I’ve been given an agency gig next week trunk/swapping a wag+drag, learned in a artic so not sure of the couple/uncouple. I looked in the tips but could only see fifth wheel hookups. Any pearls of wisdom would be much appreciated chaps and chappesses. 
. It’s also got a drop box which I will be errrr dropping but I’ve done them before.
I passed in the W+D earlier this week.
Deal is the same principle.
Brake
Legs
Air lines and Electrics
Number Plate
King Pin / Coupling.
Reverse it for recoupling.
Keep same amount of trailer in both mirrors to get drawbar in centre of coupling.
Ensure the pins engage as this checks the drawbar is locked in place.
As far as I know there are some air powered coupling release and some manual (Grab handle and pull).
I am sure I have probably missed stuff but I think that covers the basics
Dean
dar1976:
As far as I know there are some air powered coupling release and some manual (Grab handle and pull).Dean
Its an air power coupling and I suppose my question should have been whats the score with the little box/lever thing and how do the airlines attach. It’s more the mechanics of the thing, I have seen but not touched so to speak. 
Redrorry:
dar1976:
As far as I know there are some air powered coupling release and some manual (Grab handle and pull).Dean
Its an air power coupling and I suppose my question should have been whats the score with the little box thing and how do the airlines attach. It’s more the mechanics of the thing, I have seen but not touched so to speak.
I will leave that for the more knowledgeable as would not want to speculate.
Sorry I could not be of much help
dar1976:
I will leave that for the more knowledgeable as would not want to speculate.Sorry I could not be of much help
dar1976 thanks for your input I suppose I could have put the question better, I don’t like touching airpowered mechanical stuff unless I know exactly how it operates. I’ve got a hunch but thats a last resort.
Congrats on passing your class 1, easy to remember that date 1/11/11.
Hi. In the little control box you will probably find 2 levers. To uncouple, simply turn the yellow lever (it will only go one way about 180 degrees). This will lift the pin. The easy thing to do now is to turn the lever back (the pin will stay put) and close the control box. Now when you couple up to the next trailer, the pin is raised and ready to accept the trailer. If you leave the yellow lever turned, the pin won’t drop.
Everything else is the same as an artic. The only thing that’s slightly more difficult is the importance of having the prime mover exactly in line with the trailer and check that the height of the coupling is correct. In a perfect world the eye on the trailer will sit “free” in the coupling ie no weight on the coupling.
I have only ever worked with two such air operated couplings. I don’t know if there are variations on this but given the info above and a lump of common sense, you should be fine.
Hope that helps. Pete
PS Avoiding any comments about the “follies” of learning on W+D!!! 
Is this going to Washington by any chance from livingston or euro central?
Peter Smythe:
Hi. In the little control box you will probably find 2 levers. To uncouple, simply turn the yellow lever (it will only go one way about 180 degrees). This will lift the pin. The easy thing to do now is to turn the lever back (the pin will stay put) and close the control box. Now when you couple up to the next trailer, the pin is raised and ready to accept the trailer. If you leave the yellow lever turned, the pin won’t drop.Everything else is the same as an artic. The only thing that’s slightly more difficult is the importance of having the prime mover exactly in line with the trailer and check that the height of the coupling is correct. In a perfect world the eye on the trailer will sit “free” in the coupling ie no weight on the coupling.
I have only ever worked with two such air operated couplings. I don’t know if there are variations on this but given the info above and a lump of common sense, you should be fine.
Hope that helps. Pete
PS Avoiding any comments about the “follies” of learning on W+D!!!
Thanks for that Pete, I have been using the front of the setup for 5 months a Volvo FM 440hp with a drop box. I have seen the little box and air tap up close also the pin. I also see the box drags and skelly trailers in the yard. Got to really watch in dark for those black boxless skelly trailers a few of the employed guys have hit em in the dark. 
So the company are now letting me do the class 1 trunks day shift “happy days”,
This little byline is for other newbies and is my own experience.
I know some on here would say “ask”. Asking another truck driver unrelated to your company is always good had plenty help. Asking another driver in the same company always “gets around” and asking the TM “how do I do this” would always be a no no. Don’t want him having doubts about your abilities .
stagedriver:
Is this going to Washington by any chance from livingston or euro central?
Nope!