How To Correctly Unhook A Semi-Trailer From The Tractor

[@frankfromupstateny3796]

Learn the "LAP Dance"...it's important. Excellent video....great way to remember.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Frank From Upstate NY - LMAO - that's terrible... but incredibly effective. Thank you my friend. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@frankfromupstateny3796]

Best quick video on the Internet now on disconnecting. Cheers. Nice work.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Frank From Upstate NY - stay tuned, there's more coming on CDL training. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@jakewalter3729]

Smart Drive Test ji

[@vasbor9993]

Rick August, I have watched dozens of videos, I can definitely say that you have a natural gift for explaining, accurately and understandable! Thank you very much!

[@frankmontoya6384]

I’m 22 years old trying to get my CDL . Thank you so much for your videos . Better knowledge, better safety

[@smartdrivetest]

You got this! See this vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4nWo6mnp7yDoZY And these for pre-trip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2bVZIepmbaEh9k Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. Cheers Rick

[@g41thomas]

This man knows his business very well! I always watch and learn from him, great source for all pro drivers as well as rookies 👍👍👍👍👍👌😊

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi GETREAL! - you are most welcome my friend. Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@jacquescote9490]

Rick, You should also mention what to do with the Trailer Air Supply red button!

[@alderusdmc]

Awesome. Any chance we can see a video on coupling to the trailer?

[@queen_k8444]

Is there a video available for hooking up a trailer?

[@mgmx2099]

What if your truck doesn't have the option of dropping the suspension?

[@TexasSlim13]

Thanks for the information Rick. The truck I normally drive doesn't have air suspension but the last few days I've been driving one with air suspension and I was letting the air out before moving forward. I'll definitely try the way you showed on Monday.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Texas Slim - Thank you for your comment. We're happy to hear we could help out. Drop back and let us know how it goes. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@TexasSlim13]

@@smartdrivetest Hey Rick, I have been pulling forward a bit before lowering the suspension and it works wonderfully. Thanks again.

[@TheByzmal]

Do you have a video when you hook it back together?

[@smartdrivetest]

See this vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4nWo6mnp7yDoZY Drop us a note if you have further questions, or we can help out my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@josephvigil7879]

So if you were to couple the trailer would you back under the trailer right before the Kingpin and then raise air suspension up and then continue to couple or would you just backup under the trailer with the air suspension already lifted and raise the trailer.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Joseph Vigil - Thank you for your comment and query. Lower the air suspension, back under the trailer so the fifth wheel is just in front of the kingpin. Stop and secure the tractor. Get out and check that the 5th wheel is in line with the kingpin, the jaws are open and the locking handle is out. Then reach in the cab and raise the air suspension. Go and check that the truck and trailer are at the right height to hook up. In other words, when the suspension comes up, there's no daylight between the trailer apron and the fifth wheel. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@gabasselin9967]

Great tips and I will always remember "LAP". do you have a video showing us how to hook up a trailer?

[@Dreamingbigent]

Do you set the trailer brake when unhooking ?

[@Bendigo1]

YES!!! For 2 reasons. 1: It prevents the trailer from rolling away. 2: it prevents the gladhand from blowing air out when disconnecting it. That air can blast stuff in your face. It can also blow back at your face and hit you.

[@mohammedabdille4295]

Great and clear demonstration thanks a lot

[@achildoftheking7504]

Thanks great video, love the tip lap👏👏

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Deborah Bronaugh - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@milofonbil]

If you had a trailer brake fire, I would imagine it's important to be able to do the LAP dance to save the tractor before the fire spreads forward through your load.

[@PTHLO666]

Thanks for your job. Good luck 🤗

[@smartdrivetest]

Thanks Valerii M for you comment. Have an awesome day. Cheers Rick

[@albertniyazov7111]

Thank you Sir👍🏻

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Albert Niyazov - you are most welcome my friend. Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@satellitekhan2300]

Great Video Mr Rick 🙏

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi SATELLITE KHAN - you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@satellitekhan2300]

@@smartdrivetest Thanks for your reply , I would to know if there is a Video of yours about Truck merging in the Expressway? Truck merging tips would be great.

[@smartdrivetest]

Thank you my friend for the suggestion. We will add that to the list of videos. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@janetwilliams7459]

Thanks Rick new trucker

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Janet Williams - you are most welcome my friend. Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@ritch90]

HI Rick. Are we able to land the trailer container on a small slope?

[@Bendigo1]

Not ideal, but a very slight slope is ok if you are careful and trailer is not too heavy.

[@NTNT24]

Watching here philippines worth it a very nice job

[@smartdrivetest]

Thank you my friend, if you need anything drop us a note. All the best, Cheers!

[@gregd8381]

I always drop the air suspension on the trailer before I dynamite the trailer brakes. Then do what you did in the video. If I'm dropping a heavy trailer on anything but concrete I will try to ring dolly pads to help disperse the weight of the dolly legs. And yes I've forgot to unhook the airlines when I was a new driver and had the smack the back of the cab, but that was years ago now. Also had to rewire a couple light plugs when I was new.

[@gregd8381]

Forgot to mention I enjoy watching your videos, very educational even for an older trucker. Keep it up.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Greg D - thank you for your kind words my friend. And yes, dropping the air suspension before unhooking the trailer is a good idea - especially if the trailer's loaded. It puts less pressure on the dollies. And of course, we all made mistakes in the beginning. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@canadiantimberwolf1]

Just a little reminder there guy, at timer 1:33 you placed your hands onto the side of the trailer to down the legs. Cranks work real good in the hot summer days when the lube is real loose. " Caution "- Classic boo boo, from my 40 years, last trailer was short handle, next trailer, got it spinning is good, leaning against the trailer, not knowing the size of the handle, got a good spin, leaned in, and that handle belts you one good, right the mooy. I didn't lose any teeth, but it did chip one and it hurt. I know you've adjusted your noodle, you've probably been there, just remind the crews, to watch the handle size. Some are longer than others.

[@earnestmcmiller5455]

Great video

[@rajpoot0426]

Thanks a lot Rick!

[@DarleneYoungartist]

Thanks for this great video. It helps to clarify what I've been learning.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Darlene - Thank you for your comment. And you are most welcome. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@DarleneYoungartist]

Is there good method to backing only a few inches. I find its hard to tell when to stop in time.

[@smartdrivetest]

+Darlene Young thanks for your comment & query. Are you talking about backing under the trailer? If so, look out the driver’s window, pick a landmark & back off that. Let me know. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@DarleneYoungartist]

Thanks Rick, I am practicing hooking and unhooking before each trip. I will try the land mark tip to know when I've moved 6 inches. I find hooking more difficult to remember all the steps. Thanks for this great demo and LAP tip.I wish there was a good trick to memorizing the steps for hooking up. I'm learning to start on an up hill and reversing. Moving along. Have my road test next week.

[@redneck4541]

Ok...I roll the landing gear down till there one inch off the ground...pull foreword just a scoch...then drop the air suspension..

[@smartdrivetest]

Are you working toward a driver's test? And where are you in the world? Cheers Rick

[@rkdbaj]

Have u ever torn airlines off when uncoupling? NO but i took 1 off when it was pressurized. I put it back on as fast as i could. Hopefully ill never do that again.

[@charlielemmel311]

You do not drop the bags first. That's how you fracture the landing gear.

[@smartdrivetest]

No, LAP - landing gear, lines and pin. And after releasing the pin, pull the tractor forward a bit to get out of the king pin. When you're clear of the pin, then drop the air bags. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@charlielemmel311]

@@smartdrivetest I think I was responding to someone completely different. I've always called it LAF. Do you explain why you never pull the fifth wheel last? Many don't know.

[@jhalmansingh4445]

Excellent Videos on shifting theory, hooking and unhooking.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi jhalman singh - apologies for the late response. Thank you for your comment. We're glad you found the information useful. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@jimmypineault2648]

In my opinion the trailer is to high ! The way i do it is i let my landing gear 1/2, 3/4 of an inch of the ground ! Unlock the trailer and i move forward about 1 feet and then release the air from the suspension and go out when its totaly down ! And its better because the next time you coupling you lower your suspension go under the trailer (totality of the fifthwheel) and crank it up so when you couple the fifthwheel fhe landing gears are not touching the ground so if your out of line there is no stress on them by forcing in one direction ! But it is me ..

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Jimmy Pineault - Thank you for the information. Keep in mind that this is the procedure for the CDL test. As you and I both know, it's different in the "real world" of trucking my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@jimmypineault2648]

Hi Rick ! Of course i understand the cdl test fact but in my counrty (Qc canada) we dont have to uncoupling and coupling a trailer .. we arrive with the trailer we do pre-trip inspection and go for a drive and a back up and thats all .. but in Usa it look more complex !

[@TheTruelakersfan]

@@jimmypineault2648 I didn't have to uncouple for my cdl test in Ca.USA

[@Bendigo1]

Pin puller is important for more reasons than just avoiding grease. Pulling too hard on the handle WILL destroy your shoulder. A company I worked for required us to use pin pullers because of the amount of shoulder injuries they had to pay for.

[@smartdrivetest]

Interesting. That makes sense. Thanks for the information. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@younglove3362]

Pin pullers are the worst. Especially when the manual won't unlock it either.

[@johnricher5746]

have so.......started a new job and was in a hurry........

[@timacosta7015]

I have learned so much more from your videos than the study materials my school provides. Now that I'm doing behind the wheel training I feel much more comfortable because I know more about the tractor than most students.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Tim - thank you for your comment and awesome words of praise! It makes me proud to know these videos are helping new drivers learning how to operate an 18-wheeler and start a new career. If you have further questions, drop us a note. All the best Cheers Rick

[@dchavez1528]

"LEAP" -landing gear, electrical, air, pin

[@TheTruelakersfan]

Lap isnbetter

[@francisgallozzi2595]

I was taught to chalk the wheels first.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Francis Gallozzi - thank you for your comment. Chock the trailer tires or the truck? I'm not sure why - trucks and trailers have had spring parking brakes for almost 40 year now. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@ahmadrezasarmadi5832]

👌👌👌

[@donkingjrwilliams9613]

dope a$$ beat 7:24

[@jacobwalter6944]

9

[@Flipping_Assets]

Out of the thing lmfao

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Robert L - Thank you for your comment. Yes, every now and again the technical lingo escapes you! ;o) All the best, Cheers Rick

[@depressedtrashpanda4827]

There's so many things wrong with this

[@Erreul]

What a useless comment.

[@jaysmith1408]

I work for a leasing agent, just today had to pick up a bobtail for service. Got to customer and it was hooked to a trailer. I remembered the pin, I remembered the hoses, and thank god I remembered to dump the suspension.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi jfsa380 - that's a great story - thank you for sharing. And if you put the landing gear down too, then everything went according to plan! 80) LAP - Landing Gear, Air lines & electrical, Pin is the acronym for unhooking. PDA - Pin, Dollies, Air lines & electrical is the acronym for hooking up. If there's anything further we can do, drop us a note, and thanks again for the story. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@nunyabusiness4768]

Is it just me or does he kinda look like Ed Harris

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Nunya Business - Thank you for your comment. I like to think that I'm better looking than Ed Harris. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@deadlysaurus9302]

also looks like Red Forman from That 70's Show

[@Dhardblessed]

Great video

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Dhardblessed - you are most welcome my friend. Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick