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<blockquote data-quote="Dracula" data-source="post: 3498825" data-attributes="member: 42691">What you&#039;re experiencing is completely normal. NORMAL.As long as you make sure the fifth wheels on the tractor and dolly are secure, you&#039;ll be safe.Pre-tripping, always have your tractor brakes (yellow valve) out, trailer brakes (red valve) in, and your hand valve (service brakes and brake lights) down.The rest of your pre-trip, even if you miss a step, will quickly become evident.I worried like you are now, during my first few months, and I made a few mistakes, but like I told you, and old-timer told me. Make sure those fifth wheels are locked, and the rest will be obvious.I asked the same question you asked, about the proper way to do a pre-trip. Because I was nervous. And most drivers had a slightly different way of doing it.The key for you, is to learn the pre-trip, and do it the same way EVERY TIME. You don&#039;t need a pre-trip on index cards. It&#039;s all a matter of routine. The thing you&#039;re struggling with right now, becomes second nature with time and repetition. Just find your routine, and stick to it.Oh, you&#039;ll make mistakes. You&#039;ll forget to crank up the legs, or forget to turn on the air to the back box, or reverse the glad hands, or forget to set your plunger. But most of these mistakes will show themselves right away, and they won&#039;t be fatal. And quickly, you&#039;ll develop a sixth sense when something isn&#039;t right.I hooked up a set in my first month or so, and started to pull out. Something didn&#039;t feel right. It felt like it was dragging. I stopped, and looked at my brakes, and both valves were in, so I started up again and it still felt like it was dragging. So I stopped, and got out to give it a look. It was then I noticed skid marks from the tires of the rear trailer all of the way across the yard. I felt like an idiot, because I knew I forgot to turn the air valves on at the front trailer, meaning the rear trailer brakes never disengaged.I flat-spotted the rear tires a little, nothing too serious, turned the air on, and was all good. It happens.Just remember, verify your connections and make a pre-trip and stick to it. You&#039;ll be fine.And no matter what anyone tells you, it takes you a good six months to a year to feel completely comfortable driving these things. You&#039;re actually safer driving a little worried. It&#039;s when you get TOO comfortable that things can get real dicey.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Dracula, post: 3498825, member: 42691"] What you're experiencing is completely normal. NORMAL. As long as you make sure the fifth wheels on the tractor and dolly are secure, you'll be safe. Pre-tripping, always have your tractor brakes (yellow valve) out, trailer brakes (red valve) in, and your hand valve (service brakes and brake lights) down. The rest of your pre-trip, even if you miss a step, will quickly become evident. I worried like you are now, during my first few months, and I made a few mistakes, but like I told you, and old-timer told me. Make sure those fifth wheels are locked, and the rest will be obvious. I asked the same question you asked, about the proper way to do a pre-trip. Because I was nervous. And most drivers had a slightly different way of doing it. The key for you, is to learn the pre-trip, and do it the same way EVERY TIME. You don't need a pre-trip on index cards. It's all a matter of routine. The thing you're struggling with right now, becomes second nature with time and repetition. Just find your routine, and stick to it. Oh, you'll make mistakes. You'll forget to crank up the legs, or forget to turn on the air to the back box, or reverse the glad hands, or forget to set your plunger. But most of these mistakes will show themselves right away, and they won't be fatal. And quickly, you'll develop a sixth sense when something isn't right. I hooked up a set in my first month or so, and started to pull out. Something didn't feel right. It felt like it was dragging. I stopped, and looked at my brakes, and both valves were in, so I started up again and it still felt like it was dragging. So I stopped, and got out to give it a look. It was then I noticed skid marks from the tires of the rear trailer all of the way across the yard. I felt like an idiot, because I knew I forgot to turn the air valves on at the front trailer, meaning the rear trailer brakes never disengaged. I flat-spotted the rear tires a little, nothing too serious, turned the air on, and was all good. It happens. Just remember, verify your connections and make a pre-trip and stick to it. You'll be fine. And no matter what anyone tells you, it takes you a good six months to a year to feel completely comfortable driving these things. You're actually safer driving a little worried. It's when you get TOO comfortable that things can get real dicey. [/QUOTE]

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