To day I had to swap trailers at a warehouse I go to from time time. Backed up to it , before I went under I go out checked the trailer brake and had a quick look at the trailer and found the front drivers side to have grease over the bottom of the curtain and the bottom edge badly damaged . I asked one of the staff about it and he told me yesterday a driver had hitched up pulled away from the loading bay turned right and the trailer came off and fell on to its knees. This worried me as I wondered if it had been damaged and could be dangerous to tow. But what do you look for I’m not a mechanic or engineer so what do I should I have done.
I would have looked for damage to the legs and skuff marks on the king-pin.
If the king-pin was marked enough for me to think it could be damaged, I would get it checked, before moving it. If the legs had been bent so they where looking dangerous I would get them changed.
Other than that, trailers are built to take a fair amount of abuse. Even dropping a fully freighted trailer shouldn’t do any real damage, unless it happens at speed. Even if it comes off on a corner, the trailer will still go straight on from where it falls off, so it won’t get any twisting damage.
Simon:
Other than that, trailers are built to take a fair amount of abuse. Even dropping a fully freighted trailer shouldn’t do any real damage,
I think you may be wrong there!!! I have seen a fully loaded trailer dropped at NO speed and the floor broke about a third of the way back!!1
knight:
To day I had to swap trailers at a warehouse I go to from time time. Backed up to it , before I went under I go out checked the trailer brake and had a quick look at the trailer and found the front drivers side to have grease over the bottom of the curtain and the bottom edge badly damaged . I asked one of the staff about it and he told me yesterday a driver had hitched up pulled away from the loading bay turned right and the trailer came off and fell on to its knees. This worried me as I wondered if it had been damaged and could be dangerous to tow. But what do you look for I’m not a mechanic or engineer so what do I should I have done.
The most important thing to check is the kingpin and surrounding area. This is what determines the difference between safety and a loaded trailer shooting off at 90k.
If there is no marking there then check the legs and stays for cracks. That would be serious if one dropped off and under your wheels or someone else’s.
But also check the chassis for cracks. I once saw one of Stirland’s snap in the middle just as he mounted the steep flyover at Dunkirk island, Nottingham. Don’t know if it was previously damaged though.
If all these points are ok then I would be happy to pull it.
Salut, David.
This is something that happens regularly at our place,whereby trailers are damaged,and of course,Mr.Nobody has done it.
What I do personally,is get a witness to the damage,and make sure I write it on my daily run sheet with the name of the witness who saw it.I also ring the traffic office when I know the day staff are in,and make them aware of it,and what action I’ve taken.
The problem we have though,is that both our Irish and Scottish operations are sub-contracted,and they use our trailers,but that doesn’t stop me from doing what I do,because I don’t know who had the trailer last.
Ken.
Report it & ask for advice, make sure they have stuck their neck out so you dont take all the blame.
But also be sencible, if you think it isnt safe dont take it, even if a fitter says its ok 
(some tend not to know a few things, or care)
Q,if and when you become a trans manager may I be the first to give you a very very hard kick up your arse 
froggy
Thanks for that.
Went past the operation today that I may be running,and what a relief after 18 months of 16’2" double decks,to see it’s a single deck trailer operation.
That probably won’t stop some dipstick damaging one though.
Ken.
Thanks for all the advice everybody, it will be followed. One thing I don’t want is to lose a trailer, particulary on the road.