5 months in and already an accident

In all the videos posted for tail swing, the tractor has to make an incredibly tight hard right. You are correct, that is not a standard 90 in a semi. The only reason that I could think of to do that would to be to turn onto a single lane road. The car would have to be parked on the corner of the block to get hit by the swing. In most places, that’s illegally parked.

 

Au contraire. Driver stated he pulled straight forward so he could clear the truck next to him, then cut hard right to clear the fence with his truck. Caught a yellow post.

If he set up on the left to make the turn, or just a normal button hook, the trailer does swing to the left, even with a spread axle. Depending on how tight he turned, the trailer will move backwards. It was a lesson I almost learned the hard way.

 

I'm thinking this was a flatbed with a spread. That means it will behave like the tandems are slid all the way forward when loaded, and as if they were slid all the way back empty due to the arch of the trailer.

 

Dang man. Your trailer swing got the car. That happened to me once in a dry van. Spread axles are so different because each wheel has a mind of its own it seems and thats why you'll need all the space in the world to make turns. Don't worry about getting more jobs. You still have one as far as I can tell. This is your first gig so right now your focus needs to be on honing your skills. Accidents will happen and may reduce your options, but as long as you're working, you'll accumulate experience. Everyone fouls up as a rookie. Keep learning there driver. It gets better. I promise ya.

 

Not bad if that's all in 5 months. I screwed up a couple of times in my first year.

Good lesson.

 

Thats my point. Maybe I'm poorly texting this. And without a dry erase board drawing its hard to explain.

 

I'm not gonna lie, still good for Fup once every few years. Nature of the business. But your correct, we all have had are shares.

 

I have to believe the ones clueless about tail swing have In fact made contact with another trucks mirror......

 

It's probably his vaccine, it damaged his brain haha...

 

OP stated that it was a tight turn. Even without a tight turn, the tail of the trailer moves to the outside, just not enough to be an issue in most circumstances. If I have time next week I'll try and take some pictures that show what happens.