5th wheel inspection

Legally you must be satisfied the coupling device(s) are in safe working order. Although there is no specific definition of what that means generally you must do a visual inspection to insure:
1) No gap between trailer base plate and top of fifth wheel plate
2) Jaws are fully closed and locked in place
3) Bolts, pins, and clips are in place for the handle, saddle mount, slider, and all other mounting parts
4) No cracked, missing, or defective fasteners
5) No welded repairs

Here is an excerpt from the Federal regulations regarding driver inspections and coupling device standards.
§392.7 Equipment, inspection and use.
(a) No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that the following parts and accessories are in good working order, nor shall any driver fail to use or make use of such parts and accessories when and as needed:

Service brakes, including trailer brake connections.

Parking (hand) brake.

Steering mechanism.

Lighting devices and reflectors.

Tires.

Horn.

Windshield wiper or wipers.

Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.

Coupling devices.

Wheels and rims.

Emergency equipment.

§393.70 Coupling devices and towing methods, except for driveaway-towaway operations.
(a) Tracking. When two or more vehicles are operated in combination, the coupling devices connecting the vehicles shall be designed, constructed, and installed, and the vehicles shall be designed and constructed, so that when the combination is operated in a straight line on a level, smooth, paved surface, the path of the towed vehicle will not deviate more than 3 inches to either side of the path of the vehicle that tows it.

(b) Fifth wheel assemblies—(1) Mounting—(i) Lower half. The lower half of a fifth wheel mounted on a truck tractor or converter dolly must be secured to the frame of that vehicle with properly designed brackets, mounting plates or angles and properly tightened bolts of adequate size and grade, or devices that provide equivalent security. The installation shall not cause cracking, warping, or deformation of the frame. The installation must include a device for positively preventing the lower half of the fifth wheel from shifting on the frame to which it is attached.

(ii) Upper half. The upper half of a fifth wheel must be fastened to the motor vehicle with at least the same security required for the installation of the lower half on a truck tractor or converter dolly.

(2) Locking. Every fifth wheel assembly must have a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism, and any adapter used in conjunction with it, must prevent separation of the upper and lower halves of the fifth wheel assembly unless a positive manual release is activated. The release may be located so that the driver can operate it from the cab. If a motor vehicle has a fifth wheel designed and constructed to be readily separable, the fifth wheel locking devices shall apply automatically on coupling.

(3) Location. The lower half of a fifth wheel shall be located so that, regardless of the condition of loading, the relationship between the kingpin and the rear axle or axles of the towing motor vehicle will properly distribute the gross weight of both the towed and towing vehicles on the axles of those vehicles, will not unduly interfere with the steering, braking, and other maneuvering of the towing vehicle, and will not otherwise contribute to unsafe operation of the vehicles comprising the combination. The upper half of a fifth wheel shall be located so that the weight of the vehicles is properly distributed on their axles and the combination of vehicles will operate safely during normal operation.

 

Visual inspection as suggested above: No space, fifth wheel handle in the locked position, fifth wheel jaws wrapped around the trailer king pin.

Tug test before you leave anywhere where you've been away from the vehicle for a bit. Or have been asleep.

I like a clutch and a trolley brake. Give it a good rocking in the morning. Knocks the sleep out of your eyes. Do it at the fuel island and make folks think you forgot to release your tractor brakes.... Then yell out the window 'Talley Ho!'.... Why? Because you're the captain of the ship!

 

The yank test doesn't work if you high pinned it. Lack of space between the upper and lower coupler doesn't do any good, nor does the fifth wheel release handle in the retracted position if the safety pin doesn't drop in after the coupler closes.

That's what keeps the jaws from re-opening after you take off or turn or hit a bump.

 

They will have to mount a camera inside, so you can do a visual inspection. haha.
I suppose just like all the other things "we" can't do. They will have the robot driver doing it. "We" sill sit in the sleeper, just in case.

 

Always get under the trailer with a good flash light and look to make sure the jaws are closed on the shank of the king pin, not the lip.

 

I suppose you could jacknife 90 degrees if you couldn't get around fairings