Coupling order

[Macski]

I was shouted at today because I put on the airlines before winding up the legs, aparently I will kill someone doing that.

I have always started with the lines then made my way round the trailer finishing with the clip.

Whats so wrong with that?

[fatboystu1]

I was shouted at today because I put on the airlines before winding up the legs, aparently I will kill someone doing that.

I have always started with the lines then made my way round the trailer finishing with the clip.

Whats so wrong with that?

I was taught....

Uncoupling - BLACK

BRAKES
LEGS
AIRLINES
CLIP
KINGPIN

when coupling up do it in reverse

[simcor]

Depends on what the companies Ssow is really as to whether you did right or wrong in their eyes. How have they taught you to do it?

Clip, air lines,legs and then brake is the normal accepted order usually.

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[Conor]

I was shouted at today because I put on the airlines before winding up the legs, aparently I will kill someone doing that.

I have always started with the lines then made my way round the trailer finishing with the clip.

Whats so wrong with that?

Should be safety clip first and a second check last. Legs are last thing I wind up before second check of safety clip and doing light checks/numberplate.

[stu675]

But no one can justify the order of legs and airlines other than spelling a pneumonic?
As long as they both get done, in the middle somewhere.

[Juddian]

No reason for anyone shouting at you, all it does is brings to attention how close the loud mouth's knuckles are to scraping the ground.

The only thing i'd change about what you are doing is:
once connected up put the clip on then and shine a torch up the 5th wheel's bum to check the bar is across, so long as the tractor unit park brake is applied that trailer isn't going anywhere.

Ignoring the trailer park brake for the moment, the clip is the first thing i put on and the very last thing i remove just before pulling the handle when dropping a trailer.

Other than that i too fit the airlines first and go around anti clockwise, whether dropping or picking up, its when you change a routine that things go pear shaped.

[the nodding donkey]

I was taught, in the mists of time, to do the legs before the airlines. If you forget the airlines when dropping the trailer, you only damage a few lines, and your pride. If you forget the legs, you either drop the trailer on its knees, or you bend/rip off the legs. That is much more expensive than a few suzies...

[peirre]

Despite whichever ways the H&S bods want it doing AFAIC it’s clip first and last as it’s too easy to forget it, then follow the rest of BLACK. I never secure the load or close the curtains at the same time I’m picking up the trailer. I treat them as two separate tasks to avoid mistakes trying to multitask, as every woman knows that us blokes can’t multitask
It’s wise to stop, get out and have a quick walk around the trailer before you pull under it, as it enables you to check that the parking brake is on, spot obvious defects and faulty tyres before you pick it up, and therefore saves you the anguish of early morning grumbles and under the breath curses of having to drop it back down when you discover it is fubar

[robroy]

Never heard of it being called 'BLACK', but it's the way I do it anyway.
First artic job I had at 21, , I pulled the pin first when the full outfit was sat on an angle, to see a loaded flat trailer of steel coming towards me.....could have been a very short driving carreer if my reflexes were not as quick.. .
The o/p said about getting shouted at,..... I certainly did that day and deserved it.

As for the prck shouting at you as if you're a schoolboy for doing something maybe not in the right order, but arguably ok.(what's the worst that could have happened ffs) ..he should have been told to go and [zb] himself.

[Franglais]

it’s clip first and last as it’s too easy to forget it

once connected up put the clip on then and shine a torch up the 5th wheel's bum to check the bar is across, so long as the tractor unit park brake is applied that trailer isn't going anywhere.

Should be safety clip first and a second check last

Yep. Get that right, and the order of the rest hardly matters.

[Sidevalve]

its when you change a routine that things go pear shaped.

Or when it gets interrupted. Having once been engaged in conversation when picking a trailer up, and forgetting to put the clip on (thankfully without incident) I now adopt a routine that starts from the beginning checking everything if for any reason I am distracted from it.

Biggest mistake you can make is to rush things; I've seen a highly experienced driver drop a trailer on its knees because another driver was hassling him to hurry up and he forgot to wind the legs down. Fortunately the trailer was empty and no damage was done.

[shullbit]

I was shouted at today because I put on the airlines before winding up the legs, aparently I will kill someone doing that.

I have always started with the lines then made my way round the trailer finishing with the clip.

Whats so wrong with that?

Trailer brake should always be the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off, always check it even if it is one of the automatic ones that way you wont forget when you couple up one that's not an auto trailer brake. The standard procedure that you should have been taught when learning is B.L.A.C.K. to uncouple and reverse this to couple. Many companies also use this and when you go into places you will see posters dotted about with this information on them.

[lolipop]

Picking up
(1)Trailer brakes on
(2)Unit underneath give it a "snatch"
(3) Handbrake on
(4) Clip
(5)Airlines on
(6)Legs up
(7)Trailer brake off
Dropping
(1 Brakes on all round
(2)Airlines off
(3)Legs down
(4)Pull the pin

Like its been said its all down to routine or habit although some habits could be wrong.

[adam277]

There are plenty of ways to couple a trailer.
Only one real wrong way to do it.
top tip if your putting your airlines on before doing the kingpin thats not good.


Also being shouted at for that is [zb] stupid.
in an ideal would you do the legs last because assuming both the king pin and brake fails you still have the legs supporting the trailer.

edit: just read.

I have always started with the lines then made my way round the trailer finishing with the clip.

If your coupling up that that is obviously wrong lol. With coupling up the clip is the first thing you put on.


Basically clip is the first thing you put on when coupling up. And the last thing to do when uncoupling. Everything else move around as you want.


Then again there is split coupling which is an entire different thing. Something that I avoid. Because I am not 30st.

[Quinny]

I can't believe how many of you on the coupling process, apart from Lolipop, never mentioned giving the tug test once underneath!!!

My order is the same as Lolipop's, however on ferry trailers, the dock lads have a habit of leaving the trailer suspension either up or down on the max, so checking the trailer height is first before going under.

Ken.

[adam277]

I can't believe how many of you on the coupling process, apart from Lolipop, never mentioned giving the tug test once underneath!!!

My order is the same as Lolipop's, however on ferry trailers, the dock lads have a habit of leaving the trailer suspension either up or down on the max, so checking the trailer height is first before going under.

Ken.

Ye important point and pain in the ass when its too low haha. I once [zb] the plastic mud guard things on the rear wheels as I tried to lift the trailer up with the very rear of the unit so I didnt have to wind it up by hand to get under it.

[polytrotter]

Hitching up

Clip, lines, legs, attach n-plate, check lights etc, trailer brake off, double check clip

Dropping

Lines, legs, remove n-plate, check trailer brake is on, pull pin.

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[Macski]

Thanks!

When I first started driving it was normal not to put on the trailer brake!!!

Also many trucks did not have the clip, well it was missing, used to be told the clip was not needed and not a legal requirment.

Back then I could also take along friends for trips out.

That was in the 90s!

[stu675]

I can't believe how many of you on the coupling process, apart from Lolipop, never mentioned giving the tug test once underneath!!!.

a lot of people describe their coupling up routine as starting their with the clip as opposed to the kingpin. I.e. it starts when they get out the cab, so they have probably done the tug test already.

My order is the same as Lolipop's, however on ferry trailers, the dock lads have a habit of leaving the trailer suspension either up or down on the max, so checking the trailer height is first before going under.

Ken.

Any good tips for dealing with either?

[stu675]

Thanks!

When I first started driving it was normal not to put on the trailer brake!!!
!

It's still normal. I often couple up to trailers that have not got the brake on. Makes it hard to remember which is on and which is off. It seems backwards to me. The easiest thing is to hit it (push it) but that takes the brakes off rather than applying them.

[Quinny]

My order is the same as Lolipop's, however on ferry trailers, the dock lads have a habit of leaving the trailer suspension either up or down on the max, so checking the trailer height is first before going under.

Ken.

Any good tips for dealing with either?

Alter the height before you go under by checking the blue handle.

Ken.

[Quinny]

My order is the same as Lolipop's, however on ferry trailers, the dock lads have a habit of leaving the trailer suspension either up or down on the max, so checking the trailer height is first before going under.

Ken.

Any good tips for dealing with either?

Alter the height before you go under by checking the blue handle. Level the trailer up or down.

Ken.

[ScaniaUltimate]

There are two rules I use as a fail-safe to remove the most common dangerous mistakes during coupling/uncoupling:
1. Before driving after coupling/uncoupling I stand a few yards from the driver's door towards the rear of the cab. From there you can see that the clip is in, the pipes are on & the legs are up or that the pin is released, the pipes are off & the legs are down. These are the 3 most important safety points of the coupling/uncoupling procedure - all viewable from one position which is on your way to the driver's seat (RHD).
2. When I have the red line in position ready to push on, I have to be able to see in my 'minds eye' that I put the handbrake on - if I can't then I get down & check; never compromised on this & never had an outfit run away.

Rule 1 should also be used before driving after being away from the vehicle.
Rule 2 is less relevant now that a lot of trucks give warnings for exiting the cab when the handbrake is off, but no warning does not mean the handbrake is on in every truck.

Of course there is a lot more to do than the above to couple/uncouple correctly but these 2 simple rules will remove the possibility of making the most embarrassing & potentially dangerous errors.

BTW - let's not forget the number plate. A £100 fine will take away most of the purpose of being at work at all for that day & hand written ones will not save you from the fine.
If you do get caught without one do not say it must have fallen off, as that can lead to a different but more serious charge.

[RIPPER]

Then again there is split coupling which is an entire different thing. Something that I avoid. Because I am not 30st.

OK......what would you do with a close coupled fridge trailer????
Some of them even if you were a waif like 8 stone driver you wouldn't get in between unit and fridge

[robroy]

BTW - let's not forget the number plate. A £100 fine will take away most of the purpose of being at work at all for that day & hand written ones will not save you from the fine.
If you do get caught without one do not say it must have fallen off, as that can lead to a different but more serious charge.

That is true,.I once got my trailer plate nicked overnight by some [zb] for some unknown reason a few years ago,.and got pulled and nicked.
Usual type of non discretionary modern copper said I should not have left the park and bought a new one.. , but the last time I tried to get a plate from a car accessory shop, even thought the truck was parked outside in view, the jobs worth in the shop told me I had to produce the registration document/logbook, so what tf do you do?
If I'd said it must have dropped off, it comes under the remit of insecure load or similar I was told.
So if you make an effort, by writing your reg on a temporary card,.they won't accept it and still nick you.
Anybody would think they were just intent on making money out of you.....surely not.
Just about sums the [zb] job up nowadays.

[yourhavingalarf]

Cardboard number...

Plate means, one way or the other, they know you know you haven't got it.

The oldest joke going if you get stopped without one. 'Officer, I wish to report a theft'.

[rob22888]

Surprised how a few people on here have mentioned doing the airlines before the legs when dropping a trailer. My outfits SSOW says to do this and I have always found it odd, forgetting the legs & dropping a trailer is the worst possible outcome so surely eliminate that first.

Occasional human error is inevitable & if a drivers going to get distracted and miss something, best its the airlines in my eyes. No good some driver trainer wagging his finger pointing at the SSOW you didn't follow, when a loaded trailers on it's knees shot to bits & needing a wrecker to pick it up.

[Juddian]

I do the lines before the legs because i work in the same direction whether dropping off or picking up.
By starting at the clip (connecting) and ending at the clip (dropping) and going anti clockwise with number plate in hand, nothing gets missed, ever.
If i get interrupted i start again.

What gets my goat is those who fail to use the air suspension on the tractor correctly both times, not only to save the landing legs from unnecessary strain but to keep the fifth wheel grease (especially on a newly greased plate) where it belongs and to ensure they don't overshoot the pin.

Our trainer doesn't mind which way you do it so long as the procedure is safe, he doesn't hold with making people change their methods unless he spots something idiotic, ie like those who attempt to unclip and pull the pin first, that's a failed assessment and cheerio.

[AdamST205]

No one on here ever do fridges then? Split couple always means air lines go on first and off last unless the trailer has a sliding air line rack or you are a contortionist by trade.

Reverse up to trailer. Get out and check brake is on, check load is correct and do daily checks.

-Reverse tractor so mid lift wheels are in line with front of trailer and you can feel fifth wheel go under.
-Lift up rear suspension so a) You know you are not going to miss the pin because your unit is too low/trailer too high and b) it makes lifting the legs a lot easier
-Connect your lines and check your lights to make sure they all work.
-Get back into cab, reverse to engage kingpin and do tug test.
-Get out with number plate in hand.
-Connect Kingpin clip
-Lift legs
-Put on plate
-Release brake
-Get back into cab and once moving level suspension.

[Juddian]

On the split coupling malarkey.
When i wnet through Asda induction around 2009 to get the green card (agency at the time), they had a system i hadn't come across before, a two position sliding fith wheel operated from within the cab by a combination of switch presses ensuring it could only be triggered by deliberate action.

The idea being the unit started off with the fifth wheel fully back, you would connect up than fit the air lines but double check the trailer brake applied, then operate the fith wheel slider and reverse the unit back till it clicked into its running position, then complete your pick up.
Obviously dropping off you would reverse the operation.

Brilliant system.

Do they still use this method, or is it in use anywhere else, i'd personally never seen it before but then only once in a blue moon have i had anything to do with fridges except for long term at Kwik Save, but mostly KS had day cab tractors and shorter trailers (access at shops) so split coupling was seldom if ever needed.