Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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Trailer. separation. can. occur. due. to. improper. hitching,. or. inadequate. or. damaged.
equipment..Pintle.hooks.and.ball.hitches.may.uncouple.if.improperly.latched..Hitch.
mounts. can. separate. due. to. damage. or. lack. of. maintenance.. The. operator. should.
check.to.see.that.hitch.components.are.in.good.condition.on.the.trailer.and.truck,.and.
adjust.the.coupler.if.necessary..Each.operator.must.ensure.that.the.pintle.hook.or.ball.
hitch.is.properly.locked,.and.that.safety.chains.are.properly.connected..All.electric.
and.air.lines.must.also.be.properly.connected.to.ensure.safe.usage.
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Eliminate. accidents. caused. by. trailer. separation,. malfunctioning. trailer. brakes,.
inactive. running. lights,. or. trailer. axle. separation,. by. using. proper. coupling. proce-
dures.of.semi-trailers..This.ensures.that.coupling.equipment.remains.in.good.order,.
landing.gear.is.not.damaged,.air.lines.and.electric.lines.are.hooked.up,.axle.loads.are.
balanced,.and.coupling.is.secure.
The.operator.must.adjust.the.trailer.height.to.minimize.coupling.impact..He.or.she.
should.also.examine.the.conditions.of.the.kingpin.and.jaws,.and.check.that.the.jaws.
are.locked.after.coupling..Next,.make.sure.that.the.landing.gear.is.raised,.and.hook.
up.the.air.and.electric.lines.carefully..If.the.trailer.axle.is.adjustable,.make.sure.it.is.
locked.properly..Check.also.to.see.that.the.kingpin.is.not.riding.on.top.of.the.jaws.
If.the.tractor.has.an.adjustable.ifth.wheel,.the.driver.must.ensure.its.adjustment.
is.locked..No.driver.should.pull.a.trailer.with.the.slide.stops..Before.driving.away,.
apply.the.trailer.brakes.and.pull.gently.against.them.to.check.coupling.
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Trucks.and.tractor-trailer.combinations,.due.to.their.length.and.lower.maneuverability,.
may.be.struck.by.other.vehicles.because.the.other.operator.does.not.see.the.vehicle.or.
misjudges.its.rate.of.movement..Such.drivers.can.be.assisted.by.making.sure.that.the.
truck's.lighting.system.and.relectors.are.adequate.and.clean..The.truck.driver.should.
use. extra. care. in. crossing. trafic. lanes. and. making. turns. during. adverse. .visibility.
conditions.. Use. extra. care. when. pulling. low-proile. trailers,. such. as. empty. latbed.
tractors,.empty.container.chasses,.construction.equipment.trailers,.and.pole.trailers.
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There.is.a.real.need.to.reduce.the.number.of.accidents.caused.by.overloading,.poor.
load.distribution,.and.lack.of.clearance.with.ixed.objects..Many.accidents.are.caused.
by.inadequate.loading.procedures.or.route.planning..Heavy,.high,.and.offset.loads.
can.precipitate.rollovers.during.emergency.steering.maneuvers.and.when.driving.at.
excessive.speeds..High.trailers.or.outsized.loads.can.also.result.in.collisions.when.
routes.are.not.planned.
Drivers.need.to.make.sure.that.vehicle.and.axle.weights.are.within.legal.limits..
They. should. know. the. vehicle. weight. limits. as. well. as. tire. inlation. ratings;. both.
