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Why is an empty trailer more likely to jackknife under hard braking than a loaded trailer?
- A.With little weight pressing its tires to the road, the trailer has less traction, so its brakes can lock the wheels and let the trailer swing out
- B.An empty trailer is actually heavier at the kingpin than a loaded one
- C.Empty trailers have stronger brakes than loaded trailers by design
- D.A loaded trailer has no traction because its tires are overloaded
Correct answer
A. With little weight pressing its tires to the road, the trailer has less traction, so its brakes can lock the wheels and let the trailer swing out
Why
Traction is what keeps a trailer rolling straight, and an empty trailer has very little of it. Its light axle loads let the trailer brakes lock the wheels easily, which is why gentle braking matters most when you are empty or bobtailing conditions are slick.
Manual topic: Combination Vehicles - Skids and Jackknifing · From the Combination Vehicles practice bank (CV-126).