, cam locks and roll-up doors

Fix it before it fails an inspection

Lights, air leaks and brake adjustment are common reasons a trailer is written up under the CVSA out-of-service criteria. A walk-around at a rest area, such as Cozad near mile 227, often catches a dead marker or a hissing line before it becomes a citation.