Un-coupling and coupling tractor trailer-downtown Fort St John, BC

[safetyfirstpdt]

You bet!

[kennyonshultz]

Thank you

[kennyonshultz]

Should he of gone underneath the truck while it was running?

[safetyfirstpdt]

@kennyonshultz Hi There! He doesn't actually get under the "truck" itself, the area he gets under is the space between the truck and the trailer (under the trailer) As long as the trailer is supported by the truck there is no danger at this point. The reason is to view the locking device on the 5th wheel to ensure it is open while uncoupling, or closed when coupling up. Thanks for the question!

[fight609]

@kennyonshultz You are SUPOSE to take the keys OUT of the truck while you are outside of it due to someone else POSSIBLY moving it while your out of the cab :)

[BeantownJim]

in mass your to crouch behind the dollies to check the jaws!

[greensidemags]

all those safety checks and not a hi-viz vest in sight

[juanchozamudio]

Can somebody tell me what is the standard (average) clearance distance between the ground and the landing gear when they are all the way up?

Thank you.

[safetyfirstpdt]

@juanchozamudio Hi There! There isn't really a standard height, as not all trailers are built for the same purpose (some sit way lower) and different dolly manufacturers have individual designs. My two van trailers are between a foot and a foot and a half, my highboy (flatdeck) is almost two feet. Hope this helps, if not, message me back for more info.

[juanchozamudio]

@safetyfirstpdt Thanks for the information. I am a Civil Engineering Designer working on a project in downtown OKC that requires a WB-67 truck to come into a basement where there is a loading dock. I am using AutoTURN for maneuver simulations and I already assumed 1 foot of clearance distance for the landing gears. Thanks again.

[22bman77]

Why do you train new drivers to lower the landing gear so much?? I wasnt trained like this at all, you want to leave room between the ground and dolly legs and dump your air!

[safetyfirstpdt]

@22bman77 Hi there! The reason is that the Gov't testers at the time this was shot required it this way so a new driver could demonstrate they could do it safely without an air bag equipped tractor (Spring or Rubber block Suspension)

It has since been changed to allow air bagged trucks to dump the air, but the dollys must still be firmly on the ground (Must hear the leveling valve releasing air before dumping the bags)

Thanks for asking! I have an update coming soon!

[samedeepwater2]

be careful out there

there is alot of packies driving truck in canada and they cant read english and they are bad drivers so be careful out there

[safetyfirstpdt]

@samedeepwater2 Seriously? I have friends from all races, including your so called "packies" and there is good and bad in all of us, do we really need to resort to name calling in this day and age?

[Toltecatl]

@safetyfirstpdt What is a packie?

Nice video, by the way.

[safetyfirstpdt]

@Toltecatl Unfortunately, it's a racist term for anyone resembling someone from Pakistan. I have many friends from all over the world, and don't appreciate terms like this, but I feel it's better to address it than ignore it or delete it, racism will never end unless we stop it.

Thanks for the comment on the video, we really appreciate it!

[Toltecatl]

@safetyfirstpdt Oh I see, I hadn't come across this one. Unfortunately racism and bigotry will only end when the HUMAN RACE does. I'm from Mexico and here on top of the "classic" racism, dark skin people look down on darker skin people and so on. As Iggy Pop says "A prick's a prick at any age" and at any skin color and from any part of the world I would add. I guess it's something we will always have to fight... but hey this vid is about truckin' so put that hammer down and give it hell man :)

[graydon98]

that guy looks familiar haha

[safetyfirstpdt]

@graydon98 That guy was the bomb, totally rocked it!!! (How was boarding this year?)

[OCPRS]

Great video. Planning on hanging up academics to do Trucking. Been on a few trips with a friend to get a taste of life on the road. I like it alot!

Anyways, getting ready to do my test soon and this video was a great way to pass the time reviewing. Thank you.

[safetyfirstpdt]

@OCPRS Thanks very much, we appreciate the kind comment and feedback! I hope your test goes well, and that you enjoy the career, It's a valuable resource we all need, and has a lot to offer.

[safetyfirstpdt]

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to let you know I am planning on updating this exercise with a newer version that introduces air suspension into the process. The truck in this video does have air bag suspension, but at the time we had to pretend as if we didn't in order for a student to prove they could do this exercise with any type of suspension when being examined. This process has been dropped from the testing process in BC, so I will be doing a new video soon, on the new way.

[safetyfirstpdt]

(Continued) Another example is the chock blocks on the trailer. This is assuming that the trailer may have service brakes only, and not spring brakes for emergency brakes. In this case, chock blocks would be required. This also applies to airline disconnect. We verbally tell the examiner that we have spring brakes, but if we didn't have them, we would have to leave the airlines on and trailer brake spiked as we pull away, then disconnect. Hope this helps to clarify!

[safetyfirstpdt]

To clarify a few comments, this method (here in BC) is used to test a student assuming a "worst case" scenario. Example; we lift the trailer clear of the 5th wheel when dollying off to assume the truck has spring or rubber block suspension. Obviously if you had air suspension (which we do) you could dump your air instead of cranking so much, but the govt wants to know the student can do it in any situation. (See next post for continuation)

[jmm2000]

Only time I've ever had to place wheel chocks under the trailer tires was because the trailer had electrical brakes only; it had no air brakes. It was the way to prevent the trailer from moving while hooking or unhooking the trailer.

[safetyfirstpdt]

@jmm2000 Hi there! We chock the wheels because it is a safety step required for testing here in BC. With dolly legs down and spring brakes applied on flat ground, I tend to agree that having the chocks down is overkill to some degree, but at the same time, if you had to uncouple on some of the steep hills we have in BC, this would be a precaution I would use. The test assumes a worst case scenario to make sure a student is capable of all situations.

[allbo]

at my school we do it in a diff way....1st of all you dont need the chock because u have ur landing gear down....and 2nd you disconnect the air lines after you pull away your tractor near the 1st axle

[DamianSix66]

Thanks for this , planning on doing my HGV in UK soon and this was very useful .

[safetyfirstpdt]

Thanks, we appreciate it. Good luck on your training!!

[Sephroe]

Thanks for uploading this video. It's good to have something besides written texts void of diagrams and such in driving books. I'm going to the DMV tomorrow to get my permits and endorsements for a class A, doubles, hazmat, and tank. Then soon after I'll be starting the driving instruction program for myself.

[BLUESTREAK0777]

thanks for uploading. it is really helpfull for my driving test .

[safetyfirstpdt]

@BLUESTREAK0777 You're welcome!! Are you from BC or Canada? This is for the BC road test, but all should be similar. Let me know how you make out with the test!!

[BLUESTREAK0777]

@safetyfirstpdt ... well, thanks it passed on 2nd try. First time I failed due to not proper 90 degree backup. Circle check and coupling and uncoupling was good both time. It is really fun to drive these trucks and I learn a lot .I am from Calgary AB.

[safetyfirstpdt]

@BLUESTREAK0777 Way to go!! You'll have a fun time, a great career and meet a lot of great people!! Stay safe!!

[badboymagic]

very good video thanx for this it really help me understand the coupling and uncoupling