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When they are not working on properties, landscape contractors and their crews are driving "” driving to another property or driving away from, or back to, their home base. This travel occurs nearly every day out of every week for the better part of every year for contractors all over the country. Having this much exposure to the road makes it especially important for drivers to drive defensively. The fact that most crews are hauling a trailer filled with equipment gives additional meaning to the word "defensive." Driving defensively when hauling a trailer means more than watching out for the other driver. It requires following proper trailer installation and maintenance procedures, making sure trailers are loaded securely, and modifying driving habits to ensure truck and trailer are operated in a safe manner.

Concerns

Accidents can happen in any number of ways when hauling a trailer. The most common, and oftentimes most severe, accidents occur when the entire trailer breaks away and collides with pedestrians, fixed objects, or other vehicles. But trailer accidents are not limited to "breakaways." Other common trailer accidents occur when a trailer jackknifes or when the driver of the tow vehicle rear-ends the vehicle in front. Most of these accidents can be traced back to inadequate or failed braking capacity, improper installation or maintenance of the trailer, unequal weight distribution, inadequate following distance, or excessive speed.

First Things First

The safe operation of a truck and trailer begins - at the beginning. There are four categories of hitches and couplings for trailers. Class 1 is for light-duty towing and applies to trailers less than 2,000 pounds GVW. Class 2 is for medium-duty towing and applies to trailers with GVWs of 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. Class 3 hitches and couplings are designed for heavy-duty towing (trailers from 3,500 to 5,000 pounds GVW). Class 4 hitches apply to extra-heavy-duty trailers with GVWs from 5,000 to 10,000 pounds.

Trailers and tow vehicles must have proper coupling hardware, and the manufacturer's instructions must be thoroughly reviewed and followed for the proper installation of wiring, hitches, and couplings and the performance of any maintenance work. Pay special attention to ensure that wiring connections are properly grounded and that tires are inflated to the manufacturer's specifications.

Never overload a trailer. Cargo should be loaded somewhat toward the front of the trailer and kept as low as possible. Sixty percent (60%) of the load should be in the front half of the trailer and 40 percent in the back half. The weight resting on the hitch should represent no more than 10 percent of the GVW. Loads should be securely tied down, and you should never tow a trailer that sways.

Before driving out of the lot in the morning, give the trailer a visual inspection. Check the ball, coupler, chains, and lights. Safety chains should be crossed under the hitch and fastened to the towing vehicle, and they should be of sufficient length to allow full articulation of the vehicle, yet prevent the trailer coupler from striking the ground. Adjust the mirrors on the tow vehicle to minimize blind spots. Do not attempt to tow the trailer if it or the tow vehicle is in need of adjustment or repair.

Defensive Driving Tips

Once you are on the road, driving habits need to be modified to help ensure safe travel with a trailer in tow. First, normal driving speeds should be reduced by 10 to 15 mph, and your top speed should not exceed 45 mph. Normal following distances should be doubled as well. Scan the road ahead as far as possible to anticipate stops and, when passing, allow extra room for your trailer to clear. Take curves slowly to minimize cargo shift and trailer sway.

Take extra precaution, too, when backing up a trailer. Back slowly and use a spotter, if one is available. Choose parking spaces where you can pull out of the space when leaving to eliminate the need to back up.

For most landscape contractors, hauling a trailer is a fact of life. Many of these trailers spend the better part of the day in heavy traffic. To operate confidently and safely around this traffic, operators need to be assured that their vehicle and trailer are properly maintained and that the cargo is loaded correctly and safely secured. Then, they have to modify their driving habits to accommodate hauling a trailer and make a special effort to drive defensively.

1/03

By Rod Dickens, ALCA Contributing Writer

(CNA supplied safety tips for this article.)