Who has the ultimate responsibility to check that the brakes are working properly before moving the vehicle?
- The mechanic
- The vehicle's manufacturer
- The driver ✓
- The vehicle's owner
Answer: C. The driver
The driver is the one responsible for making sure the brakes are working properly before the vehicle moves.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says daily pre- and post-trip inspections, including checking and adjusting brakes, are mandatory, and that the driver may be held responsible when brakes are incorrectly adjusted or not working. It also points to missed routine maintenance or a driver skipping daily brake checks as a common factor in brake failures and runaways. So the person operating the vehicle has to confirm the brakes work before moving it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. The mechanic — The handbook places the daily brake check responsibility on the driver, not on a mechanic.
- B. The vehicle's manufacturer — The passages do not give the vehicle's manufacturer responsibility for checking the brakes before each move.
- D. The vehicle's owner — The passages say the driver may be held responsible and that the driver and carrier share inspection responsibility, not the vehicle's owner.
Remember it
Before you roll, you own the brake check: if you are driving, you confirm the brakes work.