Skids/Rollovers

One of the biggest things that I seem to notice is drivers exiting to fast off the big road. Many get the highway hypnosis of cruising fast and don't slow down enough when bailing. Truck load shifts or they lose control then you can check the underside real easy while standing up.

 

Know how your load is stacked. If you pick up a trailer that was pre-loaded try to find out if it's loaded high or not. If you can't find out, just assume that it is top-heavy.

 

What they said....know your load or assume its top heavy or freight will shift, if your hauling containers make sure ALL your pins are locked

#3 is pretty hard to answer, keep it under control and you wont have that problem, there is always the ditch...or whatever/wherever

The only way I know to avoid hydroplaining is driving slower

Drive smart and the safe will follow

 

Drive smart. Consider weather conditions and make sure you leave enough space ahead of you to do a controlled stop. If you do have to take the ditch, jam the spike down hard and put the accelerator to the mat. Steer into the ditch and do your best to keep it straight. The trailer brakes on full will slow you down quick enough and provide sufficient drag to keep you straight and therefore upright.

 

I agree completely with what everyone said, I just want to stress that load shifts can happen at any speed. I know of personally 2 trucks that rolled over going less than 10 mph and one resulted in the death of a woman in a car. So, always respect your truck. Don't get too confident at any time and you will be fine.

 

I also agree with all of the above,if you mess up and get off an exit too fast,never hit the brakes while the g forces are working,you will throw the weight up and high side like on a motorcyle,just take it as straight as possible slow as fast as safely as you can,then square out the turn and you should not have a problem. Never try to make an exit if going to fast,drive right by it or stay in breakdown lane and catch the next exit and come back again. I have trained drivers myself on my own,I tell them to drive like they have a flatbed loaded with eggs on it and to drive so smooth as not to have one egg fall off or break. i had an old man tell me that years ago,and guess what? it worked for me,smooth shifts and stops,be the best you can be.

 

Dido on all of the above, I just glanced over it and I may be saying this over again but "Fatigue" is also a major reason for both..

 

Ditto, a skidding tire skids because it has no traction. Too much power or too much brake. No jakes on wet or snow covered roads.

 

Don't forget yer tires. proper size, tread depth, and inflation. Also brakes in good working order, properly adjusted. recognizing road conditions, especially black ice, and fresh rainfall. The single most common contributing factor to roll-over is actually three, high speed combined with quick movement and rapid deceleration. info's easy, incorporating it your driving habits is the real challenge. Good luck to us all...!