What To Do/expect In A Jacknife Situation?
Topic 11740 | Page 1
The school I attended didn't really say much about this topic and the company I hired on with doesn't have much of a training period...like 3 days to be exact. I've been driving alone for over 5 weeks now and just thought I should know something about this if/when the situation arises.
I can tell you from recent experience that you barely have time to react. Keep your feet off the pedals, keep a good grip on the wheel and don't overcorrect. You won't have time to steer much anyway. Once the trailer has met the tractor you're pretty much just waiting for the skid to stop. I saw another truck jacknife one day. Happened as fast as you could spin a toy truck sideways by hand. When in doubt about the road surface.... Slow down.
This is a situation you work more to avoid than to react to it. Like Mark says, once a jackknife starts, you don't even have time to start looking for a new job.
Drive as slow as you need to, do not use engine retard braking. As with any skid, steer into the skid direction to keep the truck straight and get back any traction you may still have.
Hi Travis, welcome to TT, hope you stay awhile. Everyone is here to help make your career a success. I just have one worry about what you said. The company only trained you for 3 days, then put you on the road, straight out of cdl school? To me, that is setting you up for failure. Please correct me if I am wrong. If I'm not, who do you drive for, so I know to avoid them.
Stay safe
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Most trucks have a little hand break that can help for trailer only breaks. Basically if the trailer takes over your in trouble so one way or another you need to find a way to get it straightened out is what everyone to me. Unfortunately my company doesn't have the hand breaks for their trailers.
Most trucks have a little hand break that can help for trailer only breaks. Basically if the trailer takes over your in trouble so one way or another you need to find a way to get it straightened out is what everyone to me. Unfortunately my company doesn't have the hand breaks for their trailers.
Nor does mine (the trailer hand brake). Brake pedal works fine though. Luckily, our tractors brakes are almost gone (205k miles)! Lol!
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The school I attended didn't really say much about this topic and the company I hired on with doesn't have much of a training period...like 3 days to be exact. I've been driving alone for over 5 weeks now and just thought I should know something about this if/when the situation arises.