Pulling Doubles for the first time!

My road test for freight I pulled a pup.. I dont think they expect you to pull a set of doubles if you dont have the training.

 

My road test with Con-Way was a set. My first ever.

 

Don't be too concerned about watching the rear view mirrors ever second, they will wiggle a little, no big deal. Always make sure the heavy pup is in the front, and that the rear of the first trailer axle is heavier than the converter dolly axle. If the converter is heavier, it wants to "steer" the back of the first trailer a little. SLOW DOWN, until you get comfortable with the set. CHECK, CHECK, CHECK both 5th wheels and the pintle hook everytime you stop by walking around the unit. Pay attention to the gladhands at the rrar of the second trailer, make sure they are turned off or blocked by another dummy gladhand. (A gladhand attached to a short piece of pipe with a cover on the end)
Drive as if the trailers are top heavy, make turns gradually, a set will turn around in some tight spaces, careful not to let the trailers touch when turning sharply.
Watch the fifth wheel handle on the converter. If it has been hit and bent by someone trying to hook up and wasn't on target, the kingpin will bend the handle and it may not properly lock the 5th wheel.
The second trailer takes about 3 - 4 feet extra to turn a corner in town, and a small swing to the left even helps the unit around the corner if turning right.

If you have a tandem tractor and the 5th wheel is slid back, the steering axle may be lighter than you think.

Take an extra light cord with and an extra blue or red air line might be a good idea too. Good luck. Forget about backing the set up more than 10 feet for now.

 

I agree about the not watching your mirrors constantly. It's unnerving (starting out) when you see that rear box kick out when you hit a bump. Nothing to worry about, it will fall back in line. Also, when you make turns, they turn tighter than a 53, so you don't have to wait so long before starting your turn. The rear trailer axle will follow within a foot of your front trailer axle. The big things are hooking the set, pre-tripping and not taking any sudden actions.

 

I remember pulling a set on my road test. I was used to spread axles and turned way too wide..lol.. If you can run them around the yard a couple times so you can see how they track. Even though a set is like 62 or 63 feet long they turn well. They look odd in the mirror at first because there is a delay between the time the front box turns till the back box starts turning. The back box follows just slightly inside the front one.

 

A con-way specific tip..make sure you are checking the locking jaws on the kingpins..We have been having issues with dropped trailers lately..it is our biggest accident, above backing..

Here is my routine, since you will probably be pulling an empty set.

Pretrip truck
Head to dolly pile, pre trip dolly.
Hook dolly to pintle hook + atleast 1 chain and drag to rear box
Back dolly in front of rear pup. If yoyu have never bcked a dolly use very small adjustments.
Go hook and pre trip front box.
Back front box, tractor as in line as possible as you can with dolly, rear box.
DO NOT Hit the dolly with the front pup!! Maybe after you get hired, and even then its not a good idea. Soon it will be a preventable accident.
Open pintle hook jaws on the front pup and hook dolly eye to draw bar. latch the jaws and tug on top to make sure its closed.
Attach light cord from dolly to front trailer.
Back front pup/dolly to hook to rear trailer. Hopefully it is straight at this point and you didnt miss..It sucks trying to back a dolly fron pup as a noob if you have never done it before.
Hopefully you have a good hook.
This is what I do..I pull out the tractor parking brake(yellow knob), and leave he red one applied so my trailer is getting air.
Hook red airline to the front pup..Air is in the line so it will start whoosing air...Connect red line from dolly to rear pup.. Dolly will rock back and forth a little as its charging the tank..Normal..
Walk to the rear of the trailer, open the red air should rush out which means trailers are getting air. Replace the glad hand.
Now dont forget the landing gear, kingpin and the service air lines and whatnot and the rest of the standard pretrip.

Good luck and doubles will trip you up the first time..

 

Don't try to catch the rear pup, they wiggle end of story. Honestly I love pups. They turn better, even though we are longer. Just don't let the wiggling bother you.

 

They made me pull triples the first time around. Kinda unnerving. Watch your mirrors when you make your right turns, or cheat it a bit and look out of your back window if your daycab has one. Double check your work and make sure all your lines are hooked right and don't snag against the converter dolly frame or the crank handle of the tripod wheel. You don't want to snap an airline. Extra electrical lines is a must! I've had at least two go bad on me in a year. If you are pulling a Rockie set, dont turn to sharp, you may have poor clearance between trailers and pinch the front corner of your pup. Good luck!