If you couple to another trailer partway through your trip, what should you always do?

When you couple to another trailer partway through your trip, it's essential to ensure that the trailer is safe for continued use. This involves two critical steps: obtaining the trip inspection report, if one exists, and conducting your own inspection if no report has been completed that day.

The trip inspection report provides a record of the trailer's condition, detailing any pre-existing issues that might affect safety. By reviewing this report, you gain insights into the state of the trailer before you take over responsibility for it. However, if no such report exists for that day, it is vital that you perform a thorough inspection yourself. This ensures that all components such as brakes, lights, tires, and structural integrity are intact and functioning correctly.

By following both steps—checking for an existing trip report and conducting your own inspection if necessary—you help to maintain safety on the road and reduce the likelihood of mechanical failures or accidents due to trailer issues. Therefore, selecting the option that includes both obtaining the inspection report and performing your own inspection reflects best practices for trailer safety during a trip.