Tip of the Week                    

March 14, 2005

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Keeping the Rubber Down

Have you ever seen what the inside of a CEM trailer looks like when it turns upside down? If you’ve ever felt a trailer start to wobble behind you, you’ve probably had this vision flash through your head. Trailer sway is normally caused by cross winds, high speed, incorrect loading (not enough weight on the hitch), or any combination of these factors. The basic principle to stop trailer sway is to brake the trailer before you brake the haul vehicle. So, any time you find a trailer wobbling a little more than you’re comfortable with, follow these simple steps:

1. SLOWLY let off on the gas.
2. Apply the electric trailer brake until the sway subsides.
3. Apply the foot brake or accelerate as necessary to resume normal travel.

Of course, remember that the most effective way to avoid vehicle accidents is to drive at a speed that is appropriate for the situation (no greater than 65 mph!), factoring in traffic conditions, weather, road surface, your general state of being, and the load that you are moving. When pulling a trailer, this almost always means going at the posted speed limit, or LESS.