TENNESSEE — A commercial vehicle inspection turned up a deeply troubling picture of deferred maintenance after a trooper discovered brake chamber air hoses so worn they were being held in place with a cell phone charging cable — and learned the driver had already reported an air leak to their mechanic before leaving the yard, only to be told it would be fixed after the next delivery.

Tennessee Highway Patrol's Motor Carrier Plus unit found three separate brake chamber air hoses worn down through their reinforcement plies during the inspection, in addition to a tire below the minimum required air pressure. The driver was also in violation for a false record of duty status.

The air leak the driver had flagged before departure went unaddressed. The mechanic's response — that the repair would happen after the delivery — meant a commercial vehicle with known brake system deficiencies was sent out onto public roads.

THP used the stop as a reminder that known defects must be addressed before a vehicle is placed back in service, not after the next run.

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