Prevention is the best safety: a few extra minutes before operation can save hours of potential problems later.
Published in: Rental Product News
Date: 8/1/2005
You just finished up a long phone conversation with a customer, and you’re running a little late to your jobsite. You back the truck to the trailer, hook it up and go. Six miles down the road, the skid-steer loader that was on the trailer is now sitting in the ditch on its side, and you’re waiting for a tow truck. Luckily, you were alone on the road and only the equipment and your pride were damaged. This situation could have been a lot worse.
Late or not, taking a few extra minutes to double check the load and trailer hookup could have prevented that situation. Pulling a trailer is a daily routine for most contractors and rental businesses, but safety is also a daily routine. A few minutes won’t make or break the day, but disregarding safety to save some time could injure or kill someone.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide for properly hooking up, loading and pulling a trailer. This guide is meant to trigger proper safety thinking, but should not be used as a legal basis. There are many laws and regulations, but taking a few extra minutes to go through this guide each and every time you pull a trailer could help prevent a bad situation.
* Make sure your truck is rated to pull the trailer you intend to use. The vehicle should be in proper working order and well maintained.
* Check the overall condition of the trailer: tie downs, ramps, hitch, tires, etc. for proper operation.
* Make sure the trailer coupler and towing coupler are the same size and proper capacity.
* The trailer must be connected to the tow vehicle before loading or unloading.
* Lock tow vehicle brakes before loading and unloading the trailer and use chock blocks.
* Place the load properly on the trailer, making sure the weight is properly distributed.
* After connecting to the tow vehicle, make sure the trailer is level or slightly higher in front. Adjust as needed.
* Attach safety chains, making sure you cross them.
* Attach electrical plug and break-away switch (electric brakes), and make sure they are not dragging.
* Make sure break-away battery is fully charged.
* Check for proper tire pressure.
* Check all lighting on trailer and tow vehicle for proper operation. Plug the brake controller into the power outlet and adjust the brake controller as necessary for proper braking.
* Make sure trailer deck is clear of all debris before loading and heading out onto the road.
* Secure cargo or equipment to trailer on all four corners if possible and do not over-tighten binders.
* Secure all loading ramps and make sure the jack stand is in the up position.
* Stow chock blocks.
* After traveling a short distance, stop to make sure that the load is secure, and that all tie downs are tight.
* Allow for greater braking distance when pulling a trailer; generally travel at slower speeds.
Using this guide and taking the time to use precaution is the safest way to travel, but there is more to know. For proper tie down of a load and correct usage of a trailer, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Web site at www.fmcsa.dot.gov. There, look for Federal Regulations statues [section]392.9, [section]393.100 and [section]393.102. Also refer to your local and state laws regarding proper trailer use. Remember, the best safety is prevention.
Information provided by Towmaster Trailers Inc.