Rather than all this wasted money and things like that, why didn’t they just put the bloody trailer brake button next to the suzi’s??
I think the reason trailer brakes aren’t always used is laziness. I get whinged at all the time by shunters in lots of different companies and yards because I use the trailer brake, they then have to walk 1/2 way down the trailer to release it, which is obviously too much effort when you see how many just drag the trailer around with brakes still on.
The newer trailers at work automatically pop the park brake when you disconnect the suzies.
You don’t need all these silly inventions. If people didn’t cut corners accidents wouldn’t happen. Simple.
mastesallan:
LR18-8:
Correct me if I’m wrong but surely following the correct DSA procedure in the first place would irradiate these incidents?i.e. Apply trailer brake, lift landing legs, connect air lines.
Am I reading this correctly ? Please don’t attempt to split couple in that order
Well yeah that’s the way to do it. Raise the legs off the floor with the unit, not wind them up as I think you may have read it.
Tarrman:
You don’t need all these silly inventions. If people didn’t cut corners accidents wouldn’t happen. Simple.
That was exactly my point too mate. If the trailer brake was applied as it should then these accidents wouldn’t happen.
No, if drivers knew what they were doing it would never happen. Everyone is trying to make things idiot proof when the real answer is teach the idiots.
Can someone please explain to me why you need to put on the park brake?
kitbuilder123:
Everyone is trying to make things idiot proof when the real answer is teach the idiots.
Best sentence ever. And it doesn’t just apply to truck drivers; the whole world seems to be going down this road.
kitbuilder123:
No, if drivers knew what they were doing it would never happen. Everyone is trying to make things idiot proof when the real answer is teach the idiots.
Can someone please explain to me why you need to put on the park brake?
think of the children! 
some can’t couple properly, hence company policy 
put the trailer brake on! You can still get movement between tractor and trailer 
and if you’ve not used air suspension to lift it up under and aligned with kingpin, 
Aka the split couple YOU’RE GOING TO GET SQUASHED! 
merry Xmas!
kitbuilder123:
No, if drivers knew what they were doing it would never happen. Everyone is trying to make things idiot proof when the real answer is teach the idiots.
Can someone please explain to me why you need to put on the park brake?
2 main reasons are:
raymundo:
Tonge said: “I remain very passionate about the subject of coupling accidents’’
I’m glad that it wasn’t just me that saw a different meaning in that sentence.
Ok, I can sort of understand it for split coupling now that most trucks don’t have suzie taps anymore.
I can’t understand why drivers lift the trailer up either. If you back in straight, you only need to touch the rubbing plate and click in.
And yellow suzie first will stop all the running forward and squashing. Unless you drive a Volvo of course which if you do, you already have troubles!
kitbuilder123:
Everyone is trying to make things idiot proof when the real answer is teach the idiots.
It doesn’t matter how idiot proof they try and make something there always seems to be a more talented idiot who can overcome it.
Rhythm Thief:
Best sentence ever. And it doesn’t just apply to truck drivers; the whole world seems to be going down this road.
It will continue while insurance companies pay the claims from idiots who call No Win No Fee companies for the most ridiculous things.
kitbuilder123:
Ok, I can sort of understand it for split coupling now that most trucks don’t have suzie taps anymore.
I can’t understand why drivers lift the trailer up either. If you back in straight, you only need to touch the rubbing plate and click in.
And yellow suzie first will stop all the running forward and squashing. Unless you drive a Volvo of course which if you do, you already have troubles!
4 reasons.
1 - Some trailers have been known to leak air when parked up and when they leak air the suspension drops at the axles. When the axle height drops the pin height lifts as the trailer pivots/hinges over the legs. If the previous user has wound the legs tight to the ground then you can overshoot the pin.
2 - If you do the tug test on the pin and the legs are still grounded you can bend the legs making it difficult to wind the legs all the way up (VOSA fine anyone). It’s also an avoidable cost for the company when having to replace legs.
3 - If the legs ARE tight to the ground it makes the winding of the leg handle hard till the pressure is of even in the low gear.
4 - The grease from the 5th wheel finds its way onto the front lip of the rubbing plate, then onto the lines, then onto the drivers clothing, then into the cab/car and if the vehicle is shared with others is just plain anti social.
HTH.
Wiretwister:
kitbuilder123:
I can’t understand why drivers lift the trailer up either. If you back in straight, you only need to touch the rubbing plate and click in.
also if your R send of tractor is UP in the air and trailer is sloping AWAY from you! you won’t GET CRUSHED AS IT WILL RUN AWAY FROM YOU ON THE SPLIT COUPLE if it moves!
But what I’m saying is back in under, lift the tractor unit til it touches the rubbing plate, click in to the pin, then lift the legs clear and do the tug test.
I’ve seen people with auto boxes absolutely clatter into the pin because they have the full weight of the trailer down on the 5th wheel.
Everyone’s differen I suppose.
kitbuilder123:
But what I’m saying is back in under, lift the tractor unit til it touches the rubbing plate, click in to the pin, then lift the legs clear and do the tug test.I’ve seen people with auto boxes absolutely clatter into the pin because they have the full weight of the trailer down on the 5th wheel.
Everyone’s differen I suppose.
Misread that, I thought you meant to wind the legs right up before the tug test. 
raymundo:
Tonge said: “I remain very passionate about the subject of coupling accidents’’So am I 'cos a few years ago I had one of those …
.
.
.
The ■■■■■ took me to the CSA and it cost me 25 quid a week
your lucky. my coupling accident is costing me £500 a month.
when i had class 1 training my instructor talk-remembers to drop trailers Black
B-brakes
L-legs
A-airline
C-clip dog
K-kingpin
