How can I remember the colour lines of HGV lines?

[JonnyBoy12]

As some of you may know I am planning to become an HGV driver in the near future, but face a slight problem. I know that there are 3 lines to the trailer from the tractor unit, but can not recall what they all are. Can any of the truckers among you tell me what they all are, which colour, and is there an easy way to remember them all?

Thanks for any sensible replies.

[NazNomad]

RED = emergency, applies all brakes on the trailer

BLUE = auxiliary, applies front axle brakes on the unit and all brakes on the trailer.

YELLOW = service, applies all brakes on the outfit.

[Buenchico]

From Wikipedia:
"In the UK male/female quick release connectors "red line" or emergency, have a female on the truck and male on the trailer and a "yellow line" or service has a male on the truck and female on the trailer. This avoids coupling errors (causing no brakes) plus the connections will not come apart if pulled by accident. The three electrical lines will fit one way round a primary "black" a secondary "green" and an ABS lead, all of these lines are collectively known as "suzies" or "suzie coils"

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.o...ki/Semi-trailer_truck

Chris

[sddsddean]

Very few units and trailers have a blue line any more, so its just red and yellow you have to worry about. As said in Chris' bit, the fittings are different, so you can't get them mixed up. Another 'tendancy' is that all the suzies are now black, so just the ends are different/coloured, but even the 2 electric leads have different ends and the ABS lead is totally different. Some trucks even have another (6th!) suzie for a reversing camera on the trailer. Wait until you have to sort out the mess of tangled leads after doing a sharp turn!! Its all good fun!

[Hopkirk]

Boy I got confused there, because my trucks always have five lines, and none of them have ever been blue!

[JonnyBoy12]

Thanks for your helpful answers, folks, and by the way I am not colour blind either. Have any of you got any nice pictures of lines for us to see, as that would help me even more?

[sddsddean]

Heres a picture of them stowed on the back of a unit. http://images47.fotki...459/AxorSuzies-vi.jpg
You can see what I mean by the suzies being black with red and yellow ends. From left to right 'primary elecs, yellow (end is obviously hanging to the left), both ends of the ABS cable (ie one end is stowed prior to attaching to trailer),red, secondary elecs'.

Heres a video of uncoupling/coupling. Its a bit long winded, but they are doing it 'by the book'!
http://www.youtube.co...zrYZQ&feature=related