Why not more double trailer truck?

Taking a guess here, is that because the landing gear is further toward the nose of the trailer, so if they have the 5th wheel far enough forward without checking, they hit the landing gear?

 

Half correct Alaska76, On the right path. Still won't give the answer. some folks need to read

 

Surprised no one commented as it being easier for someone new to drive. No backing up really except to hook, most doubles work is drop and hook, usually at a big hub/yard(less waiting potentially and no small customer yards). Also you probably go to the same yards more often, so less frustration trying to route yourself if you have trouble with that. I found driving doubles fun and definitely more cost efficient for ltl driving. Also you train yourself to look ahead more because you need a lot of room to stop those doubles at highway speeds.(think about a football field). All in all a little more risk, at the end of the day it comes to dollar, cents, and safety.

 

Ive been at this too long to really care much anymore---way back in the day I used to pull turnpike doubles between orlando and miami everynight--quite possible the easiest gig on the planet....course to this day--everytime I see a set of trips--the kid in me says--why stop there?? why not 4 or 5?--LOL
and Shaggy--Ive never paid attention to whats written on front of yalls pups--but its gotta be that their 5th wheel is too far front--unless you still have some of the old style(havent seen many in years)that have that xtra front mounted landing leg(like big R used to)and they dont raise it first...
although I get the feeling your just poking fun at your new linehaul partner--the one w/the smurfy tractors and a team w/a combined 5 days experience---cant wait ta see how that works out for yall this winter....

 

Just wait till you have to hook a set in a small customers yard at a 45 degree angle

 

Olhand-I have pulled a quad w/ special permit. It was in town 4 a parade. First in working conditions they'd be too much whip and second loaded you couldn't pull any hills. Way 2 much weight being dragged causing a lack of traction.

 

Inquiring minds want to know ?? Just started pulling doubles with a Freghtliner Cascadia..

 

There's a lot of history behind the why of doubles and just semis. Now I'm talking many many years ago when you could only see a set of doubles out west. It was because of weight and length of the truck. I would guess there are more places back east that a driver must back the truck out. Almost impossible for the average driver with a set of doubles. Out west you also had longer trucks than the east. I remember 65' over 55'. Not 100% sure about that but I do know the trucks were longer out west. So there were a lot of different type of trucking companies that used doubles. LTL, Dirt Haulers, Major Grocery companies, or any other where they made out better by dropping a trailer at one point then dropping at another. You can get into tighter turns and roads because they pivot in 3 places. But again you can't back out. The gasoline company trucks look like doubles because of the two tanks but they are far from it. They are called a truck and trailer where the one tank is mounted on the power unit and then it pulls a trailer. I love this kind of truck because you can back them up and have the advantage of getting into tight places. Our trucks are called super tankers because we can haul a lot more gallons than the standard truck and trailer or semi of 8800-9000 gallons. We come in at 85' and haul 12450 gallons.

Today some states have changed their weight and length laws and you can see all kinds of hook ups. You have two 40 foot trailers, a 45 foot and a pup, a set of triples, and then the super tankers. Besides the normal I've driven doubles, triples, and then the over sized truck and trailer. Like I said before I'll take a truck and trailer anytime.

 

I am still trying to picture sitting in the cab while the dolly eye drops into the pintle, then closes and locks itself to the pull trailer.

 

I've often wondered why more companies don't use twins. It's 57 feet of trailer instead of 53. Some private fleets in my area are starting to try them out. They have advantages and disadvantages but they're not as hard to pull as some make them out to be. I've been running them for 11 years and hate pulling long boxes now. They don't break in the middle..lol..