Trailer Safety - Precautions and Trailer Parts That Save Lives

In 2011 there were an estimated 500,000 trailer-related accidents in the United States. Close to 125,000 people sustained serious injury and, sadly, a little over 5,000 people died as a result of trailer mishaps. Over the years, public safety advocacy groups, individuals and family members who have been directly affected by these types of tragedies have put increased pressure on the Department of Transportation (DOT). As a result, the DOT has increased (arguably improved) oversight and regulations at the federal and state levels for both commercial and private trailer operation.

With an estimated 20% more trucks and trailers hitting the road in 2012, U.S. motorists should not expect roads to become significantly safer anytime soon. As we travel down highways and roads, it’s not uncommon to see a trailer swaying back and forth or crossing a solid line, cargo that is poorly secured or, even worse, straps flapping in the wind. On a daily basis, the national media reports at least one story involving a trailer that disrupts traffic, causes property damage, or tragically leads to catastrophic injury or death. 

In many cases, trailer accidents are the result of intoxication, sleep deprivation, excessive speed, distraction because of a PDA or cell phone, or otherwise dangerous driving habits - the same types of carelessness that cause vehicular accident stats to climb year over year. Unfortunately, a large percentage of trailer-related incidents are the result of simple negligence, a failure to use common sense or follow basic “101” trailer safety precautions, and/or towing and trailer equipment that does not comply with DOT regulations – all conditions that the conscientious and responsible trailer owner should never find themselves in.

Recently, a budding artist from Nevada was returning home after an art show and shopping trip. The young woman was only a few miles from home when a trailer carrying a Jeep became unhitched from an on-coming vehicle and crossed over into her traffic lane. The unsuspecting driver collided head-on with the untethered trailer which ripped through her sub-compact. Although she wasn’t killed on impact, she eventually succumbed to her multiple injuries and died days later. What makes this story so heartbreaking is that her life could have been saved by a $50.00 part. Had the car-hauler transporting the Jeep been equipped with a working breakaway kit, the trailer brakes would have applied at the very instant it became unhitched from the tow vehicle. 

While there is no way to prevent 100% of all accidents, there are a few fundamentals trailer owners can follow to minimize the chances causing an accident. For one thing, it’s imperative for a trailer owner to understand the capabilities of their trailers, if supplied – they should always become familiar with the operator and service manuals. Having at least a working knowledge of each and every component’s function is important.  The top three things a safe trailer owner does include: 

Number 1: He uses his trailer for its designed purpose and proper application. All too often, we see an industrious landscaper who has outfitted the side rails of a general utility with plywood to convert it to carry heavy loads of debris, mulch or dirt. Although perfectly legal in most states, “There’s an app for that” as they say - it’s called a dump trailer: a trailer specifically designed for just such an application. A safe trailer owner keeps his load centered over the axles and respects his running gear, has a variety of trailer cargo control components handy and is exceedingly careful to secure his load, and never overloads his trailer. He is also cautious when “upgrading” it with aftermarket products, repairing and replacing parts, and performing certain types of custom fabrication work. A safe trailer owner has a firm grasp on the limitations of his trailer and knows his trailer is only as reliable as its weakest component.

Number 2: He performs a thorough (front to back, top to bottom) inspection and maintenance routine check on the trailer periodically that addresses lubrication, rust and corrosion on moving parts and ensures that electrical components are weather tight and secure. The safe trailer owner has a few things he always checks when he hitches it up. He pays special attention to the coupler, tires, lights and brakes. If his trailer coupler requires a squirt of WD40 and a hand sledge to operate, or if a black-wall tire is starting to look like a white-wall, or if Cousin Dale knocked the left turn signal off when he borrowed the trailer last week – the safe trailer owner visits Nuera Trailer Parts.

Number 3: He always has a plan “B” and is prepared for the unexpected. When safety is concerned, redundancy is the name of the game! Safety chains, hitch and coupler pins or keepers, spare tires and emergency braking systems should all be in good shape, properly installed and tested to ensure that they will engage as designed when necessary. When equipped with electrical brakes, and even in States that do not require one, a fully charged and working breakaway kit should always be installed on the trailer. The safe trailer owner makes sure his breakaway kit switch and trigger wire is properly installed and functioning, ensures the battery has a minimum capacity of 9 amp hours and maintains charge, and check that the weather sensitive electrical componentry is protected. The smart trailer owner purchases a breakaway kit with an LED indictor and testing button, which includes a trickle charging devise. 

Millage and heavy usage can be unkind to a trailer and it’s common for them to show wear-and-tear after a few years.  In many cases, common sense and judgment can be used when deciding which components to repair and which to replace, which to upgrade, and which to let go for a while. Every now and then it’s a good idea to play out the worst case scenarios before taking to the road. Statistically-speaking, accidents are going to happen, but by following the precautions and best practices mentioned here, a trailer owner can go a long way in keeping himself/herself, his/her equipment and cargo, and, most importantly, those the owner shares the road with out of harm’s way.