Safety Devices for Trailers other than Full Trailers

Coupling Devices - Ball and Goose Neck Hitch Systems – Petition FMCSA to add the Violation of Inadequate and Defective Coupling Devices for Ball Hitch and Goose Neck Coupling systems used to pull vehicles other than Full Trailers under section 393.70, as well as adding the OOS violations of Inadequate or Defective Coupling Devices for Ball Hitch and Goose Neck Coupling systems used to pull vehicles other than Full Trailers under 396.3a1 or 396.7 until the regulations can be updated. Inadequate or Defective Coupling Devices should be added to read as follows: Whenever a vehicle is connected to a power unit by means of a ball hitch or goose neck coupling device the hitch system must be of adequate weight rating and free of any cracks or damage, such as repair welds, bent, or twisted that would render it unsuitable for use. It must also have all required safety devices, such as locking pins, non-elongated locking pin holes to secure the hitch system to the towing vehicle, and the vehicle being towed to the hitch, as well as safety chains from the trailer to the towing vehicle adequate for the weight of the vehicle being towed.

Currently there is no Violation and no Out of Service Violation for when a truck is pulling a vehicle using a ball hitch or goose neck device is used to connect a vehicle to a towing unit and it is not adequate for the size of the vehicle being towed, as well as for not having the proper safety devices.

Recently, I stopped a ¾ ton pickup truck with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. (actual weight of 10,300lbs – Axle 1 - 4,100 lbs., Axle 2 – 6,200 lbs.) pulling a trailer with a GVWR of 24,000 lbs. (actual weight of 16,700 lbs.) (Both truck & trailer weights were as it sat connected together). The truck had a ball hitch rated to pull a trailer up to 7,500 lbs. actual weight with a tongue weight of 750 lbs. The trailer tow bar was rated for 6,000 lbs. tongue weight. (See attached pictures). The trailer was equipped with 3 axles that had the following weights (again, as it sat connected to the truck): Axle 1 10,500lbs, Axle 2 5,000lbs, Axle 3 1,200lbs. Prior to this, I stopped a 1 ton pickup pulling a trailer using a goose neck coupling device. The holes used to adjust the neck of the trailer were cracked and several other ones had elongated holes from prior use. (See attached pictures). Currently, there is no Out of Service condition that covers when a truck is pulling a vehicle that is using a ball hitch or goose neck coupling device that is not rated for the weight that it is placed upon it, for not having the latch secured and damaged pin holes or no / inadequate safety chains. Request for Action: CVSA needs to petition FMCSA to add these types of hitch systems used to pull vehicles other than full trailers, and there needs to be an Out of Service Violation that covers when exceeding the manufactures rating, having damage / defective pin holes, unsecured latch, and no / damaged safety chains for a Ball Hitch and Goose Neck Coupling device.