Vertical Movement Of A Fifth Wheel

Should Vertical Movement of a Fifth wheel be covered in the OOSC, and if so, what should the standards be? Kompensator is the model name for a series of Holland brand fifth wheels. The typical fifth wheel rocks up-and-down but not side-to-side. The up-and-down movement allows the tractor to be on one grade and the trailer another, such as when cresting a hill. Side-to-side differences between the tractor and trailer are normally compensated for by flex in the tractor frame and trailer body. However, torsionally rigid trailers, such as certain tanks and bottom dumps, can experience premature wear from such twisting. The Kompensator is an example of fifth wheels that provide for both up-and-down and side-to-side oscillation and were developed for use with such equipment. There are relatively few of these fifth wheels in use. Unlike fore-and-aft movement, "rocking" the vehicle back and forth does not duplicate side-to-side motion; making it difficult to check at a roadside inspection. Given that there are few of these fifth wheels, their side-to-side motion would be hard to inspect, and nobody was aware of accidents being caused by excessive vertical movement associated with them, it was determined a change to the OOS recognizing them is unnecessary.

Consideration and Guidance.

Come up with a roadside procedure and guideline.