High Hook Revisited

I know the high hook was recently discussed in another thread, but I had an experience yesterday that could have turned out badly, so I’ll relate it in case it can benefit anyone.

My company is all about uniformity of equipment. Trucks are all the same, trailers are all the same. But for perhaps the third or fourth time, I backed up to a trailer that would have been a high hook if I hadn’t gotten out and looked. Why some of our trailers get jacked up, I don’t know. But because of this phenomenon and my training, I always get out and check, no exceptions. In this case, it saved me from a bad day.

I believe that if a driver gets sloppy and starts to back into trailers without checking the trailer height, they will eventually high hook. It’s not “if”, it’s “when”, guaranteed

Most of it depends on how level the ground is where it is parked, or how high the previous driver cranked the legs. Also if a driver drops it at the correct hight for where he is, then say a spotter moves it to a different spot it might be too high or low. While the previous driver didn't do anything wrong you'll go to hook it and think " what jerk left it like this"

Luckily I have a rear window so I can see if it's at the right hight while backing upto it.

I jumped the 5th wheel once, so now always GOAL before backing under a trailer.

Yesterday the trailer I was picking up was too low. I could have damaged it if I had backed in.

In this case I got the yard jockey to come lift it and adjust the height. He also pulled it forward onto more level ground.

Most of it depends on how level the ground is where it is parked, or how high the previous driver cranked the legs. Also if a driver drops it at the correct hight for where he is, then say a spotter moves it to a different spot it might be too high or low. While the previous driver didn't do anything wrong you'll go to hook it and think " what jerk left it like this"

These are excellent examples from BB of how a "routine" drop-and-hook can become a preventable accident in a few inches, not making enough of an effort, or trying to save a few seconds.

Always take the time to Get Out And Look prior to backing completely under any trailer.

You've picked up at National Beef in Fort Dodge, haven't you Bruce?

Their yard dogs leave the containers a good two inches or more above my fifth wheel. One of our other places we pick up dropped trailers has the same issue. So I just climb out and look, knowing I'm going to have to crank it down 😝

I haven't been at National Beef since early August. You guys must come here a lot. There's a good seven or eight Helwig trucks getting their loaded reefers and there's quite a few trailers waiting to be picked up still.

Well I found my container. Now to pre-trip it and head to the Port of Oakland

Laura

You've picked up at National Beef in Fort Dodge, haven't you Bruce?

Their yard dogs leave the containers a good two inches or more above my fifth wheel. One of our other places we pick up dropped trailers has the same issue. So I just climb out and look, knowing I'm going to have to crank it down 😝

I haven't been at National Beef since early August. You guys must come here a lot. There's a good seven or eight Helwig trucks getting their loaded reefers and there's quite a few trailers waiting to be picked up still.

Well I found my container. Now to pre-trip it and head to the Port of Oakland

Laura

You've picked up at National Beef in Fort Dodge, haven't you Bruce?

Their yard dogs leave the containers a good two inches or more above my fifth wheel. One of our other places we pick up dropped trailers has the same issue. So I just climb out and look, knowing I'm going to have to crank it down 😝

I haven't been at National Beef since early August. You guys must come here a lot. There's a good seven or eight Helwig trucks getting their loaded reefers and there's quite a few trailers waiting to be picked up still.

Well I found my container. Now to pre-trip it and head to the Port of Oakland

Laura

Laura, good example. And yes I do go to National Beef on occasion, so I know what you mean about that location. I prefer get a load from Cargill down the road.

I think the last company newsletter had an item that Helwig just got a contract to expand their relationship with National Beef.

Always carry a hammer or rubber mallet in case you do high hook. Lift the 5th wheel manually, place the hammer in a way to even out the 5th wheel, drop the air bags, and slowly drive forward. Praying works too.

I think many believe that to be correct - it will be a matter of when. GOAL is always the best option, isn't it? Or as I started saying to myself after a near miss, GOALS Bill, GOALS - Get Out and Look Stupid. I can be hard on myself that way. I watched a guy do what Dennis mentioned - he was backing under a trailer and it was rising. But that's because the kingpin was riding the fifth wheel. I've discovered airhorns don't mean a thing. Nobody looks when you toot. He smashed his air wings on the back of the cab.

Be good out their BK!

I don't like jumping the fifth wheel so i get to where the fifth wheel should be touching the trailer get out and lower the trailer in granny gear till the trailer is flush with the fifth wheel

Yupppp ! All it takes is ONCE, to high hook a trailer and you learn to go slower, GOAL, etc hahaha Happened to me once, trailer was on a slight incline. Well, it overshot the plate and was just ahead of the 5th wheel grrrrr ! So I had an empty coke can, put it under the plate to level it out, and pulled ahead and got out of that mess without a problem..... I got used to backing up to em slowly, just as the trailer wall was over my frame rail. take a look at the space between the 2, all good. Usually it was spot on, slide in and connect it. Go under and visually made sure the jaws locked/tug tested also....Lesson learnt, never get too complacent, and assume it's good to go.