Pulling doubles?

Been running a tanker the last 8 years locally. I was offered a job this week by US Foods as a night shuttle driver. I think I am going to take it as I like the days off. Will be pulling doubles,2 trips a night.

I have never pulled doubles. Is there much a person really have to watch differently?

 

have two of every thing you must check.

If you safely drove a tanker you can pull doubles. Check your mirrors, but dont constantly readjust..the rear trailer will follow the rest of the set f you are going forward.

People say they wiggle, I dont notie it..Maybe on a rough road if empty.

Know your routes, dont get into a jam where you cant turn. But doubles can turn in some confined spaces as long as you know what you are doing. I've #### near jackedknifed a set, trying to turn due to getting wrong directions down a residential street at night.

Go slow during left turns especially. rollovers are more prone to occur during left turns

 

Yes, you have to drive like they are top heavy, no sudden moves, or you get a crack the whip effect. Corners are easier as the follow pretty good around a corner, turn like a snake, you don't have to swing as wide, but if you swing left just a little before turning right they follow around nicely. Every time I stop, I walk around vehicle and double check 5th wheels and pintle hook that it is latched. Also double check the connections on the rear of the rear trailer. You don't want air leaking out of the rear service gladhand when appling brakes.
Alway get the heaviest trailer in the lead, sometimes when the dolly axle weighs more than the rear axle of the lead trailer, the dolly wants to steer around some. If you feel uncomfortable with the handling, just slow down. Grooves in the highway can sometimes catch you off guard. Problems can just happen faster with a set of doubles. When mty and slippery, occasionally the dolly will kick out when hard braking. (sideways) Same way with a single axle tractor, just run a little more defensive and remember, when you drive the same road over and over, pretty soon you get braver on the corners, etc and that when trouble happens.

 

Rain is or snow is your worst enemy. Give your self double the stopping distance in slick roads specially if empty. Watch your fingers when your coupling the dolly to the first trailer. Leave a couple inches between the fifth wheel and second trailer so you can manuever the dolly if needed as long as your king pin and fifth are lined up they will hook. Lower the second trailer my tractor tends to be a little higher than the dolly watch that so u wont get a false lock. Also watch your back I dont know what kind of dollys u will use but ours are 3k do all your manuevers with your legs and arms never yank or pull without thinking or u will blow ur back out. One last thing. Always check brakes with johnson bar listen for airleaks as you walk around. Im not sure how heavy u will pull or if you know how to weigh the combo correctly we will tell you. Hope I helped you.

 

The pups are more susceptible to wind, especially when empty. Make sure you do a thorough inspection of the dolly prior to backing it under your rear trailer. Nothing is more of a PITA than having to break a set because you didn't catch a missing pigtail or air line prior to hooking.

Make sure you have a flashlight and actually get under the rear trailer to ensure a good hook. In fact, make sure you eyeball the trailer height when placing the dolly. High hooks are disasters waiting to happen. When in doubt, check it again.

 

NEVER drive into a place that you do not think you can drive straight through!!! I got trapped in a rest area in N. California one night and had to break the set to get out and then hook em back together on the far side of the rest area...

 

just passed my doubles endorsement. I have always had concerns about pulling them. I have put them together and broken them apart in the yard, also pulled them around in the yard to move them when they were in the way. I read in one post not to readjust. My major concern is the truck I drive has some play in the steering so there is constant adjusting. will that have an affect on pulling doubles? Also has anyone had to sit on the endorsement for 6 months before pulling them? It is stated in the FMCSR "upon completion of the application the holder of this endorsement must hold for six months". may not be the exact statement but is kind of a gray explanation. For noob, I could understand but for 14 years plus.....I don't know.

 

Do a good pre-trip, especially the con gear. Just like with tanker, look and think ahead, don't go down deadends or you'll have to break it down to turn around. Be extra smooth on the wheel to eliminate the wiggle, or crack the whip. Don't swerve when changing lanes. Be smooth.

Keep your hands off the font of the con gear, when pushing it up snug to the trailer. Hit a hole and it while push forward and crush your hand into the front trailer hitch.

I like to purge the red valves before hooking up lines, also blow out the red line on con gear before hooking up to back pup. Take your time hooking the lines up right, and don't forget to close the con gear air valve and eyeball your 5th wheel jaws.

 

I don't have my doubles endorsment and told them I would get one.They said "ok." I am supposed to start in about 2 weeks.