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Bringing on new team members is a crucial opportunity to reinforce safety standards, especially when towing trailers is part of the job. Trailers can be incredibly useful for transporting equipment and materials, but when used incorrectly, they introduce serious risks. Whether you’re onboarding someone new to trailering or cross-training your team, following a structured trailer safety training program is essential. Here’s how to do it effectively:

Step 1: Start with the Basics of Trailer Safety

Before putting anyone behind the wheel, ensure new team members understand the fundamentals of towing trailers:

• Towing Changes Vehicle Behavior:
  Remind them that towing reduces vehicle performance, including acceleration, braking, and general control. Larger trailers magnify this effect.
• External Factors Matter:
  A trailer makes vehicles more susceptible to wind, road roughness, and passing traffic. Stress and fatigue can also increase when towing, so regular breaks are a must.
• Know Your Limits:
  Matching the right trailer to the tow vehicle is non-negotiable. Always reference the manufacturer’s ID plate to stay within safe weight limits and avoid structural damage.

Step 2: Cover Trailer Load Capacities and Weight Distribution

Overloading is one of the most dangerous and avoidable errors. Teach new team members:

• How to Measure Tongue Weight
  Use a scale to check that the tongue weight is appropriate, not too heavy or too light. Incorrect tongue weight can cause swaying or lift the front wheels, affecting traction and control.
• Load Placement:
  Place 60% of the cargo in the front half of the trailer. Keep weight low and centered for stability and reduced wind drag.

Step 3: Demonstrate Safe Hitching Procedures

Connecting a trailer safely should be second nature to your team. Train new hires on:

1. Backing the vehicle safely to the trailer (use backup cameras and spotters).
2. Ensuring the coupler fully seats over the hitch ball and is latched securely.
3. Raising the jack and setting spring bars for weight-distributing hitches.
4. Attaching the breakaway cable and crossing the safety chains under the tongue.
5. Connecting the wiring harness and confirming all lights function properly.

This hands-on training should be closely supervised at first.

Step 4: Perform a Pre-Trip Inspection

Before hitting the road, a complete walk-around should be standard. Show new hires how to:

• Check tire pressure and condition on both the trailer and vehicle.
• Confirm that lights, brakes, and connections are working correctly.
• Inspect wheel bearings and suspension.
• Test the trailer brake system, especially on trailers over 1,500 lbs.

Step 5: Practice Driving with the Trailer

No training is complete without practical experience. Begin in a controlled environment and practice:

• Turning: Emphasize swinging wider for corners
• Braking: Teach longer stopping distances
• Uphill/Downhill Driving: Use engine braking on descents, and be prepared for slower climbs
• Parking and Backing: Go slowly, use spotters, and teach hand positioning (bottom of the wheel = direction of trailer)

Step 6: Go Over Trailer Parking Procedures

Stress the importance of not parking on a slope when possible. If unavoidable:

• Use wheel chocks correctly
• Set the parking brake and transmission (in Park)
• Ensure trailer stability before releasing brakes

Then, teach the correct steps for retrieving chocks and moving out safely.

Step 7: Offer Continued Learning and OSHA-Certified Training

While in-person training and supervision are critical, formal education reinforces it. Encourage your new team members to take the OSHA Towing Trailers online course. In just 17 minutes, it provides a detailed look at:

• Trailer towing hazards
• Best practices for safe operation
• Worksite evaluation tips
• OSHA safety rules

The course is affordable at $29.95 and includes certification. You can enroll your team here: OSHA Towing Trailers Course

Final Thoughts

Safety training for trailers shouldn’t stop after day one. Regular refreshers, performance reviews, and mentorship help reinforce safe behaviors. With structured onboarding and resources like OSHA’s outreach course, you can ensure your team tows with confidence and care, protecting themselves, your equipment, and everyone on the road.

Looking for a trailer that makes safety easier? Explore Air-tow’s ground-level loading trailers, which are engineered to reduce risks from the start. Contact us to learn more.