Trlr Uncoupled - How could I have prevented this.

This truck has a pull knob in the cab on the dash that releases the pull arm. I had unhooked from one other trailer that day, and I used the pull knob, and I didn't experience any issues.

I do local loads. I usually drop and hook up to about 4 trailers per day, sometimes more or less. I typically use different trucks. This is my 3rd time using this particular truck. I've just started doing LTL this month. Before, I was doing OTR. I often find myself thinking about how LTL involves a bit more labor and responsibility vs OTR since you're dropping/hooking more often, going to 2-3 customers each day. LTL and OTR both have there pros and cons.

This just happened early Saturday morning. I will most likely hear more details from my company on Monday. According to the local police, this won't count against my driving record.

 

Well, I had just hooked up to this trailer at the customer and was just leaving. There was no one else at the customer's yard.... Just me and the security guy.

The tow truck guy did warn me about people pulling the release arms... I'll have to always remember to check this. Also, there was one time when I was doing team, someone uncoupled the glad hands for the service line while we were at a truck stop.


Lately, I have been thinking also about how it seems like I'm kind of slow at drop/hook... but now I realize that that's a toxic thought.... This is mostly because I DO use low gear because I'm not trying to break my back on the landing gear. Me and my brother were just talking about the Tortoise and the Hare story this past weekend during a discussion that we had.

 

Thank you God for not letting this incident hurt anybody. I promise that if I hook to 101 trailers in a day, I will not only do a tug test, but I will make sure that I go under the trailer and inspect the 5th wheel on all 101. I am very sorry. I will learn what I can from this. I am glad that I feel calm and still feel okay about being a truck driver.

 

What does is mean when you 'high lock' ??