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Combination Braking, Skids & Jackknife Prevention

Your trailer starts to sway gently from side to side at highway speed in a crosswind. What is the generally taught response?

  • A.Brake hard with the service brake to slow down as fast as possible
  • B.Accelerate quickly so the trailer is pulled straight by speed
  • C.Ease off the accelerator and avoid hard service-brake braking; if needed, apply the trailer hand valve gently and carefully to help stretch the combination straight
  • D.Steer left and right in rhythm with the sway to cancel it
Correct answer

C. Ease off the accelerator and avoid hard service-brake braking; if needed, apply the trailer hand valve gently and carefully to help stretch the combination straight

Why

Hard service braking and sudden steering tend to feed a sway rather than calm it. Slowing gently and, when taught for the situation, a careful light application of the trailer brakes can pull the combination back into line, but the hand valve must never be yanked on.

Manual topic: Combination Vehicles - Skids and Jackknifing · From the Combination Vehicles practice bank (CV-135).

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