What can you do after a jackknife?

I have an even better one.
Beer load.
This F genius loops the straps all the way around the back two pallets, and secures both ends to the driver's side of the trailer.

 

In school I asked instructor who taught God how Man will run the mountains he made on the 6th Day... (Paraphrasing...) Being really dumb... "How much grease is enough on the 5th wheel?"

He takes my hand and makes a impression on the plate that was rimmed in grease. Endeth the lesson.

 

To add to this, if you are driving down the road and you begin to wiggle due to the weather and road conditions, first thing is don't panic or you are done. Second, make sure you are not using your cruise control before hand. This requires a little thinking ahead of the game. Third, depending on how bad the conditions are, don't use your jake brake. Fourth, when you do begin to wiggle, let off the fuel and intelligently maintain as much control of the truck as you can. Any, even slight, over correction will cause big problems. You may not be able to avoid it at this point, but you may be able to decrease the seriousness. You may even regain control if you do it right.

Twice, so far, this has happened to me. Once in Wyoming. Roads were not that bad, but I was unaware of the wind gust which was about to hit me in a light load and I looked like an angry snake in a hurry to get somewhere. Nasty little combination of being light, hitting black ice and a wind gust. I regained control and got on the radio to warn other drivers behind me, but I am sure they saw what happened. I was lucky.

This last trip in AZ and NM, there was some nasty ice on the road I didn't realize was as slippery as it was and I wiggled just a little twice, both times I was talking to my wife (hands free device). I just let the truck slow down on its own until I was at the proper speed and made sure I controlled the gear changes, not the automatic transmission. No more problems until traffic eventually stopped and I was stuck on ice unable to do anything but move forward. I had to wait for traffic to clear and 2 hours later I was able to move again.

Don't be in too much of a hurry. Getting to your destination late is better than not getting there at all.

I have never been stuck in a jackknife, so I am hoping its because I am doing something right.

 

If you do need to turn in a tight space, be sure ahead of time you have enough space to make the turn. If you aren't sure, don't do it.

 

I don't feel too bad for him. He could have backed up a little and had plenty of room. He let himself get frustrated and angry, so he took it out on the truck.

 

I skipped so this could be a repeat. The picture shown is not a jack knife. It is a driver turning to far. All he has to do is keep going straight and the trailer will follow. The damage will be to his cab extenders and also to the trailer tires. He will wear flat spots on them. The USA truck driver is doing the same thing. He should have backed up. If the traffic doesn't move to allow him to back up, he should call the cops and they will help. The U turn move rarely works.

An Actual Jackknife is an uncontrolled happening. The first and most important thing to do and this goes for all accidents is to DRIVE THE TRUCK. Do not just let go and pray. DRIVE THE TRUCK.

The trailer is going faster then the tractor. Get the tractor in Neutral. Shift if an automatic, push the clutch in if a manual. If you catch it early it will straight right out. Get on your horn. If you can't stop it the trailer is going to take the lead and you are going to want to point the tractor back the way you came. Ice is the main problem but it also keeps your trailer from flipping over. Stay off the brakes until you have something solid to grab onto. Don't panic. Trucks are designed to take a lot of damage and keep the driver safe.

Once you have regained control, pull over and see if there is any damage. If not, shut up and learn. If there is damage, send out applications to your next company.

 

A note on automatic. Ive ridden out several ice jackknifes on automatic rockwells you will not have time to do anything with that paddle shifter. You will be working really fast to get your trailer back, or tractor back. The truck knows it's in trouble due to wheel sensoring, ground radar speed (Not all trucks have this...) and your inputs by wire from throttle, braking etc. ABS as well. All of that works together really fast, way faster than a human can do with the old style stab or squeeze braking in old iron. The rig will move along nicely once you straighten out and begin to assess what gear you end up in, what speed etc and if anyone got hit.

 

I know

 

I know you do. I was posting for those who don't.

 

Oh ok thought maybe you thought I didn't know.So many things drivers learn by their mistakes,I know I have and sometimes those mistakes makes a person wake up.One company I tried turning around in a tight area and bent the fareing on the passenger side.But I didn't continue to try and turn around I asked a yard guy to move a couple trailers.I learned just from that one time and never did it again.