this is nuts

I wouldn't even screw around with it, beyond wiggling the pigtail a little bit. Back in the day, it was very common to just put your four-ways on if all of the other trailer lights went out (somehow, the flashers always seemed to work) and finish the trip. Today, I don't even think most cops or drivers know about that. So now, you are dealing with a company with a "bad attitude". It is pretty funny (unless you are the driver)-
"My lights don't work." "That is OK, don't drive in the dark"
"My wipers don't work" "OK, don't drive in the rain"
"I'm overweight" "Don't go through the scales"
But today, that is just not flying. If this company operates that way, you can bet that a few people screwed up the wiring back there, and you will only make it worse, and then get blamed for it.
It's your license, your fines to pay, etc., etc.

 

Nine times out of ten, it's the pig-tail cable that is bad when the trailer lights dont work. I wouldnt run illegal like that, particularly when the fix ( a new pig tail) is so quick, but the fines will be on your record for 7 years at least.

Don't mess around with CSA2010 coming up or this will bite you in the ###.

 

Do you have tail lights?? Of so, run a jumper wire from the brown tail light wire to your marker lights or vice versa.

We call kights "running lights" that are used in fog etc. What lights are not working on your trailer???

 

Another thing you can do is take a small screwdriver or knife and slightly spread the prongs on the trailer plug.

 

The company might not like it, but they have no choice but to listen to the driver and the FMSCA when it comes to vehicle safety. We might be low down flunky drivers, but we have the power to shut a truck down with no recourse. I think you're covered under the whistleblower act if they mess with you as a result.
Remember, an out of service is one of the biggest CSA2010 no no's and a firing offense by a safety dept.

I usually wait until I pull into a TA and then tell the company I need to fix this problem, I'm at a shop. They will usually give you approval and less of a hard time that way.