Swerving trailor, heavy load????

Sounds like wind hitting the side of your trailer. Not much you can do about it since the terrain doesn’t block the wind for you. The further you slide the tandems forward the more loose the steering will feel depending on how it’s loaded.

 

If it's a heavy load be careful moving the tandems (weight)
You can't just put them wherever you want.


Also if it's really windy, you will want them as far back as possible.
Always have to keep the weight in mind

 

Then the new drivers do not have a capacity for a certain amount of gentle teasing.

With that said, if it's really windy shes going to dance. You just have to deal with it. If the load is particularly badly loaded and you are too light on your tractor drives (Confirm with a CAT scale after loading, you did check that with the CAT scale right?) then you would know not to be loading at that shipper again.

We all remember what it's like to be new. It is always good to ask a question. The only dumb questions are those that are never asked. You always are going to get a certain amount of teasing or similar on a relatively basic question. It's a form of stress relief.

Personally I cannot stand a trailer that wont stay in line. It's aggravating. I would usually get rid of it soonest. Usually by telling safety the rails are bent or some such. They fall over themselves to see that trailer off the road before you kill or mash people with it.

 

Don't move the tandems. Slow down a little maybe. It's the wind and that's something you have to adjust to in some areas, such as Kansas, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, etc. You're a new driver, so you'll learn with a little more experience.

 

I'd stop and check the fith wheel to make sure it has enough grease. When it gets dry you will start fighting the steering wheel. Also if the trailer is loaded heavy on the back and light it the front it will wag around.

 

One other thing that could be contributing to the sway is the road wear. Over time the road gets a grove, add running chains, this grove can get bad. Since it is not perfect, the tires ride across the sides of the grove, up one side, then down and up the other. Then add in a cross wind, now you have a noticeable sway going. If you have wide singles on the drives and or the trailer, it may even be a bit more. This is a normal response to the conditions. Try slowing down a bit and see if you notice it less.

 

It's pretty windy out there, Hand.
If you didn't feel it the first 2 days, and now you're in NV and the Salt Flats, it's prob wind gusts.

Check your equipment CLOSELY... like you've been taught.
If you don't see obvious defects, or smell or feel heat from a wheel hub, and your tires are all inflated well... you're good.

While you're on the ramp (notice I didn't say the shoulder of the freeway... THAT'S DANGEROUS) make note of whether the wind is gusting or not.
Look at the weeds at roadside when you notice you're getting twisted up. Are they swaying?
Are there tumbleweeds and trash crossing the freeway ?

Wind is powerful, even to a fully loaded wagon.
Since you've never experienced it before, it's probably feeling x10.

But, check your equip for faults and rule that out. It'll be obvious if it's causing that big a problem.

 

That was my first thought.

 

I have that sensation with my single 53 footer. Never pulled doubles, but with my single long trailer it happens when I am on uneven pavement. Like when my left side is higher than my right side, or vise versa.. usually when there is construction and one lane is freshly paved and the other is not and I am trying to lane change. I call it a "shimmy." And it tells me I should slow down.

As for doubles I have no idea. I got respect for doubles/triples drivers.

 

Nothin wrong with super singles..I dont wiggle waggle with i haul trls with them..