unlatching the fith wheel may be funny to you at the time but if anyone see's you there may be problems like possibly being charged for a crime for it and any damages that results from it.

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So true, I have seen plenty of drivers drop their trailers after the fifth wheel was pulled.. Not fun haveing to crank up up to 80k of dead weight...

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There are only three women in this world that mean anything to me and they are Karen, Krystal, Amanda..

Why don't people check their fifth wheel EVERY time they get behind the wheel? No, not every time they get in the truck, but every time they get behind the wheel. I go in a rest area to take a leak, I check the fifth wheel and air/electric lines before I hop in. I take a nap in the bunk, I check the same. If I can't keep an eye on it through my mirror, it needs to be checked before I take off.

That's the way I've always done it.

I do it all day long. Just like those who never check lug nuts. I found 3 the other day that were loose, and had them fixed before I left the yard..

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There are only three women in this world that mean anything to me and they are Karen, Krystal, Amanda..

I was one who actually checked my fifth wheel every time I hooked up and when I stopped.... Never did I find that somebody had pulled the release handle but one time I did find that I high hooked.. The trailer was sloped downward a little and at an sidewards angle.. I also was the guy that you would see at the truck stop fueling walking around the truck thumping tires, checking hubs and checking my lights.... Not to mention I always would make sure that my reflective tape and tail lights was clean... LOL it was funny and yes I did get strange looks sometimes by other drivers.. My trailer may have been dirty but I would always take a wet cloth and walk down the side of my trailer (and back) wiping the reflective tape clean so it could be see well...

I would also check it everytime too most of the time a quick tug test if I was in a hurry.
It only takes a second to check it out instead of the hour or so it would take to crank it off of the ground.

There's really no excuse for high-hooking either...
When you back under the trailer, you should know about how far you will go before you feel the back of the truck dip down under the trailer's weight. If you don't feel it dip down, then you stop and check, and adjust if necessary. Alternatively, if you don't know that distance, then you should check the trailer height before going all the way under it.

I always do a tug when I leave my truck, even if it's only for 30 seconds! I have seen dropped trailers because of one person's immature idea of a joke. This has repercussions most people never think of. Yeah, it may take a while to crank it back up, but what about that driver's job (although they should have checked before moving), and what about the cost to fix the pavement that YOU just ruined?

Pranks have NO place in this business, I don't care how mundane and "safe" that joke may be. This is a serious responsibility, and has serious consequences for children playing around in it. What if you pull that prank on a stupid driver? What if that stupid driver goes out and kills someone? YOU would take some of the blame.

I clean my reflective tape as well, so you're not the only one TruckerJoe, it's actually good policy, as it helps with visibility. I also clean the lights. If I spot anything hanging off, I will make sure it's not important, and then remove it. If it is important, I call for road service. I will not "limp" an unsafe vehicle down the road if I can help it. If I am already parked, then they can come to me, rather than risking a wreck.

We have to remember that we actually ARE responsible for other peoples' lives, even if they're retarded. We need to live up to that responsibility, and remain vigilant when it comes to safety.

As for the OP and the parking situation: I would have went inside to inform the Flying J that I was calling a tow-truck on the vehicle unless it moved in the next 15 min. This grants time for an announcement, and for the driver to pay for food, get out of shower, etc...

I will not lose money because some other person decided to be lazy.

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Responsibility matters...
Claim yours today!
No one can ever know for sure, what a deserted area looks like. -George Carlin (R.I.P.)

How do you feel losing several hundred miles a week because you have a 60 m.p.h. truck ? YOU are going to call a tow truck ? Suppose the truck you call on leaves before the tow gets there ? Guess who would get billed ?