Merritt GOOSENECK LIVESTOCK TRAILER, Owner'S Manual

Page: 5 / 37

SAFETY
OVER-THE-ROAD SAFE HANDLING
YOU AND YOUR SAFETY
1. You - the operator - have control of the most important factors that affect vehicle stability.
Trailers are important tools in our transportation industry and, like any tool, are safe in the
hands of a properly qualified operator.
2. The fifth wheel coupler should be securely mounted to the tractor frame.
3. The driver should be familiar with the characteristics of the particular trailer and load being
transported.
4. The driver should be familiar with the nature of the roads and traffic encountered during the trip.
5. Stability:
Within the relatively narrow confines of road law, limiting vehicle size and weight, together
with characteristics of available tires, suspensions, and other components, there is little that a
manufacturer can do to affect the inherent stability of a trailer other than keeping the loading
decks as low as feasible, considering the requirements for loading space and adequate tire
clearance. This means that the major factor affecting operational stability are the knowledge
and skill of the driver. The predominant causes of the rollover accidents are:
Excessive speed.
Violent swerving or turning
Application of brakes or tractor power while turning
Entering curves at too high of a speed may be caused by one of the following factors:
a. Traveling at freeway speeds for long periods of time and failing to reduce it before
entering freeway interchanges or other curves requiring a reduced and controlled speed.
b. Lack of familiarity with the vehicle characteristics to recognize its safe speed
with relation to posted speed limits on curves, which are usually determined with
automobile traffic in mind.
c. Failure to reduce speed sufficiently when approaching congested traffic such as
might be found at traffic signals on highways. With the advent of today’s more
powerful and higher torque engines, the original practice of maintaining momentum
to avoid acceleration in traffic is outmoded.
3-1