The brake system

There are various kinds of brake system: electric, hydraulic, mechanical and pneumatic.

Trucks must have a service brake and a parking brake.

The most common service brakes on trucks:

• drum brakes

• disc brakes

• multiple-disc brakes (wet disc brakes)

• electromagnetic brakes

• Electric trucks can be slowed down by releasing the accelerator pedal or by engaging opposite direction of travel. Other types can be braked by releasing the accelerator pedal.

• Articulated trucks do not have a foot or hand brake as the truck operator walks or stands on a fold-down operator platform.

• The counterbalanced truck has a foot and hand brake that acts on the drive wheels (at the front).

• The parking brake has to be applied when the operator leaves the operator’s seat.