i get what your saying however i dont see it as making acquiring a license harder i see it as giving the candidate the tools to do the job.
when i did my boot camp i had already been driving rigids and 7.5t for 2,5 years so all the strapping skill and tacho operation i already had to a limited degree.
if i understand the system correctly if i have an insecure load not only do i get a fine the company gets in trouble/fined so it would behoove them to make sure the driver is up to speed ie train them to their own standard rather than relying on some arbitrary training school to do it
To add the trailer is clearly the same design as that shown in Franglais’ first pic.
Not the one shown in the second pic in which the skele load height is clearly higher throughout.
It looks like the driver was just caught out by the fifth wheel table height.He thought he was running at 4m.
The odds are that it wasn’t running at 4m with that specific unit.The rest is history for the unfortunate driver.I’d have at least ducked, if not bottled out just to make sure, even running solo.
Only the driver/fleet engineer/transport manager/CPC holder/truck manufacturer/fifth wheel manufacturer, of the individual specific truck in question, can know or measure the fifth wheel height.It obviously can’t be marked on the trailer or box.
Making sure that air suspension is set to normal ride height.
Oh wait proof that I’ve driven tractor units with air suspension.
Also why it’s best not to mess with it just treat it like steel suspension at all times to avoid any potential miscoupling or bridge bashing events.
I agree, but we’ve both got our licences; many newbies want it “yesterday” because they don’t take things seriously. I’ve seen Boot Camp trainees kicking off at having to do the easy-peazy Mod 4
Drivers generally get a £300 fine as standard; the company gets a PG9 prohibition, which adversely affects their O-licence via points on the OCRS score (the Traffic Light Scheme)
I never said fifth wheel height is an excuse it’s a similar warning as fighter pilots beware of the Hun in the sun.
So there he was bimbling along the A30 with a 4m high artic approaching a 13’3’’ 4.1 m > high bridge good times playing on the radio.What could possibly go wrong.
For some reason which escapes me now, one day I decided to leave the A/route and take the RN through Tournus to Macon. There is/was a railway bridge before the town and the road dipped very deeply to clear it.
I knew I might be overheight because I had a container inside a tilt, a common practice with WhiteTrux, so I approached the bridge with extreme caution. Sure enough the lead twistlock casting touched the bridge. No damage, but I had to reverse all the way back up the slope against the heavy traffic to turn round and get back to the autoroute.
Why do most british companys run 5 wheels 6 inches higher than need be ffs, all worried trying to saveing a tanner on fuel , but like pushing air to use fuel, work that one out then lol. I will answer that for you Amateurs trying to do a Professional Job , The Polnty Shoes Brigade that know Sweet F/A.
