The drivers of semitrailers are professionals. They drive for a living and are on the road all the time, and have had to undergo rigorous training and testing in order to earn their CDL (commercial driver's license), making them some of the best drivers on the road. However, that doesn't mean that you should throw caution to the wind when driving next to a semi trailer tractor and ignore the potential dangers. Obviously, their size alone can make them difficult to handle and regaining control of one once it is lost can be almost impossible.

You can substantially reduce your chance of being involved in an accident with a truck trailer tractor by driving responsibly and understanding their limitations and being aware of what can go wrong. No matter how much you trust their driving ability and even if you legally have the right of way, keep in mind that equipment failure is out of the driver's hands and the only law it is aware of is physics.

Tires, brakes, steering components, couplers, axles and even the truck trailer hitch are only a few of the parts that can fail on a tractor semi trailer. And, if you are in the way when it happens and not paying attention, then there is a chance of being hurt or killed. Semitrailers are subject to regular inspections under the law but that does not mean that all companies comply with this law, which may result in faulty parts and equipment failure.

One problem that a tractor semi trailer may encounter is jackknifing, which is essentially when a truck folds as the trailer tries to pass the cab. Many things may cause this including slippery roads, sudden braking, an impact to the truck and malfunctioning brakes. Normally, when malfunctioning brakes are the cause, it is because of a combination of the front brakes locking up and the rear brakes failing that causes the cab to stop as the trailer stays in motion.

Another problem is blind spots. You have probably seen the sign on the back of one of the semitrailers that states "If you can't see my mirrors I can't see you" and that is not a joke. All vehicles have blind spots and a commercial truck trailer is no different. Most experienced drivers can anticipate when another vehicle has entered a blind spot and is able to use the correct maneuvers to avoid a collision. However, you have no way of knowing if that particular driver has seen you. Always try to avoid their blind spots.

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