Yes, most commercial heavy trucks with straight air brakes have spring safety
brakes that apply the brakes in the event of an air system failure. HOWEVER,
the M123/M125 series ten ton trucks I know (there's one in the driveway 20
feet away), and I believe the Mack NO series have straight air, no spring
safety. NO AIR, NO BRAKES!!! It is imperative that the brake systems on
these vehicles be meticulously maintained. It does have independent trailer
brakes. The parking brake is drum on back of the tranny. A friend of mine
was driving a 123 (no trailer) and the driveshaft came out, ripped out the
air tanks, and Wow. No service brakes, no parking brakes, nothing just a
thrill ride (this was on a City street!).
The MWO on the visual alarm places a red light, shaped just like the high
beam indicator, but pure red, in the dead center of the instrument cluster.
Keep 'em rollin'
David Doyle
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