I did the exact same thing as jroqueman 2 days ago, the only thing that saved me from snapping those hydraulic lines is I happened to be on a day cab and could see them in the mirror stretched out like a banjo string. I did what every driver that I've seen pull air lines off does, look around to see if anyone saw me. :oops: The truck I usually drive has a hole in the back of the sleeper from a previous driver forgetting to undo the airlines.

As mentioned before, get a routine to stick with and watch those distractions!

wow, one way to avoid mishaps is to never hurry, and another is to work in one direction so you know you are not forgetting to do something... example, this is how I do it, I go to the jackstand and lower it, then walk towards the drivers door I then pull the fifth wheel lever then walking towards the drivers door I unhook the lines, then walking toward the drivers door I get in, I worked in one direction, this should help not miss something...

if the fifth wheel was stuck your still walking towards the drivers door unhook the lines anyway then try rocking, most time its the truck rolled foward, I just put in reverse and leave the trailer brakes on since the lines are unhooked its locked up anyway and back up and hit the tractor brakes and get out pull lever and I still look at the lines because I am so use to working in one direction.... I look since I am walking by anyway.....hope this helps and don,t try to hurry so much, relax and everything will work right ...

everybody screws up no matter if they've driven a day or 50 years. Key is learning from them.

I can honestly admit I have never screwed up. :P :P :P :P :P :P 8) 8) 8) :P :P :P :P







okay, maybe once or twice.

Good tip.
Another good idea is when you park your truck set trailer brakes first. That way some wise guy don't pull your fifth wheel. It has happen to a co-worker at Exit 40 off 95 in Milford CT.

Skywalker wrote:

Windwalker wrote:

Sooo.... Windwalker.... which are YOU?? You know how I feel about being told I'm just "lucky." And I sure wouldn't like being called a liar! :lol:

There IS one other option, though, that covers MY situation. I drive TEAM, and Powerload and unload. So, I only hook and drop once each for each weekly trip. (I go out and come back to the same yard.)

But, the REAL reason is a very BASIC one. I always do a pretrip after hooking to my trailer and before leaving the lot. IIRC, a proper pre-trip includes checking airlines, pigtail, landing gear and 5th wheel release pin.
And when I drop, like UglyMutt, I start from the cab and work backwards. Since my truck has the release pin on the OTHER side, I go from airlines/pigtail to dolleys, to the back of the trailer to get my loadlocks out, come around the other side and pull the release pin.

I'm NOT "putting down" those who've made mistakes, but I feel the "lucky" ones are those who've failed to THINK, and got away with it! ONE small mistake can cost a LIFE, not just an embarrassment. See below.



Super 8 wrote:

As I drove home from the yard Sunday morning, I heard on the local radio news that, a truck had rolled down a ramp and onto the interstate in Charlotte, KILLING a woman! It was determined that the parking brakes were not SET. Don't know about the trailer brakes, but many times THEY are out of adjustment, and should NOT be relied upon to hold the vehicle by themselves.

A couple of months ago, a Driver was killed at a local truckstop while standing at a fuel island talking to another driver. Apparently, the guy who fueled just before him, ran in to get his receipt without setting his brakes. The driver was crushed when the truck rolled back and pinned him to the nose of his own truck.

I know it's funny to relate stories of how we've screwed up and lived to tell about it, but since this forum is advice to newbies, I thought I'd point out that even the smallest mistake can cost a life in this business.

Let's be careful out there, and keep our minds on our jobs! :D

Back to the subject of this thread. I worked as a Yard Jockee Switcher, for 2yrs and I cant even remember how many times I forgot to unhook the lines. I'll even admit that I have dropped a couple of trailers with the landing gear still up. It's a lot of work cranking that landing gear down, lucky for me we don't haul heavy loads.