Driver Forgot To Set The Brakes

Kind of like putting the fuel caps back on.

 

The amount of times I get out and my brain makes me shine my flashlight at the parking brake knob to make sure we're good. I will NOT be that guy.

 

That one I'm guilty of. If I'm in a rush, and do things out of order it's so easy to skip a step when you put the nozzle back and turn completely around.

 

Like being RUSHED when dropping trailer without a Switcher Truck:
Negating to PAY ATTENTION to process by utilizing common tactics, in order.
"Did I pull 5th release.....,oh hell, I forgot to roll down gear.....on a light 38K load....but did disconnect Glad Hands and Electric". After redoing steps, I realized, ONCE, I forgot to SET TRACTOR BRAKES, but it was okay since I was facing an UP Grade but not an upgrade."

As To Fueling, I completed ONE SIDE AT A TIME regardless of how much I was being pushed to giddy-up-go. I have NEVER had a Fuel Cap in the Breeze.

 

I have NEVER forgotten to secure Fuel Caps BEFORE departing, because I always SECURED passenger side FIRST, then kept pumping some on Sight Side.

Don't get me wrong, I've screwed up A LOT over 2 Decades and only dropped maybe 5 EMPTY trailers in 2 decades, including using switcher trucks (or the 5th wheels were worn out [think lazerspot]).

 

Regarding post # 15, AFTER having done such, not setting Brakes, it took me a while to get out of ANY future Truck as I checked 3 or more times before going somewhere outside Cab, even when I was Bobtailing. Sometimes I just set the Tractor Brakes and not the Truck Brakes. Very FEW times, in Winter conditions, in 6 -12 inches snow, I negated to set ANY Brakes due to potential Freeze.

 

You can prevent brake freeze the same way you prevent tires freezing in ice. Every ten minutes or so, as the tires/drums are cooling off, you move through truck back and forth a couple feet. My initial park will usually be 6-8" from the curb and, when I'm confident everything is sufficiently cooled, back up to the curb.