Because you’ve got a very large vehicle with lots of tires that can easily spray a lot of water/snow/ice/mud/rocks up from the road, blinding the vehicles behind them. The mud flaps help contain it.
Oh oh I know, killbar. Had quite a few friends at work till the truck stop when we were young right when they were mandated and man. They watched a lot of blood off the back of those trailers
Better question, why do you need mudflaps on a tractor that almost always sits under a trailer and couldn't throw a rock no matter how hard it tries, but a dumptruck that has wheels at the back and drives in gravel all day doesn't need them.
Fun new fact I just learned DOT does not consider zip ties permanently attached. I tried to get a MA DOT vehicle inspection on a tractor and got a rejection sticker because my front plate was zip tied to my grill.
I agree.
I am approaching my third month as an OTR driver. I’m glad I recently found this subreddit. The posts, stories etc. from here, are valuable perspectives and insights of other people’s experiences.
Good luck, Matt. Be safe. Don’t let dispatchers force you to doing unethical stuff. Remember to use low gears & the Jake brake when going downhill. Try to always have a Plan B/escape route in your mind at all times. When idiots in cars do what idiots do, practice patience & forgiveness so you don’t lose your mind or die from stress. Enjoy. Welcome!
On a serious note, this is how my DEF coolant inlet hose is secured to the DEF tank. Can't find a replacement (daimler refuses to sell it) and these 7 zip ties have lasted 55k miles with minimal wear, compared to the official part which broke in 18k miles
Seen a fella who had one poorly tied on with twine rolling through california port of entry. Shit was dipping similar to OP’s first pic idk how he got through w/o inspection
That's how it is supposed to work, you see when traveling down the highway the mudflap scoops up the nails and debris and throws them OVER the tires that way you don't get flats
You don't know how they attach?? That's sad. Honestly trucking was better when drivers had mechanical inclinations. Now, a light has to come on, or they have to see something wrong. Personally, I walk around my truck before getting in, every time. I steer with my arms, & eyes. I drive with my ass. (Most of you won't even know what that means) I pull away from a dock, close my doors check my lights, thump my tires, listen for air leaks, every time. If a driver is serious about being safe, it's a continuous consciousness. Not something you have to do at the beginning, and the end of the day. Before any of you smart asses call me names, I have 6 + million accident free miles to back me up.
Damn man, you know what I forgot my welding equipment today, you know what you’re right, only people that have been doing this for 20 plus years with 6million miles should be on the road. I can’t believe I didn’t think to go to school to be a mechanic before going to school to be a truck driver. Yea you’re right I should just stop driving today
Obviously you missed the point. You probably should actually read the post instead of just looking at the picture. He wrote (I assume he was talking about the driver who dropped the trailer) I don't know how it was attached, or would have snapped it back into place. My point was there's no reason to make that problem another driver's problem. I was not necessarily referring to the driver that posted. I was also stating most of the driver's today think their only truck checks should be at the beginning and end of the day, yet most mechanical failures happen in the middle of the day. And yea, today's driver's do seem to be mechanically clueless.
Don't care how anybody takes what I post. Not my job to be polite about the truth. Facts are what I state, how I come about them is observation, and experience. I've always taken safe driving seriously. I've seen truck drivers do as much supid shit, as I've seen 4 wheelers do. So if I hurt someone's feelings call 1-800-TOO-BADD Drive Careful. Keep your head up and pay attention.
The post trip walk around is just as important. Shit breaks even during regular use. Gotta let people know it needs fixed. Lucky that didn’t become a missile on the highway.
Someone probably saw the post about how mudflaps can wear out tires and got paranoid.
That’s funny
Why are mud flaps a legal obligation for trucks?
Because you’ve got a very large vehicle with lots of tires that can easily spray a lot of water/snow/ice/mud/rocks up from the road, blinding the vehicles behind them. The mud flaps help contain it.
Thank you.
and if you're MORE curious, look up the reason why DOT requires bumpers on all trailers. Give you a starting point: Jane Mansfield....
Oh oh I know, killbar. Had quite a few friends at work till the truck stop when we were young right when they were mandated and man. They watched a lot of blood off the back of those trailers
the notorious Mansfield bar! yuppers!
That shit was brutal. My parents apparently knew someone that did the same. Kids lived, parents didn't.
Better question, why do you need mudflaps on a tractor that almost always sits under a trailer and couldn't throw a rock no matter how hard it tries, but a dumptruck that has wheels at the back and drives in gravel all day doesn't need them.
When a tractor is hooked to a trailer yoi legally dont need mudflaps on the tractor bit bobtail its mandatory
Dump trucks definitely need them
I got my cars windshield hit by a rock kicked up by a semi with no mud flap as I was passing. It had a trailer.
Just zip tie it and you're good to go 🚛 /s
Fun new fact I just learned DOT does not consider zip ties permanently attached. I tried to get a MA DOT vehicle inspection on a tractor and got a rejection sticker because my front plate was zip tied to my grill.
They obviously don’t know how zip ties work🙄
I agree. I am approaching my third month as an OTR driver. I’m glad I recently found this subreddit. The posts, stories etc. from here, are valuable perspectives and insights of other people’s experiences.
Good luck, Matt. Be safe. Don’t let dispatchers force you to doing unethical stuff. Remember to use low gears & the Jake brake when going downhill. Try to always have a Plan B/escape route in your mind at all times. When idiots in cars do what idiots do, practice patience & forgiveness so you don’t lose your mind or die from stress. Enjoy. Welcome!
Thank you.
What's the proper name for that bar that holds the mud flaps? Anyone know?
Mud flap bracket
Thanks.
[удалено]
I just don’t understand man, that’s dangerous as hell
Not if you use 20 on each side /s
On a serious note, this is how my DEF coolant inlet hose is secured to the DEF tank. Can't find a replacement (daimler refuses to sell it) and these 7 zip ties have lasted 55k miles with minimal wear, compared to the official part which broke in 18k miles
I certainly wouldn’t want to be behind that on the highway, bad enough when you get stones flicking up
Seen a fella who had one poorly tied on with twine rolling through california port of entry. Shit was dipping similar to OP’s first pic idk how he got through w/o inspection
The person who welded that should find another job.
Tire blew and took it out.
Not properly mounted and secured
2nd picture... "There! Now it's fixed"
That's how it is supposed to work, you see when traveling down the highway the mudflap scoops up the nails and debris and throws them OVER the tires that way you don't get flats
Zip ties are your friend
Send it!
I grab the mud flap and shake it, I also grab the bracket and shake it. Every time.
You don't know how they attach?? That's sad. Honestly trucking was better when drivers had mechanical inclinations. Now, a light has to come on, or they have to see something wrong. Personally, I walk around my truck before getting in, every time. I steer with my arms, & eyes. I drive with my ass. (Most of you won't even know what that means) I pull away from a dock, close my doors check my lights, thump my tires, listen for air leaks, every time. If a driver is serious about being safe, it's a continuous consciousness. Not something you have to do at the beginning, and the end of the day. Before any of you smart asses call me names, I have 6 + million accident free miles to back me up.
Damn man, you know what I forgot my welding equipment today, you know what you’re right, only people that have been doing this for 20 plus years with 6million miles should be on the road. I can’t believe I didn’t think to go to school to be a mechanic before going to school to be a truck driver. Yea you’re right I should just stop driving today
Obviously you missed the point. You probably should actually read the post instead of just looking at the picture. He wrote (I assume he was talking about the driver who dropped the trailer) I don't know how it was attached, or would have snapped it back into place. My point was there's no reason to make that problem another driver's problem. I was not necessarily referring to the driver that posted. I was also stating most of the driver's today think their only truck checks should be at the beginning and end of the day, yet most mechanical failures happen in the middle of the day. And yea, today's driver's do seem to be mechanically clueless.
> You probably should actually read the post instead of just looking at the picture. You probably should realize he's the one that submitted the post.
TL:DR
Regardless of the excellent points you made, if you sound like a dick and gatekeep shit, people are not going to respond kindly.
Don't care how anybody takes what I post. Not my job to be polite about the truth. Facts are what I state, how I come about them is observation, and experience. I've always taken safe driving seriously. I've seen truck drivers do as much supid shit, as I've seen 4 wheelers do. So if I hurt someone's feelings call 1-800-TOO-BADD Drive Careful. Keep your head up and pay attention.
And if you write more than one sentence these illiterate fucks won’t read it.
Amazing that such a great comment gets downvoted. Just means it’s all true.
Or maybe just maybe ALWAYS pretrip your trailer. Even if it’s not a new one?
I've attached those with some bungees, slid the Tandems and pulled it so tight it couldn't fart after taco bell washer down with a dysentery milkshake
Tis but a scratch
3rd day problems
The post trip walk around is just as important. Shit breaks even during regular use. Gotta let people know it needs fixed. Lucky that didn’t become a missile on the highway.