06/11/2025
On June 7 & 8, JCHC's final grant class, Trailer Safety & Skills Course, took place. Typically, a one-day class, there were enough interested folks that Code3 Associates agreed to teach a second class. It began in the classroom, where participants learned and discussed basic trailer driving safety, including braking time and distance, ensuring the correct tires, properly calibrating the trailer brakes, using the proper hitch, and the proper load distribution.
The class then went outside to inspect their trucks and trailers against a safety checklist with items that covered 'bent, broken, cracked?' for metal/plastics, and looking for 'abrasions, bumps, cuts?' on belts & hoses. Trailer doors, floors, tires, and wires were examined, and items in need of repair/replacement were called out.
Next - the Skills Course! Where participants practiced and then tested on to earn their Trailer Safety & Skills Course certificates. The course included pulling up and backing up, pulling up and offset backing (two parallel lanes of cones), backing into a loading dock, and parallel parking. The instructors also helped participants learn how to calibrate their braking systems while driving.
There were many 'ah-ha' moments!
Grab some cones, hook up your trailer, and head to a vacant parking lot to sharpen your trailer driving skills!
