Semi-trailer collapses spontaneously during turn - GIF

**Jon** · May 14, 2019, 04:13 PM

**Frank S** · May 14, 2019, 05:38 PM

The only thing that gives some of those box trailers their structural integrity is having the rear doors securely closed the refrigerated vans rely on the insulation to be the structural members of the trailers in an effort to get as much cargo weight in them as possible. Usually though when meat rails are installed some structure is added to compensate for having all of the load swinging. This one looks like it just had the rails and no vertical framework

**ncollar** · May 15, 2019, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by JoeVanGeaux

"All things being equal" (lol), this video just gave me, yet another, reason to avoid riding alongside any tractor trailer. But now, I'm going to spend the rest of my driving days on special lookout for that brand of trailer!

more info

Hog Hauler.
Some people will do anything to make a load. When it mean hauling a load of something or running empty can make all the difference. As far as the swinging pork the trailer would have been just fine as long as the back doors were closed. The load will swing side to side but load is tight together front to back to prevent a lot of swing. It takes a driver that knows how to haul a swinging load. It is not done these days because they cut a lot up at the slaughterhouse. I would not want to be the driver.

**ncollar** · May 15, 2019, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Frank S

Utility brand dry box trailers are noted for being one of the lightest constructed box trailer on the road. Without seeing an accident report I can tell you that the load inside had at least 1 heavy pallet stacked on top of another and if it had been secured at all often box drivers do not even look inside of their trailers when they are ;loaded, the load locks when used only extend from side to side and there sometimes are no vertical E tracks for strapping to.
The impact of a 2500 lb pallet falling from 3 feet high un a turn could have been enough to cause the trailer to collapse especially if the trailer was loaded heavy in the first place.
Remember these trailers have no frame only a short sub frame where the axles are All of the structural strength in them is from the thin siding and the even thinner roof the only other structure in these trailers is the extruded runner that joins the roof and the side walls

Frank
I agree with all you say and all we can do is speculate. It looked like the truck was making a smooth turn at low speed. I see no reason except like you said it was too heavy loaded in the center of the trailer or the trailer has had a hard life and minimal maintenance. Once a crack starts in the aluminium it will not take a lot to break like that. I remember on tile hauling a load of welding rods out of Ohio and the pallets were only about 3 ft. high. If they were placed in there wrongly it could have done the same thing but it was a refer so extra strong built.

**ncollar** · May 15, 2019, 07:03 PM

That truck is a side load unload.
The sides are there to keep everything weatherproof.

There was a lot of things that could have gone wrong there real quick. If you look at the tanks dumped on the roadway look to be propane cylinders. I would not have wanted to be the tow truck company, that was a very shotty job.

**Hoosiersmoker** · May 16, 2025, 07:24 AM

I've see a number of floors give way while my forklift drivers are in the trailer! Fortunately none went completely through the floor but around here there's a lot of salty water that gets thrown up onto the underside of the trailers and weakens the structure and the flooring. I always tell them to ask for the inspection certificate and if it's more than a year old we refuse the trailer (and load if there is one) and tell them to send it in an inspected trailer. You can see what Frank S pointed out, there's not much structure to these trailers and you can see the floor from underneath. This was one of the trailers that failed on us: