To the fedex driver that was in the median on I-10

I'm sorry you think you know everything, I pulled doubles for 2 years for Central Transport through Chicago everynight. Not to mention 7 months pulling doubles with the old green Digby long haul.

 

Well tech. he called it obstructing traffic Took me about 5 min to straighten out I was at a 90 degree cab pointed to ditch

 

This dude was a douche. I used to pull the wiggle-wagons,and i would never-ever drive that fast when road conditions were sh-t. I mean--i've had that back-box kick out on me on dry pavement cuz i got on the brakes to hard...you add in snow and ice--it's called"double-trouble".

 

Oh, so I suppose he cited the driver of the pickup for obstructing traffic as well. What an ###.

 

I got a lawyer gonna fight it

 

Good luck. Sounds pretty easy to beat but it's a shame you still end up paying for someone else's stupidity.

 

I am the freshman here pulling a double, if you have any tips about how to deal with the wiggle please tell me, I desperately need every tips out there cuz I have always been a safe driver and I can't affort any accidents! My trainer/supervisor have always told me, if you drive a small truck or you own car that's another thing, but driving the big truck if you have an accident, usually someone is going to DIE!

So far, this is the little list I have, mostly "preventative stuff":

1. Hold steering steady to avoid wiggle
2. Constant little correction on the steering wheel to straighten it out
3. In bad weather, go below your max speed so you have some room to accelerate and "pull" your wiggle wagon straight

This is a very short list and there isn't much to it, but there are still some situations that's unsolved... Like:

• When strong wind blown your wiggle wagon and your rear trailer starting to wiggle, how to deal with that?
• When you are cruising at maxed or capped speed (you can't accelerate anymore), and for whatever reason your rear trailer starting to wiggle, what is the best way to deal with it?
• When you are driving in the rain or snow, when a little wiggle will quickly amplified into a big movements... How do I deal with that, I know, I should go slower in the first place but doesn't mean I can totally avoid every wiggle.

Earlier there was an unfortunate guy, driving a single EMPTY 53" down hwy 401 near Windsor... The spot where they put WIND TURBINE onthe side of the hwy for wind electricity... He flipped over right there by blowing strong wind! I have been with my EMPTY DOUBLE WIGGLE WAGON over that part of the hwy for many times, and whenever I get there I get really nervous... I mean, I am very confident driving that empty 53" and I do think the driver that flipped over there must've been partially responsible for the flip over. But me? With my empty double wiggle wagon, even if I am fully concentrated something can still go wrong... Please, I am desperate for techniques and tips to deal with wiggles!

 

Everyone gave you good little tips. I'm sure sharpshooter has good experience he can share with you. But it seems he has other intentions.

Steer smooth and steady. Avoid quick lane changes. The crack the whip effect is amplified from the tractor back. The steadier the tractor, the less there is to amplify.
Also make sure your 5th wheels are greased good too. A dry fifth wheel affects handling.

You have all the knowledge. You just need more experience. The more you deal with situations the better you will get. Blow overs are very rare and out of your hands. Don't over react. Treat high gusty winds like snow and slow down. Take ramps and turns even slower in high winds.

 

Condo's blanket statement of holding the steering wheel steady was a joke. There are a million variables that cause wiggle. weight/distribution-contents of trailer- road conditions-trl conditions-trl mixes ie. air ride and spring-dolly selection-alignment of truck/trl-wind etc etc etc. the best cure? experience. and that won't completly cure it either

 

this may have been said...may not, i didnt read all the posts....MAKE SURE if someone else has hooked up ur set for you...that the 1st trailer (the one behind ur tractor) HAS THE MOST WEIGHT....never put the heaviest trl in the rear....i am not an expert...but we used to pull doubles as well ...for carolina before GI bought em out....back in the early 90's and again for estes in 06