Juddian:
That second check isn’t a bad habit to get into just before you slide in that last couple of feet, if you get into doing it carefully you will never ever miss the pin.Think tankers and other specialist tackle, lining yourself up with a tank isn’t as easy as with a square fronted normal semi trailer unless, oddly enough, the tank is fitted with side guards, i’ve known of numerous missed pin episodes and every one has been by people not bothering to get out and have a bloody look, it takes seconds.
I’d rather get out and double check 4 times than have the pin slide up over the fifth wheel, its not just the unit lights and backs of cabs, with tanks you can easily damage the underside of the barrel if the fifth wheel is then raised, and damaged pressure vessel means £££££.
Watching some bugger who thinks he’s impressing people by reversing straight under on his mirrors alone, missing the pin by 6" and stoving the back of the cab in plus wrecking the unit rear lights isn’t actually as funny as it sounds, mind you watching mr clever ■■■■ who now doesn’t look or feel quite so cool when he’s filling in the forms red faced whilst the unimpressed are now taking the ■■■■ openly IS quite funny
Can I say I do same. I have jumped pin and smashed lights when first started and now check that I am getting under then I go under trailer. Stop look and then raise suspension and go back in to pin. People laugh in yard but as you say the smart arses who show off in front of the office are the ones with wrecked mud guards as we have no guide rails on units. I found that in training we didn’t get alot of coupling explained to be honest.
, the driver looked at me questioningly 
