july2022 - 17

This is why fleets and maintenance providers
should never take trailer connections for granted;
instead, keep a close eye on them if they want to
stay hitched.
As the manager of A&H Truck Service, Nick
Hoag has seen his share of trailer connection
issues. A&H is a full-service shop just outside of
Cleveland, Ohio, providing repairs, maintenance,
and inspections for owner-operators and fleets,
" It's important to be proactive so you don't have
issues on the road, " he said. " A lot of times, especially
on trailers that are hooked up multiple times
per day, simple things can cause problems. "
In many cases, those problems can be avoided
with a little extra attention, Hoag added. For example,
he related that making sure the fifth wheel is
clean around the area where the locking jaws are
located is a simple and effective practice.
" A buildup of grease will block the jaws from
closing properly, especially in winter, " he said.
" When truckers come in and say the fifth wheel
won't latch, it's often because there's dirt and
grease in the jaws. "
When it comes to trailer air and electrical
connections, Hoag advised checking gladhand seals
for dry rot or missing gasket material to prevent air
leaks. On electrical connections, inspect for worn
ends, broken pins, and a snug fit. Additionally,
inspect the spring that closes the door over the
seven-way connector to make sure it shuts properly.
" Tight connections are the easiest place to start, "
Hoag said. " If the gladhands and seven-way are
loose, or you need a hammer to make the connection,
something is wrong. "
To make sure nothing goes wrong and those
connections stay strong, Fleet Maintenance caught
up with several " mating experts " to guide you to
a long-lasting relationship between your tractors
and trailers.
Start with routine
inspections
The first thing to keep in mind is that it takes
both sides for a successful union. Fleets and their
drivers are responsible for ensuring proper tractor-trailer
connections are made, noted Art Hobbs,
branch operations manager at Great Dane Trailers.
And there are several key connections to look at.
" It's crucial to make sure connectors, fifth
wheels, and lines are routinely inspected to ensure
safety and compliance are maintained at all times
when you're on the road, " he asserted.
Not taking the time to ensure that a trailer is
fully and correctly connected can lead to a dangerous
and costly mistake. But according to Hobbs,
it is completely preventable.
" A coupling issue that we see quite often
happens when a driver backs under the trailer,
gets out to make sure everything is locked, hooks
up their air lines and wiring, and then doesn't
do a tug test before releasing the brakes to make
sure the trailer is securely locked, " Hobbs said.
" After all of the things they did on an almostperfect
coupling routine, they release the brakes,
and the trailer takes off down the road. "
A trailer separation may cause damage to the
landing gears, cross members, flooring, and even
bottom rail. Hobbs said that " could easily cost
thousands of dollars in repairs and five to seven
days of downtime for repairs to be made, resulting
in loss of revenue as well. "
Hobbs added that when backing under the
trailer, the driver should always listen for the
" click " sound when the fifth-wheel lock on the
truck engages, and visually look at the fifth-wheel
locking handle to ensure it is all the way in and
locked. Lastly, before rolling up the landing gear
legs, always put the truck in gear, and give it a tug
to ensure the trailer is locked in place.
Improper maintenance on the road can lead to
poor performance. Failing to lubricate a fifth wheel
could alter aerodynamics, leading to a reduction
in fuel efficiency.
" Look at the locking jaws on the truck's fifth
wheel for signs of wear or shiny spots that have
not been lubricated properly, " Hobbs advised.
" Also, visually inspect the trailer kingpin for
signs of unusual wear or damage from being
coupled to the truck.
" Check the electrical cord from the truck to make
sure there is no corrosion present on the seven-pin
connection, that there is no damage or cuts in the
cord, and that it has enough slack in it to enable
making sharp turns with no issues, " he continued.
" And make sure both gladhands are connected
securely to the trailer-that both lines are snug. "
Fleets also can leverage technology to help
promote fifth-wheel safety. Rob Marsh, VP of truck
product sales-OEM and Fleet at JOST International,
said the company has two systems available.
" The JSK37USK model is a two-sensor fifth
wheel that senses the proximity of the kingpin
and the handle to give feedback directly to the
driver using an in-cab display, " he explained.
Features of the JSK37USK include a visual lock
indicator to confirm proper locking and an automatically
engaging secondary lock to ensure security.
With this model, the first sensor verifies that
the kingpin is in the lock, and the second sensor
indicates that the fifth wheel is locked and the
release handle is secured.
To check these items manually, a driver would
need to go under the trailer to verify that the kingpin
was properly in the throat of the wheel and
confirm, by a visual inspection, that the handle
is fully retracted to the casting.
" Our newest design is called the Loc-Light fifth
wheel, " Marsh said. " This model uses the same
two-sensor system, but the positive/negative
feedback is shown through a light underneath
the handle. It also includes an audible beeping
sound if it notices a negative connection and has
an LED light to help a driver see if the locking bar
is completely across the throat. "
The dual-sensor Loc-Light system is connected
to a go/no-go light next to the handle. When the
fifth wheel is properly coupled with the kingpin
and the handle is in the locked position, the light
will show solid green. If the system does not see
both the handle and the kingpin in the correct
locked position, it will flash red. The throat illumination
light automatically turns on when the
system is engaged.
Continue with
maintenance best practices
Preventive maintenance plays a key role in ensuring
proper and safe trailer connections, with proper
lubrication at the top of the list. Hobbs pointed
out that the fifth wheel on the tractor and kingpin
on the trailer should be greased regularly to
reduce friction and prevent premature wear. He
also said that the electrical plug from the truck to
the trailer should be coated with dielectric grease
to prevent damage from corrosion.
Additional advice from Great Dane includes
checking gladhand grommets periodically to
make sure they remain soft and make a good
seal. " They should be replaced when they become
hard to prevent any air loss, " Hobbs said. " Adding
screens to each gladhand will also keep insects
from entering the air system when the trailer is
not hooked to a truck. "
Tony Ryan, technical services and training
manager at SAF-Holland, provided a series of
kingpin inspection and maintenance recommendations.
" We recommend that fleets follow kingpin
manufacturers' instructions for maintenance and
replacement procedures, " he said. " Trailer upper
coupler, or bolster plate, and kingpin inspection
and maintenance are just as important as the
inspection and maintenance of the fifth wheel. "
Keep air and electrical
power flowing
The trailer's air ride suspensions, brakes, and automatic
tire inflation systems rely on the tractor air
compressor, and certain trailer electrical systems
feed off the truck's battery. To prevent failure and
a possible safety issue, those connections also
need proper oversight and routine maintenance.
" Trailer electrical and air connections are
subject to abuse and exposure to harsh conditions, "
said Todd Howe, manager of product management
at Lawson Products. " Heat, cold, moisture, dirt, oil,
and grease all combine to interfere with good electrical
conductivity, and cable and hose integrity.
" Improperly installed tractor-trailer electrical
cables place mechanical strain on wiring, leading
to failure, " he continued. " Electrical connection
problems may exhibit themselves in dim, flickering,
or failed lighting on the trailer and can result
in a failure of the trailer's antilock braking system. "
Poor air brake connections may lead to trailer
pressure loss, immobilizing the truck, noted
Andre Murphy, senior technical services engineer
July 2022 | FleetMaintenance.com
17
http://www.FleetMaintenance.com
july2022

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