Rtc

[Andy Cole]

We are having a Heavy Goods Vehicle RTC exercise in a few weeks and we have the opportunity to go to a commercial breakers yard to look at some of the fundamental differences we may expect to encounter when dealing with an HGV as opposed to a car for example, we are being shown round by the guy who owns the yard who will obviously have fairly extensive knowledge of the subject, can anyone suggest any questions I could ask which may benefit us? I have thought of a few but thought I would take advantage of the forum and pick your brains too!

[Midland Retty]

Im sure that the organisation concerned will probably go through this but:-

Perhaps you could ask about:-

1) How a fifth wheel coupling works (the device which hooks up the trailer to the tractor unit on a articulated rig)

2) The function of the coloured hose lines you find on the back of tractor units hooked up to trailers

3) How to raise an articulated trailer by hand if power to the vehicle or unit has failed

4) How cabs on trucks can be tilted to give acces sto engine compartment (will differ dependant on make and manufacture but generally they are all similar)

5) Common Location of airbags on trucks

6) Discuss access problems associated with height of driver in cab (think about hauling up heavy cutting equipment to cab level if you ever had to extricate a driver or passenger out)

7) How braking systems work

How to remove locking pins from fifth wheel couplings

9) ADR / Tremcards etc etc

10) Weights and lengths of LGV vehicles

I could go on but maybe that will do for starters Andy?

[Andy Cole]

Thanks, thats the sort of thing I'm after, I had already got a few on my list but things like finding out how to manually raise the trailer would have been an after thought to be honest! Exactly what I'm after thank you!!


Keep 'em coming!

Andy

[messy]

As MR has suggested, playing with artics will give the maximum reward to your troops as there's very little difference between a commercial rigid and a pump appliance.

We did the same at a local haulage company some years back and had a really useful training session

In addition to MR's excellent suggestions, if you are able to play with a multi axle trailer, ask about (or try it & see) the effects of jacking the first axle has on the subsequent ones.

In addition to the wind down legs for disconnecting the trailer, some trailers have air suspension which can be manipulated to raise and lower the rear of the trailer. This is particularly the case for supermarket trucks or those which deliver stock in wheeled cages, as the trailer can be levelled or lowered to create a ramp to ease loading. In an RTC - car into back end of trailer- it maybe useful (if not damaged) to be able to lift the rear of the trailer in such a manner.

Lastly - Get the operator to ever so slightly move the tractor unit as if it were turning left and let everyone experience the zero visability te driver has on the nearside (UK trucks), esp when turning left or manouvering in a yard

[Dinnertime Dave]

One scheme that does seem to work – Link below

www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2008/july-2008/life-saving-partnership-launched.en


One task I have set my watch when doing similar training is to try and stabilise the cab of a HGV.

We have also had a scrap artic trailer and cab on our station yard and done simple things like releasing straps on curtain sided trailers whilst in chemical suits. We`ve also put cars beneath and tried extrication drills.

The training is only limited to your imagination. Oh and Elf & Safety.

[docfin]

If you get the chance to attend the Heavy Rescue Instructors course at Tyne and Wear you should jump at it. It covers all of the areas you are discussing. The run ashore on Thursday night is pretty good too.

[Kaiser]

We are having a Heavy Goods Vehicle RTC exercise in a few weeks and we have the opportunity to go to a commercial breakers yard to look at some of the fundamental differences we may expect to encounter when dealing with an HGV as opposed to a car for example, we are being shown round by the guy who owns the yard who will obviously have fairly extensive knowledge of the subject, can anyone suggest any questions I could ask which may benefit us? I have thought of a few but thought I would take advantage of the forum and pick your brains too!

Andy,  get in touch with me and I'll get you a couple of presentations together from our ultra heavy rescue course, specifically trucks and trains