Went to lunch with the guys in my truck from school today and saw this

Hahahah. Cargo drivers... actually that happens to the laziest of all category of drivers.

I do a tug test then crouch under every trailer and check, with a flashlight, that the kingpin jaws are locked.

Mikeeee

 

had that happen,about 10 yrs ago.

the container had an over sized pin.?? that's what they told me. china container or something.

it looked like it was locked ,but not all the way.

dropped it in yard.

took a tow truck to lift it up again.

 

Tow truck, or 87 minutes cranking in low gear! Hehehehee

Mikeeee

 

Doesn't it always seem to happen to the 350+ type guys? Who woulda thunk!

Mikeee

 

Thats why I always raise my geear about 4 inches and then pull forward when hooking up. Watched a guy top lock a trailer in the early morning hours with 44K of foodstuffs in the wagon. Mangled the gear up, snapped a crossmemer, made quite a mess. And he was blaming the equipment, "Look the jaws are closed". Yeah meathead but if the kingpin is sitting on top of the fifth wheel the jaws close.

Be safe, best bet always lift a trailer up when backing under it and make sure there is no gap between the 5th wheel and king pin plate.

 

You guys have no idea how many times a day we were told that at school among other things, now in real life it just a habit.

 

We say it when we do the walk around each morning. They gave us a sheet for the PTI along with some verbiage for when we go test "No gap between the apron and 5th wheel plate" is one of the lines along with the "Locking Jaw is locked around the kingpin shank" "Locking Jaw Release Lever is in the locked position" At least once a day those are said.