Guy pulls fifth wheel.

That would mean setting the trailer brakes...great way to end up with the shoes froze to the drums in the winter. That also allows someone to cross your airlines or put a dime in your glad hand to keep you there.

Bottom line, there's no sure-fire way to avoid being sabotaged other than to keep a watchful eye on your equipment and catch it before it bites you if it ever does happen.

 

I know to check those as well, but it has been years since someone tried it.

Ive had drums stick in winter twice. Ball peen time under there.

The sabotages that I worried about are ice picks behind the turbo on the coolant line. I forget exactly what engines involved there but used to check those. The intercooler clamps also. The nut under the block. There are thousands of ways to screw up a big truck. Even more today.

 

So are you the passing truck driver mentioned in the story? I'm guessing disgruntled employee? There's still snow on the ground?

 

I was headed to work @ that specific yard (Poland) when I saw the blaze under the cab of one of the units as I was returning to the front yard from the back - Sunday, very few people in and out so no one was at the yard.

It's been labeled a crime scene.
And there's got to be multiples of people involved: Two fires, at the same time, at terminals 45 minutes apart.... impossible for one person to do.

Edit: Yeah, we got 10" on 4/1. Mother Nature's April Fools gag.

 

Does anyone know the penalty for sabotage of a T/T? I was told its a federal offense.
What if this driver had made it to the interstate,and the trailer came loose and
killed a family?
If the offended driver was that mad,he should have waited,and not acted like a puss,
which is what he is.

 

YSK: If you park your truck properly, it won't be possible for someone to pull the fifth wheel handle and release the lock.

Get in the habit of parking your truck properly. For extra peace of mind, get in the habit of looking at the important bits before driving when you come back to your truck.

Inspection of your truck should not be limited to 'post trip' and 'pre trip'.

In fact, when I park in some neighborhoods for the night, I go so far as to deplete the air in the main and reserve tanks so that a malicious player can't gain entry and release the parking brakes easily.

 

Hell, sometimes I can't even pull that handle when I WANT to...

 

Check that, and your trailer tandems.

I always take a peek, and follow up with a slow roll in 1st gear, then yank the trolley valve and bog the engine. That ensures that both the 5th wheel and trailer tandems are still locked in.

 

That one always gets me cussing!Hop out give a big yank,and nothing!

 

I actually experienced a trailer seperation at speed. We had just come off the tydings southbound NE of Baltimore and the bridge flipped the trailer off the 5th wheel. (Container was empty, tractor was a ford 9000 day cab.) it came down on the aft drive axle and tires and stayed there until my rescue driver was talked to the shoulder. I rather not have to go from napping to assessing the problem and come up with commands to my newbie driver that night. But he did very good and exactly just so to keep that trailer on us until we got it stopped. Basically no braking or anything and it's a upgrade too so we stopped quick coasting. Down went the landing gear and a few sore backs later clunk and verified in the jaws and shut off we go again. There were a bunch of cars around us that night when the trailer got loose. You can bet half the herd abandoned that right lane in a hurry. Im just happy it worked out the way it did, Even if it seperated clean the trailer brakes will have come on when the lines snapped and that would be that minus anyone too slow to stop in time behind. And in Maryland that is failure to control vehicle to avoid collison. So... 45 dollar ticket at most.