Trailer sway can be very dangerous. It happens when the trailer starts swaying from side to side. When that happens, the driver can easily lose control of their trailer and the truck. At that point, they may end up in the guard rail, though if others are on the road, this could cause quite an accident.
In order to stay as safe as possible as a commercial driver, it is important that you know some common causes of trailer sway so you can avoid it. Here are some of the most common causes.
Improperly loaded trailer. Though you may not be in charge of loading your trailer, it is always a good idea to make sure that it is properly loaded. You want to make sure that your load is evenly loaded throughout the entire trailer instead of all in one place.
Bad tires. Improper tires (both on your truck and trailer) can cause a lot of problems so it is important to make sure that they are properly inflated and balanced.
High speeds. Driving too fast can cause accidents. However, if you find yourself flying down the road faster than you realize, you could risk losing control of your trailer.
Bad roads. Potholes and other imperfections in a road can cause trailer sway. If you hit a pothole (or something else), it could pull your trailer in a different direction than your truck is, causing sway.
In order to be as safe as possible, you need to make sure that your trailer is loaded properly. You also want to make sure that your tires are in good condition and are filled properly. If not, the trailer could start swaying and you could have an accident. You also need to keep your speed under control!
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