Common trucking problems-Air loss, tire puncture, friction/overheating brakes, no trailer lights etc

Common problems encountered as a driver, outside of pre-trip/post-trip:
1. Unexplained (until found) air loss: Leaked air is displayed via the dash’s primary and secondary air gauges. Air loss can affect many things including causing trailer wheels to lockup. When air pressure gets too low to hold the brakes in a retracted position, they will expand against the brake drum or rotor to stop the truck. Several truck systems are pneumatic (run with air-pressure).
A leaking valve on a trailer, a disconnected tube coming from the air compressor, improperly connected glad-hands, etc., are some of many potential points of issue.
(Google excerpt)
In a truck's (air) brake system, brake chambers convert air pressure into mechanical force. This force activates the brake shoes to press against the drum or rotor to stop the vehicle.
Brake chambers are located at each wheel end and contain a diaphragm, pushrod, and pressure housing.
When the driver presses the brake pedal, pressurized air pushes on the diaphragm, which extends the pushrod outward. The force exerted by the pushrod depends on the air pressure applied and the diaphragm's area.
When the pedal is released, a return spring pulls the brake shoes away from the drum, releasing the brakes.
There are also:
*Brake caliper: Metal housing that surrounds the brake pads, squeezes them against the brake drums to stop the truck.
*Brake piston: Part of the brake chamber; pushes the brake shoes against the brake drums.
*Brake rotor: The wheel that contains the brake drum and holds it to the axle.
*Brake pads, brake drums, and brake chambers are components of a truck's air brake system. These work together to slow down or stop the vehicle.
Trucks typically use either drum brakes or disc brakes.
In disc brakes, brake fluid activates pistons inside a caliper that press brake pads against a rotor to slow the vehicle.
(end of Google excerpt)
2. Punctures that result in flat tires is another very common problem (as seen in video).
3. Mud-flaps can be pulled up and around tires resulting in the loss of the mudflap (DOT weigh-scale violation). This can also result in a force that pulls light fixture internals out of their protective housing, resulting in tucked-away wires being pulled out and either ripped apart, or having the wire’s protective sheath removed from rubbing against rotating tire exposing the underlying copper. When the wire makes contact with metal, it will probably result in a short circuit, which can blow a fuse, resulting in a loss of trailer lights (also a DOT violation). In the video, the wires were worn down to the copper (without insulation). I re-insulated the full extent of the exposed wire with electrical tape until a mechanic could address it more thoroughly.
4. Pieces can sometimes bend out of shape. There are substantial forces generated by the interplay of such variables as weight and speed (Velocity, acceleration, mass?). I’m no expert in physics. However, I do know that one loaded truck, at 80,000 lbs, weighs as much as 40 one-ton pickup trucks or 13 fully grown elephants. Add the fact that it is moving at near the same speed as many smaller vehicles, and the forces generated are then easier to grasp. Sometimes, you’ll get out of your truck, see a piece of metal twisted or bent out of shape (a handle or a truck step) and wonder, “How did that happen?” It’s a reminder of the forces at play in truck driving.
5. Friction generates extreme heat. Overheating brakes can occasionally result in tires that catch fire as seen in the video.
6. Tarp issues are a common source of frustration, whether not opening or closing (blown fuse?), getting stuck in the upright position (sometimes the mechanical arm caught on the wall of trailer), becoming disconnected and falling into the trailer (without the driver realizing it, occasionally coming out with the dumped load).
7. Blown fuses will result in trailer lights not working, or one of many other potential outcomes.
8. A tractor’s fender bolts breaking (ESPECIALLY ON MACKS!), causes the fender to drop and to rub on tire, shredding the rubber fender, with friction that results in heat that can (occasionally) wear down a tire, ultimately resulting in a flat.
I had a video about a tarp that collapsed into the trailer and came out with my material when I dropped the load. Unfortunately, I deleted it before I thought of making this video about common problems encountered as a driver.
Combined videos are from both California and North Dakota…