I always have a quick scope around a trailer before hooking up.
It saves time if there is something wrong with the trailer or the
load.
And you cant get the blame if you aint touched it.
The first thing on my checklist is…
Own bum covered.
oatcake1967:
I
And you cant get the blame if you aint touched it.The first thing on my checklist is…
Own bum covered.
Abso-flippin-lutely 
You do make a valid point Roymondo, my only worry is that sometimes the hard of thinking will see the trailer brake button as some magic cure all that mysteriously absolves them of doing everything else (as you’ve mentioned) correctly, so on the fatefull occasion that they get distracted mid coupling (ooh err missus) every other procedure they carry out is flawed and somebody dies.
I still maintain that normal coupling (NOT split coupling) can be carried out perfectly safely without applying the trailer brake as long as all the other procedures are followed correctly, mainly vehicle handbrake.
espresso:
According to a driver on a CPC module I attended this week, the driver has died, and he was crushed whilst helping his mate to couple up … he allegedly was on the back of the unit ready to connect the suzies and his mate missed the pin.In 33 years of driving, I have NEVER seen anyone stood on the back of a unit whilst someone else is coupling, and I certainly don’t believe that is what happened on this occasion, just wondered if anyone can throw any light on the job.
So far ONCE in my career I have done this, and probably won’t again. We were both running out of time and had to shift a fair few trucks and trailers to get our two parked up. He had backed under, lifted the suspension and then whilst i was hooking the lines he went to do the legs. He mis-saw the security guard near where I was and so backed up and nearly caught me there.
Needless to say, I won’t be doing that sort of thing again! When I’m doing coupling or split coupling solo I’m always double careful about brakes too…