--- title: REDUCE THE RISK OF JACKKNIFING – A NEW DRIVER WARNING SYSTEM description: As a professional driver, how can you ensure safe conditions for you and your fellow road users with a new digital system that warns of jackknifing? image: https://blog.vbg.eu/hubfs/VBG/VBG_Images/VBG_blogposts/jackknife_header%20.png --- [![VBG logo](https://blog.vbg.eu/hubfs/Assets/img/vbg-logo.svg)](http://www.vbg.eu/en/) - Solutions ## Solutions [![](http://www.vbg.eu/imagevault/publishedmedia/u7x3adb8a5z0vhk13on2/L-sningar-helhet.svg) Solutions with an integrated approach](http://www.vbg.eu/en/Solutions/) [![](http://www.vbg.eu/imagevault/publishedmedia/2139yxibtv33ljh14w2u/P-byggare-1.svg) Sustainable transport](http://www.vbg.eu/en/Solutions/sustainable-transport/) [![](http://www.vbg.eu/imagevault/publishedmedia/apvj8axm8whp5kfovoi7/P-byggare.svg) For bodybuilders](http://www.vbg.eu/en/Solutions/for-bodybuilders/) [![](http://www.vbg.eu/imagevault/publishedmedia/5u4dpqvokj0eeu5m6357/F-rare.svg) For drivers](http://www.vbg.eu/en/Solutions/for-drivers/) [![](http://www.vbg.eu/imagevault/publishedmedia/fvh0h915kt30gka9b93l/Kundber-ttelser.svg) Customer stories](http://www.vbg.eu/en/Solutions/success-stories/) - 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- *Jackknifing a truck is something to be avoided, both from a safety and cost perspective. In one of our development projects, we have therefore developed a system that warns you when your vehicle and trailer are at risk of jackknifing. But before we get to that, it’s important to understand what jackknifing is and what damage can be caused by such an unfortunate incident.* ## WHAT IS JACKKNIFING? Jackknifing is when a trailer folds against the truck at an acute angle. The position of the trailer and truck then resembles a V or L, and the rig locks at that angle. If you have ever experienced this, you will know that it’s a major safety risk and can result in costly repairs. If the endplates, drawbeam, coupling, drawbar eye and drawbar are damaged, for example, it may cost anywhere between SEK 13,000 and SEK 50,000 to repair. And this is just the cost of repairs following a damage inspection. Furthermore, the truck’s downtime produces other negative cost effects, such as job losses, delayed customer deliveries, logistics planning, and HR problems. ## WHEN IS THERE A RISK OF JACKKNIFING? It’s impossible to predict with 100% certainty at what angle jackknife damage will occur, or at what angle it will no longer be possible to compensate and rectify the situation, since it all depends on the vehicle’s construction. Reversing is a common cause of jackknifing. For example, when you don’t want to uncouple the vehicle but rather angle it from the trailer in order to tip the load over the drawbar – this only happens when reversing. It can also occur when you are in a narrow turning area and have to angle the rig to turn around, on forest roads when collecting timber, or at roadworks and construction sites. So, a professional driver’s workday often involves a risk of jackknifing. ## NEW JACKKNIFE WARNING SYSTEM In one of our development projects, we have developed a new jackknife warning system. The system issues various audible signals to the driver in good time to so that the driver is able to rectify the situation and regain control. This not only increases the safety of the driver and other road users, but also prevents expensive damage to the vehicle rig caused by jackknifing. The digital system comprises radar sensors that detect jackknifing risks. The sensors, in combination with reflectors on the drawbar, enable highly precise angle measurement. The system can also be used for guiding when coupling a trailer. For optimal functionality and user-friendliness, the system will communicate and interact with VBG’s user interface and other components, such as couplings and underrun protection. [![COUPLING BECOMING DIGITAL](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2640104/7c5cae83-88f4-48bd-96c4-879602cd5e4c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2640104/7c5cae83-88f4-48bd-96c4-879602cd5e4c) Topics - [Transportation industry](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/transportation-industry) - [Ownership](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/ownership) [![Tommy Pettersson](https://blog.vbg.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/VBG/Author%20Portrait/Authors_BW_Tommy_Pettersson.png?width=200&name=Authors_BW_Tommy_Pettersson.png)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/tommy-pettersson) #### [Tommy Pettersson](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/tommy-pettersson) Tommy Pettersson arbetar som Senior Technical advisor och har under hela sitt yrkesliv jobbat inom fordonsbranschen. Hans fokus i det dagliga arbetet är produktplanering och -utveckling samt att ständigt förbättra processerna för produktutveckling. Tommy är född och uppvuxen i Vänersborg och njuter av vandring och friluftsliv i närområdet. Under de snöfria månaderna spenderar han gärna ledig tid på golfbanor i gott sällskap för att kombinera sitt natur- och sportintresse. Tommy Pettersson works as Senior Technical advisor and has worked in the automotive industry his entire professional life. His focus in his daily work is product planning and development as well as continually improving the processes for product development. Tommy was born and raised in Vänersborg and enjoys hiking and outdoor recreation in the surrounding area. During the snow-free months, he enjoys spending his free time at golf courses in good company to combine his interests in nature and sports. Tommy Pettersson arbejder som Senior Technical advisor og har i hele sit arbejdsliv været beskæftiget inden for bilindustrien. Hans fokus i det daglige arbejde er produktplanlægning og -udvikling samt løbende forbedring af processerne for produktudvikling. Tommy er født og opvokset i Vänersborg og nyder vandreture og friluftsliv i nærområdet. I de snefri måneder bruger han gerne fritiden på golfbanerne i godt selskab for på den måde at kombinere sin natur- og sportsinteresse. ### Recent posts - [VBG Strengthens Capacity with New Testing Facility](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/vbg-strengthens-capacity-with-new-testing-facility) - [How do I perform a function check?](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/how-do-i-perform-a-function-check) - [How Dagab uses VBG Driver Assist](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/how-dagab-uses-vbg-driver-assist) - [How to protect your investment and extend the system’s lifespan](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/how-to-protect-your-investment-and-extend-the-systems-lifespan) - [What technical requirements apply to 34.5 meter combinations?](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/what-technical-requirements-apply-to-34.5-meter-combinations) - [View all](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/all) ### Topics - [Transportation industry (73)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/transportation-industry) - [Ownership (48)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/ownership) - [Transport industry (40)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/transport-industry) - [Use (31)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/use) - [Engineering (5)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/tag/engineering) ### Authors - [Anders Erkén (2)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/anders-erkén) - [Emil Vikingsson (3)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/emil-vikingsson) - [Emilia Angséus (1)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/emilia-angséus) - [Eric Carlebom (5)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/eric-carlebom) - [Fredrik Gustavsson (1)](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/author/fredrik-gustavsson) ## Discuss this post Leave a comment ## Recommended reading ![VBG Strengthens Capacity with New Testing Facility](https://blog.vbg.eu/hubfs/HEADER.png) ~ 6 min #### VBG Strengthens Capacity with New Testing Facility VBG Strengthens Capacity with New Testing Facility VBG continues to invest in the future. With a new test rig designed for extra-long test specimens, the ... [![Emilia Angséus](https://blog.vbg.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/blogemilia.png?width=26&name=blogemilia.png) Emilia Angséus 25 Jun 2026](https://blog.vbg.eu/en/vbg-strengthens-capacity-with-new-testing-facility) ![How do I perform a function check?](https://blog.vbg.eu/hubfs/VBG_Norway_-6804-1.png) > 4 min #### How do I perform a function check? Summer and the vacation we all look forward to are just around the corner. No matter how you plan to spend your time off, it’s reassuring to know that your ... 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