Setting a pattern

[Big_Dave]

Once you get assigned your truck, set yourself a pattern for EVERYTHING! It saves headaches and lessens the chances of you making a mistake and missing something.

Pre trip inspection;
Start at the same spot of the truck EVERY TIME. Do your walk around in the same fashion every time.

Hooking up and unhooking your trailer;
Get a pattern down and do it the same way EVERY TIME.

No matter how you do it, do it the same way EVERY TIME.

Like I said, it'll save you headaches and lessen your chances of screwing something up.

Take it easy and be safe!

[Jimbo]

Very good advice to follow.

[nitestar]

The pattern I use for dropping my trailer.
1st
Set the trailer brake, Back up a bit to put preasure on the 5th wheel. Then set the tractor brake. Now you can pull the pin with out hurting your back.

2nd
I dolly down and only go till I hear the gravel crunch.

Do not crank the trailer off the 5th wheel. This may cause some other driver to skip the pin and quite possibily hit the back of the cab with the nose of the trailer.

3rd
I pull my lines and secure them.
Never leave them laying on the cat walk even if you are switching 20 feet away. Hang them up.

4th
I pull the pin to unlatch the trailer.

5th
I then dump the suspension air and slowly pull out. Even with an MTY trailer.


Slowly, because dolly legs have been known to collapse and the trailer will go over.
Especially if your company does a lot of drop and hook. Some drivers literally
drop the trailer and the dollys are not designed for that kind of abuse.

Remember: Some loaded trailers may have as much as 20,000 lbs in the first half and it is a lot of weight for the dollys to handle if dropped.

Always watch in your mirrors the trailer as you pull out. If the trailer is tilting to one side a bit more than the other STOP, check it out, It may be a bad dolly leg or just a dip in the ground, but stop and look.


TIP
If you think some disgruntled ex driver or mean person may pull your pin while your away. . This will prevent it from hapening.

Set trailer brake. Pull ahead an inch or two. you'll stop in about an inch or so. Set the tractor brake. The strongest man in the world cannot pull the pin now.


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