Preventing Jackknife Accidents

Preventing Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident is one of the most severe mishaps that can happen to a semi truck. This occurs when the cab of the truck begins to skid, causing the trailer to swing forward and form a 90 degree angle with the cab. Jackknife accidents can be catastrophic for truck drivers, and for any motorists or pedestrians caught in the path of the moving trailer or cab.

If you are a freight company owner, or independent truck owner-operator, you already have plenty of safety, legal, and financial concerns. Overdue payments from your clients should not add to your worries. To learn about freight factoring and how it can help your business, call TBS Factoring Service, LLC at 1-800-207-7661.

Jackknifing and Safety Precautions

Jackknifing usually occurs when a truck’s rear axle becomes locked. In this event, the truck will begin skidding to a stop, and will likely turn to one side due to road conditions or the driver’s attempts to steer. The trailer’s forward momentum will cause it to continue moving forward, eventually swerving around the truck and stopping at a right angle to the truck.

Preventing jackknife accidents should be a priority for semi truck drivers. A few easy steps that can reduce the likelihood of these accidents include:

  • Install anti-lock braking for your truck. Anti-lock brakes prevent wheel axles from locking when the brakes are applied, which means they can stop jackknifing from ever occurring.
  • Drive very cautiously in bad weather. Wet or icy roads are a leading cause of truck skidding, which can result in major accidents. Drive slowly and brake cautiously in these conditions.
  • Learn how to respond to skidding or other emergency situations. When panicked drivers attempt to regain control of skidding vehicles, they may actually make the situation worse by swerving. The correct response to skidding is to release the brakes and gently steer the vehicle into the direction of the skid, which can reduce the chances of jackknifing.

Jackknifing can result in truck rollover, dangerous collisions, and even multi-car pileups. Every trucker should be familiar with the mechanics behind the accidents and know how to prevent them.

Contact a Freight Factor

TBS Factoring Service, LLC has worked closely with trucking companies and independent truckers since 2003. To discuss trucking factoring and your business, contact us today at 1-800-207-7661.