Do you dump the bags everytime when pulling out from under a trailer?

Air bags? What are air bags? I'm still running leaf springs.

 

I dump the bags everytime on both dropping and hooking. Easier on the equipment and it doesn't push all the 5th wheel grease onto the the tractor or the front of the trailer.

 

I apologize in advance for any ignorance. I am not a trucker. I have a dump tractor at my plant and have zero experience.

While I don't operate the tractor myself, I have observed the process a number of times. I am very nervous about the procedures I have seen conducted.

The driver hooks up the trailer, open the doors etc , and then raises the trailer in the air to dump. Obviously common practice. If the load gets stuck, they pull forward a little, then reverse and brake to dislodge the load. Two weeks ago we had a trailer fall off. The plate where the kingpin sits was caved upwards, making me think that the trailer wasn't seated properly and not locked in to place. Can any one please tell me if this is a common practice, to "rock" the load out? If not, what is the reccomended procedure? Where can I find some literature on best practices? Maybe a video???

The loads are large, dense loads of materials. Wire, bails, and they regularly get stuck

 

I apologize in advance for any ignorance. I am not a trucker. I have a dump tractor at my plant and have zero experience.

While I don't operate the tractor myself, I have observed the process a number of times. I am very nervous about the procedures I have seen conducted.

The driver hooks up the trailer, open the doors etc , and then raises the trailer in the air to dump. Obviously common practice. If the load gets stuck, they pull forward a little, then reverse and brake to dislodge the load. Two weeks ago we had a trailer fall off. The plate where the kingpin sits was caved upwards, making me think that the trailer wasn't seated properly and not locked in to place. Can any one please tell me if this is a common practice, to "rock" the load out? If not, what is the reccomended procedure? Where can I find some literature on best practices? Maybe a video???

The loads are large, dense loads of materials. Wire, bails, and they regularly get stuck

 

You can say that again!(hahaha)

 

That you are seeing is different from what this thread is referring to. You are seeing drivers pulling dump trailers . And what you are seeing is bout normal. We in this thread are talking about a valve that lowers the rear of the truck . Once the landing gear( the legs near the front of the trailer are lowered) this gently places the weight on the landing gear from the truck. Only move rear of the frame 6 to 8 inches. Nowhere near what's needed to dump the load out the rear of the trailer. Hope this helps . Don't feel bad , not knowing , you are asking questions so you can learn .

 

I always do, mainly its out of respect for the amount of money that someone else invested for me to make a good living, I also like to go easy on my truck, dont bang it or push it harder than i have to.

Watch how Hugh on Ice Road Truckers drops a heavy trailer....he gets the landing gear to the ground doesnt dump his air or even try to gently put the landing gear on the ground. He just dumps the clutch and drops a 45K plus trailer off of his tractor. The guy is a total douchebag with no respect at all to his employers investment in equipment.

 

That's why you know your truck. you should be able to tell if your high or low looking in your mirrors....so no matter who dropped it you should be able if you know your truck, to tell if the trailer is to high or to low.......

 

Or GOAL. Get Out And Look, at least til you have enough experience to judge it from the drivers seat. If there's any doubt, GOAL.

 

As far as I am concerned.

if YOU are not the one that went out and actually dropped the trailer...

THIS is the only answer. ONLY way I will do it unless it's MY trailer I dropped MYSELF.