Preventable or not?
 

I stopped for a bathroom break in a decent size truckstop today and I witnessed the following:

Two trucks from the same company were attempting a trailer swap. I can only assume even though the tractors were from the same fleet that the fifth wheel heights were different. Tractor #1, while holding a cell phone to his ear, drops his trailer. He cranks the dollies down till they are about 5" off the ground. I think that is a bit high but whatever. He then pulls out from the trailer. The trailer slides down the fifth wheel, off the tires and onto the ground. Tractor #2 drops his trailer but he puts the dollies right down close to the ground and pulls away from the trailer. Tractor #2 then attempts to hook up to trailer #1. He cant get backed up to the trailer because it is hitting the tires pretty bad. He he tries to ram it a couple times. He then tries to crank the landing gear down to raise the trailer but cant do that either. In the mean time tractor #1, with the cell phone still stuck in his ear, backs up to trailer #2. He either still has his air dumped or something because the kingpin of the trailer goes right over the top of the fifth wheel and he smashes the back of the cab with the front of the trailer. This is when I decide I gotta get going. They have some explaining to do.

Ya its peventable. They could have both prevented themselves from being morons.

That is a most definate preventable. no reason to be on the cell while trying to hook trailers. I dont think a call is that important. Sometimes I wish Cells were never invented.

Sounds like dumb and dumber ;). What company was this?

Honestly I would blame Tractor #1 for not lowering the dollies down enough before dropping, and obviously he is a moron because he goes and backs up to a trailer without checking the height and obviously not using his mirrors to see he is getting too close and over shooting :). Tractor #2 seems to be fairly innocent and the victim of a moron... so maybe not dumb and dumber... just one dumb enough to be both dumb and dumber :)

I would've stuck around a little longer, it might've gotten even better!
who was it?

Sounds like either Swifty or Werner maybe Schiender since one could have been an O/O with the different height 5th wheel. either way PREVENTALBLE big time.

You would be incorrect sir. In fact it was not any sort of mega carrier at all. The company was....H.O. Wolding out of central Wisconsin. I would also agree that driver #2 is a victim of driver#1 being a complete idiot. I didnt stick around because that was enough of a show for me.

well what i would have done is as the trailer was sitting on the frame (providing the airbags were dumped) raised the bags.. went lowered the gear alittle more then went under... if the case was the bags were dumped.. some people just dont think!

you know, not all Swifty's and Werner's are morons, same with Pumpkin's.....plick.