Bucking Trailer...

I've had a few trailer brake hoses, calipers and chambers go south on me on the road, but nothing like the incident I had in Richmond, VA in 2001.

It was late at nite, and I was deadheading to Norfolk via the 295, and just about to transition onto hwy 64 when the L/F brake chamber blew on my trailer. My cab shuddered violently and I eased off the go-pedal and began to move over from the #3 of 4 lanes to the right shoulder. I knew what had happened. Then something happened that I'd never experienced before: The trailer began gap-skidding and hopping to the right. I applied some go-pedal to null it out, but it kept jacking to the right. Anyone who's had this happen knows that you're coming to a stop in a hurry, so you'd better get off the roadway or you'll be blocking lanes.

By the time I came to a stop on the right shoulder the trailer was sitting at about 25 degrees off-axis and partially in the ditch. This could've been disasterous had another vehicle been on my right side when it happened. Fortunately, it was quiet and there were no guardrails or signs to hit.