Lesson of the day… Always check your fifth wheel and Kingpin to ensure it’s secure and locked

I always checked the 5th wheel with the "Johnny Bar" everytime I moved forward. I worked for a lot of companies that surely had some disgruntled employee seeking revenge. I never myself "dropped" a wagon on the road, my old Pete had a sticky 5th wheel below zero degrees, but in all my miles and years, only once in Chicago did I see a driver lose a wagon. The truck? Why a worn out R model Mack, of course.

 

8 seconds and a flashlight is my route.
Saw one that only half latched (Winter)
Never trust the tug test!
No surprises.

 

Had the same thing happen to me. I was so glad I visually inspected it.

 

Uh-oh... just wait 'til @gentleroger sees this. He won't be happy!

 

They sent me after a dropped trailer because driver stated the 5th wheel malfunctioned and they were bobtailing him to the shop to investigate.
When I got there,I could see where the kingpin had slid over the top of 5th wheel.He claimed to have done a tug test.
I’ll let you all figure out the physics.

 

Well, pretty clear they were too low, and with the pin against the front of the 5th wheel, it very well could have survived the tug test. The 1st turn is where they lost it. I was unloading in Milwaukee once, at Roundys( shudder) and all of a sudden, we hear this awful sound, naturally we all ran outside to take a look see. A yard spotter with a novice driver, never locked the pin, and took off made it about a block and lost the wagon. The amazing part, the wagon had 44,000 on it, and the landing gear withstood the drop.

 

I’m to the point of paranoia about it, I check it multiple times. I don’t pull off unless I see it latched by going underneath and seeing it. I’ve seen too many drivers out there usually in the middle of an intersection right outside the shipper where the trailer has slid off because it wasn’t attached. Yeah sometimes you can pull them a little distance without that kingpin being latched. Especially if it’s heavy. Go around the corner and your trailer will get left behind.

 

Yep,it fell soon as he turned after clearing the parking spot.