3 Preventable accidents in 5 months

Keep your CDL and go be a frac/rig/cap string/drilling hand 5% driving 95% work. Wait 10yrs with all that and come back if this it what you want to do.

 

I drop the air. It keeps alot of grease still on the 5th wheel. But it takes me a few GOAL's to get under it about 6 inches to go where the kingpin is in the crotch of the 5th wheel and raise raise the suspension again, then back up the rest of the way to lock it.

 

Sounds to me like a good way to jump your fifth wheel!

 

You can jump your fifth wheel by backing under the trailer with the airbags lowered, but only if you don't GOAL.

I've found that fifth wheel grease seems to be a LOT more effective when it's on the fifth wheel instead of scraped off on the front edge of the trailer.

Besides which, how can you inspect the kingpin and the plate for any damage unless you GOAL before finishing backing into and locking the fifth wheel in place? You can't inspect it very well if you just bang on into a hook (and scraping off your grease).

 

Hey now don't be taking work away from the mechanics! They need something to grease every once in a while after people's court is over on the shop tv

 

3 Accidents within 4 months I think thats too many for any too take a chance?

 

DUDE! I was not saying a driver shouldn't GOAL. That is basic. I just know how much fun it is to recover from a jumped fifth wheel, particularly with a fully loaded trailer, with an old corded, rusty landing gear. It's even more fun if you have a back injury or a broken rib!

 

I'm in absolute agreement with you on that score. I've had to crank up a loaded trailer, albeit with good gears, after someone that shall be unnamed forgot to do a tug test OR look to see if the locking jaws had shut completely (it wasn't me). GOAL is fundamental in drop and hook situations. The problem I see in customer yards and company terminals is drivers don't GOAL and simply back right on in for a hook without dumping the airbags and slam away, hoping everything is good and hoping to save an extra minute or two. I've seen way too many issues with drop and hooks to think that's a good place to save minutes.

 

My guess, having only read a few pages so far:

Contact with back bumper, medium amount of "bending".

Mikeeee

 

Keep reading, it gets worst