5 Myths About Trailer Maintenance — Busted

Fleet shops are filled with experience, hard-earned wisdom, and unfortunately — a few stubborn myths. And when it comes to trailer maintenance, bad assumptions lead to missed issues, DOT violations, and equipment failure that costs fleets time and money.

Here are five of the most common trailer maintenance myths — and the truth behind them.

Myth #1: “If the Lights Come On, They’re Fine.”

False. Just because lights turn on doesn’t mean the system is operating correctly. Voltage drops, intermittent shorts, and corroded grounds can cause lights to function incorrectly or fail under load — especially after the trailer leaves the yard.

The Inspector 930 confirms proper circuit function under full electrical load — detecting open, crossed, or grounded circuits before they become on-road violations.

Myth #2: “You Can Skip Inspection If the Trailer Was Just Serviced.”

Wrong. Even if a trailer was recently in the shop, things change fast. Vibration, connection movement, and weather exposure can affect systems between service intervals. DOT doesn’t care when it was last inspected — only whether it's compliant now.

That’s why pre-trip and pre-load inspections matter. Tools like the Inspector 930 allow a single tech to validate lighting, ABS, and air systems right before the trailer hits the road — closing the gap between maintenance and real-time readiness.

Myth #3: “ABS Codes Will Trigger a Warning on the Dash.”

Not always. Many trailers have ABS systems that store faults without triggering the tractor’s warning lamp — especially if the trailer hasn’t been connected long enough to cycle the system.

The Inspector 930 pulls active and stored ABS fault codes directly from the trailer, without a tractor hookup, giving techs full visibility before the trailer moves.

Myth #4: “Air Leaks Are Obvious.”

Not true. Small leaks can go unnoticed in a noisy yard or shop, but still result in pressure decay that triggers out-of-service orders. Worse, slow leaks might not show up until the trailer is parked under load — when it matters most.

The Inspector 930 runs a controlled air decay test, verifying that the system holds pressure within acceptable limits.

Myth #5: “It Takes Two Techs to Fully Inspect a Trailer.”

Not anymore. While it used to require one person in the cab and another at the rear, modern tools like the Inspector 930 allow a single technician to inspect every major trailer system — without a tractor or assistant.

That means faster inspections, reduced labor hours, and fewer errors from miscommunication or incomplete checks.

Stop the Myths. Start the Process.

The difference between compliance and violations often comes down to what you believe vs. what you verify. Lite-Check’s Inspector 930 was built to expose the truth — not just confirm assumptions.

See how it supports efficient, one-person inspections at lite-check.com/shop/inspector-930 or call 509-535-7512.