Manslaughter charges for improper towing equipment.

wa8yxm wrote:

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. I've seen way to many unsafe setups. If you don't know how to properly connect a trailer, or the proper equipment you need, you shouldn't be towing.... They don't just let everyone hop behind the wheel of a tractor trailer, so why should just anyone be allowed to pull whatever they want behind there own vehicle...

I think I could support that Tlauden, it does make sense.

There are many people sitting in driver's seats.. Some are true Operators and know their vehicles how they work and work with the vehicle to make the trip safely.

Others are Point and Shoot,, Push the pedal, turn the wheel, as the man at the Bumper Car concession says.

In fact it looks like that's where they took their Driver's Ed.

OH - Yes, more testing and regulations are required. That's why you see so many RV's flying off the road left and right every time you travel; and innocent people being killed by the thousands. Give Me A Break!! While you're at it we need testing and regulations for procreation, we have a much worse problem with stupid people procreating.

westend wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. ...

yes you do IMHO. more nonsense govt. regulation, hoops to jump through. just cause the driver can handle the "trailer" which can be a 6 ft. U haul type, doesn't mean they can handle a 40 ft TT.
reminds me of my friend who wanted a CDC to tow fruit back from FLA. borrowed a flat bed to take his test. easy visibility, etc. Of course he towed a box trailer in "real life".
bumpy

Yea, but common things like proper hitch setup, brakes, chains, etc. that are common to all trailers would be a plus. You just have to accept that you can never eliminate or reduce "negligence" to zero.

Larry

Exactly! I hopped into a truck with two guys, both having CDL's, pulling a load of foam panels on a tandem axle flat bed. After we watched the trailer pass us at the first curve, the arguing started, "I thought YOU locked the hitch. No, YOU were supposed to do that..." Luckily, after the trailer snapped the safety chains, the trailer veered right and continued into the right side ditch, stopping after it took out a road sign.

This is something that will never happen to me. I will not let anybody near to me, talk to me or, let alone, help me hookup my trailer. I have a routine, so know I have done it right and covered all of the steps required.

Bruce

pitch wrote:
Beat me to it Caveman. Many many states allow agricultural operation of semi's with out a CDL. I occasionally haul beans, corn,etc from the combine to the bin, traveling on town county and state roads. I hold no special license nor is one required.

Ok, good point. Wasn't thinking about agricultural operations....

Beat me to it Caveman. Many many states allow agricultural operation of semi's with out a CDL. I occasionally haul beans, corn,etc from the combine to the bin, traveling on town county and state roads. I hold no special license nor is one required.

Maybe,,maybe,,, a test for big trailer is OK. But, giving everyone a test for every little trailer would be expensive and put a big dent in the economy. I know a lot of people making a living in a way that requires pulling a trailer of some kind. If suddenly they couldn't do it they would be out of a job. Think of people like electricians, carpenters and the like. They all have a trailer.

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. I've seen way to many unsafe setups. If you don't know how to properly connect a trailer, or the proper equipment you need, you shouldn't be towing.... They don't just let everyone hop behind the wheel of a tractor trailer, so why should just anyone be allowed to pull whatever they want behind there own vehicle...

As a farm hand working for a farmer that only moves his grain from the field to the farm, or from the farm to a local storage facility, I just hop into a tractor trailer quite often. I have no CDL and it is not required. I had no training, at all, (I wish I had really) I was just pointed to the truck and told to take it to town. I'll be driving it later today, in fact, as we harvest the soybeans.

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. I've seen way to many unsafe setups. If you don't know how to properly connect a trailer, or the proper equipment you need, you shouldn't be towing.... They don't just let everyone hop behind the wheel of a tractor trailer, so why should just anyone be allowed to pull whatever they want behind there own vehicle...

I think I could support that Tlauden, it does make sense.

There are many people sitting in driver's seats.. Some are true Operators and know their vehicles how they work and work with the vehicle to make the trip safely.

Others are Point and Shoot,, Push the pedal, turn the wheel, as the man at the Bumper Car concession says.

In fact it looks like that's where they took their Driver's Ed.

LarryJM wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. ...

yes you do IMHO. more nonsense govt. regulation, hoops to jump through. just cause the driver can handle the "trailer" which can be a 6 ft. U haul type, doesn't mean they can handle a 40 ft TT.
reminds me of my friend who wanted a CDC to tow fruit back from FLA. borrowed a flat bed to take his test. easy visibility, etc. Of course he towed a box trailer in "real life".
bumpy

Yea, but common things like proper hitch setup, brakes, chains, etc. that are common to all trailers would be a plus. You just have to accept that you can never eliminate or reduce "negligence" to zero.

Larry

Exactly! I hopped into a truck with two guys, both having CDL's, pulling a load of foam panels on a tandem axle flat bed. After we watched the trailer pass us at the first curve, the arguing started, "I thought YOU locked the hitch. No, YOU were supposed to do that..." Luckily, after the trailer snapped the safety chains, the trailer veered right and continued into the right side ditch, stopping after it took out a road sign.

I agree that it sounds like the driver is at fault and didn't have the proper safety equipment, but it said the Civic stopped on the freeway? Was is for stopped traffic or was he on the shoulder? I just hate it when people stop on the shoulder when their vehicle is obviously running. And when they stop, they barely get onto the shoulder. I had a flat on my 5th wheel and drove, very slow, for about a 1/4 mile on the shoulder until I could get to the exit ramp to change the tire. The tire was already shredded anyway and if I mess up the rim, I'll buy another one. End of rant. Thank You.

Bumpyroad wrote:

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. ...

yes you do IMHO. more nonsense govt. regulation, hoops to jump through. just cause the driver can handle the "trailer" which can be a 6 ft. U haul type, doesn't mean they can handle a 40 ft TT.
reminds me of my friend who wanted a CDC to tow fruit back from FLA. borrowed a flat bed to take his test. easy visibility, etc. Of course he towed a box trailer in "real life".
bumpy

Yea, but common things like proper hitch setup, brakes, chains, etc. that are common to all trailers would be a plus. You just have to accept that you can never eliminate or reduce "negligence" to zero.

Larry