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2025
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What exactly causes a vehicle to tip over due to a mismatch in the main hitch?
Recently, while chatting in a truckers' group, I saw some truckers sharing a few videos. The general content of these videos shows imported tractor trucks tipping over while taking turns. Many truckers analyzed it as fatigue driving by the drivers, some said it was due to problems with the vehicle's braking system causing the rollover, and others suggested that incorrectly loaded cargo on the trailers caused an unstable center of gravity, and so on. So, what exactly is the problem?
▎What were the configuration and condition of the vehicle involved in the incident?
From the video, we can see that most of the vehicles involved in the accidents are imported cars and belong to large logistics companies, with some even being among the top express delivery companies in the country. Vehicles from these logistics companies undergo regular inspections and have certain speed regulations while driving.
In theory, the braking systems of these vehicles themselves should not have any problems, and the vehicles are also equipped with corresponding fatigue driving systems. Moreover, some accidents happened during the daytime, so theoretically, there should be no issue of fatigue driving. However, these vehicles share several common characteristics: first, the main vehicles are all mid-to-high-end models with relatively premium chassis configurations; second, most of the accidents occurred while turning, and the turning speeds were relatively high.
As for the chassis configuration of the main truck, most braking setups are EBS and ESC (Electronic Braking System and Electronic Stability Control), and they are mostly AMT. Moreover, if the main truck is imported, it almost always has disc brakes. As for the trailer, most are equipped with ABS, and some don't even have ABS, and some trailers still use drum brakes.
▎Mismatch between the tractor and trailer can cause the truck to push forward and tip over during turns.
From the configuration of the tractor and trailer, we can already see some causes of accidents. The biggest problem is the mismatch between the tractor and trailer. When taking a turn at a relatively high speed, the tractor's EBS system will start to activate, applying brakes to the wheels on the inside of the tractor to prevent rollover due to excessive speed.
However, at this time, older trailers don't have an EBS system. When the tractor performs asymmetric braking, the trailer cannot brake on its own, which causes the trailer to push the tractor. Simply put, during a turn, the EBS will brake one side of the wheels (the EBS system automatically intervenes to brake without the driver pressing the brake pedal), but the trailer doesn’t brake, which can cause the tractor to be pushed, leading to a rollover.
Some truck drivers say, 'My tractor has EBS and the trailer has ABS. When I feel like the vehicle might skid while turning, I press the brake. Can this save the vehicle?' Actually, if you try to brake when you already feel the vehicle is about to skid in a curve, it is already too late.
Firstly, the EBS system certainly detects the risk of vehicle rollover before the driver does and intervenes well in advance. Secondly, EBS responds slightly faster than ABS when executing braking. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the EBS of the tractor may respond faster than the trailer, which could momentarily cause jackknifing, leading to an accident.
If the tractor has EBS and the trailer has ABS, the safer way to take a turn is to control the turning speed.
▎Many issues with tractor-trailer matching: Most express and logistics vehicles have potential safety risks.
During our market visits, we found that most express and cargo companies have issues with tractor-trailer matching, especially logistics companies that use trailer swapping. Since trailer swapping requires frequent trailer changes, the technical condition of each truck varies, and most trailers have ABS systems, while the tractors are mostly equipped with EBS systems (the company uses imported trucks with standard EBS).
Moreover, hook-and-pull transportation has relatively high requirements for timeliness, which means that vehicles tend to travel at higher speeds on the road, including on highway ramps, inevitably creating safety risks. Often, logistics companies using high-end models face quite a few such safety hazards.
● Editor's Note
Currently, the technology and configuration of tractors in China are developing very quickly, especially regarding chassis configurations, which have long moved from the ABS era into the EBS electronic control era. However, due to domestic users' understanding of tractor-trailer matching and the low penetration rate of EBS on trailers, there is a mismatch in the technical condition between tractors and trailers, resulting in safety risks for the majority of vehicles in the market.
Additionally, some users choose high-end configurations for their tractors when replacing vehicles, but continue to use their old trailers, which may lack even basic ABS. Some users think ABS brake response is not forceful enough when applied, so they choose not to use it, which is completely wrong. If your tractor is equipped with EBS, for your safety, you must also install an EBS system on your trailer. This ensures that your tractor and trailer are properly matched, allowing you to drive without concerns.
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