Towing Trailers Safely Training

Trailers and trailer hitches are common pieces of equipment that your crews use almost every day. All types of trailers are used to transport tools and equipment, poles, emergency response supplies, brush chippers, generators, lighting and many other things used by your work crews.  

Companies are downsizing their trucks, now that the auto manufactures are stepping up the torque and towing capabilities of the 1500 series truck with greater towing capabilities. In some cases the 1500 series trucks are able to tow as much as the 2500 series trucks. In some instances this turns out to be a better fit, and on the other hand this could turn out to be very dangerous. Many companies do not have a clear understanding on when a smaller tow vehicle will do the job or how to match the towing capability of the towing vehicle to the trailer to be towed.

Many companies that request my training do not include their procurement employees in any training on purchasing the correct trucks for the task being required.  It has been my experience that both the dealers or the manufactures have a fleet of trucks that are on their lots that they want to sell and they convince their client they will meet their need when in reality that may not be the case.  Also, most procurement employees replace the old truck with the same later version truck.  Manufactures have now added many new options that would be much safer, like towing packages that include towing mirrors, backup cameras, downhill assist, rear end gearing built for towing and many other options. In many cases these options do not add that much additional cost.

Many younger workforce employees have little to no practical training or work experience in the area of towing work trailers. Clients that contact me have never included towing safety as part of their safety program.  It is not part of their safety manual or a part of their defensive driver training.  It has simply been overlooked although it is a task that is almost done daily.  It is not included in their pre-job briefing. 

Someone who is an inexperienced driver with a trailer and makes a mistake maneuvering the vehicle and cargo in traffic is driving a truck with a trailer. Hitching and towing accidents can happen not only with an inexperienced driver but also with an experienced driver with a commercial drivers license that has never had any towing training or has developed bad habits.

Trailers come in many different sizes and shapes, but all of them can result in serious or even fatal injuries if they become detached from the vehicle that is pulling them. Trucks and trailers that have loads that exceed their payloads exceed their capability of being able to stop.  

“TOWING TRAILERS SAFELY” is a training program that will teach your employees the proper way to tow with safety in mind.

Participants will learn:

?  The basic concepts of attaching trailers to trucks.

?  How to calculate weights on a combination Truck and Trailer for safe towing.

?  What the terms payload, GVWR, GTWR and curb weight mean.

?  How all the parts of a hitch system work.

?  What to look for when purchasing trucks and trailers for your fleet.

?  How to properly inspect hitch systems for defects on a regular basis.

?  The training newly hired employee’s need to safely tow trailers.

?  How to choose the proper equipment to secure the load on the trailer. 

?  How to determine the “weakest link” in a hitch system.

?  How to set up a trailer towing safety and inspection program. 

I offer a simple 4 to 5 hour workshop for clients that want their staff to receive in-depth training or for organizations that want to offer workshops for their members.  I also have a shorter version of this training that last approximately an hour and a half that is a Towing Trailers Safely overview.  The overview leaves out most of the math problems and how to calculate loads and payloads.

Each year hundreds of accidents involve work trailers that are improperly hitched or have the wrong truck or trailer for the task.  Don’t be like most of the clients that call me after a serious accident involving a serious injury or fatality.  Do not overlook the assigned task of trailer towing as a vital part of your safety and health program. 

For more information or if you would like discuss a booking, contact me at:

Email: [email protected] or Text or Call: (615) 603-0562