A tractor-trailer fifth wheel along with a kingpin provides the coupling link between the truck cab and the semi-trailer it will be hauling. Despite its name, the 5^th wheel is a horseshoe-shaped coupling device while the kingpin is a, roughly, 2 inch to 3.5 diameter inch steel pin that is inserted into the center of the fifth wheel. This kingpin then moves against the greased fifth wheel providing stability and securement for the semi-trailer. However when a truck kingpins fails, the coupling mechanism will also fail resulting in a runaway truck trailer. This runaway trailer can strike other vehicles traveling along the highway or roadway. Due to the large size and significant weight of truck trailers, these accidents often produce catastrophic injuries or even death.

Tag: Commercial Trucking Accidents