Tales of breakdowns

Cheryl Akers, her daughter Christina Alspaugh and Christinas daughter, Stefany, moved from Michigan to Arizona with a U-Haul truck in 2002. It suffered the equivalent of multiple organ failure, stranding them repeatedly in the Southwest during the summer. (Al Seib / LAT)

Sept. 16, 2014 1:43 AM PT

Former U-Haul employee Dave Adams, a long-time senior U-Haul manager in the Bay Area, who quit after a 2002 demotion, described the safety regimen as “Reams of paper, reams of forms and a heck of a good-looking program on paper.” But equipment often missed required safety checks. “Sprinkle holy water on it’ was the expression,” he said. “It’s truly a matter of people just not having the time and resources to get it done.” (Al Seib / LAT)

David Driscoll learned that the wheel that flew off the U-Haul truck he was driving was missing a bolt, bearings and retainer pin. (Al Seib / LAT)

Under U-Haul’s rules, every truck or trailer is supposed to carry evidence of a recent safety certification: Trailers should undergo one every 30 days, and trucks at least every 60 days The inspection includes brakes, tires and other essential parts. U-Haul agents are supposed to affix a sticker to the equipment that records the month, week and year of the most recent check. (Al Seib / LAT)

Major Brown puts decals on panels to be assembled into a new truck at Paramount Manufacturing, owned by U-Haul. U-Haul says it has bought about 38,000 new trucks over the past two years and has sold nearly as many older ones. (Al Seib / LAT)

Berts Liquor in Los Angeles is one of U-Hauls 14,500 dealers nationwide. Along with gas stations and auto repair shops, they include storage sites, minimalls, postal supply shops and laundromats. (Al Seib / LAT)

At U-Hauls Paramount Manufacturing in Long Beach, Robert Ventress carries a tire to a trailer being refurbished. The company says it is investing heavily to modernize its fleet. (Al Seib / LAT)