Jack knife while pulling forward

big bummer about the whole deal, not unusual not to cover all the bases in training

..or even in the first few years

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...3013-bad-attitude-truckers-3.html#post3078018

 

try greasing your fifth wheel more.

You are correct, it's likely in a hard lock turn, right or left, you won't NORMALLY have contact between the cab and the trailer.

Add in the equation of ice under snow, it's likely there was enough forward momentum to the trailer that when you were that tight, it pushed your drives sideways when you are turned that tight just enough to have contact.

And if that's the case, then yes, it's a preventable accident.

 

just about everything,

keep in mind that anything you volunteer can/will be used against you,

get caught with a story and job could be gone

 

IMO the OP had a incident not a accident.

 

If you keep the wheel locked in the direction of the turn, you will run into your trailer about halfway thru a 180º turn (as you discovered), give or take depending on truck wheelbase and trailer length. You're lucky you didn't push the trailer backward into something nearby outside of your turn and compound the damage.

 

Much Agreed!

 

Yes, he did...

" As far as I can tell the tractor skidded out of the turn "

 

So the first you knew something was wrong was when you heard the crunch? What's wrong with this?

Conditions were not "normal" and it appears you missed this fact. Accept it, move on and strive to do better. Don't mean to seem harsh toward you but situational awareness and responsibility are your charge.

Best regards