On September 16, 2025, I was operating a powered industrial forklift inside Trailer No. [XXX]— a 2017 Great Dane refrigerated semi-trailer, VIN [XXX] — during routine dock-loading operations at [XXX] of the T.G. Lee Dairy / DFA Dairy Brands Fluid facility, [XXX] . The trailer was detached from its tractor, stationary, dock-locked, and wheel-chocked in the standard configuration for loading. Without prior warning, visible deformation, or any indication of structural distress, the right front K-bracket supporting the trailer’s JOST International Corporation landing gear failed structurally. The right landing gear leg collapsed, the trailer tipped to the right, and the front right nose of the trailer impacted the ground. I was thrown against the interior wall of the trailer and sustained cervical, thoracic, and lumbar injuries resulting in days away from work and ongoing medical treatment. The landing gear system installed on this trailer has been identified as a JOST International Corporation product (Grand Haven, Michigan). Identification is confirmed by: (1) the repair invoice of J-KO Mobile Semi Trailer Services, Inc., dated September 19, 2025, reflecting fabrication and installation of a replacement K-brace and identifying the trailer make as Great Dane; (2) the fleet operator’s internal communications identifying JOST landing gear in connection with Trailer No. [XXX] and the incident; and (3) written acknowledgment by JOST International Corporation’s legal counsel dated May 21, 2026, that the trailer collapse resulted from a failure of the JOST landing gear. Prior to the failure, the subject trailer was inspected twice on the date of the incident Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports completed at 3:30 AM and 10:55 AM on September 16, 202 both of which reflected “No Defect” for the landing gear. The fleet operator’s fleet maintenance department reviewed the preceding 90 days of DVIRs and 180 days of preventive maintenance INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11741673

Official recalls

16V476000 · Parking Brake

Jun 28, 2016

Great Dane Trailers (Great Dane) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Dry Freight Van, Reefer, and Flatbed trailers manufactured January 1, 2014, to March 4, 2016, equipped with certain Bendix SR5 spring brake valves. These valves may have been improperly machined which may cause a delay of application of the spring brakes while parking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If there is a delay of the spring brake application, the trailer may roll away after it has decoupled from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Great Dane will contact owners and provide a remedy kit, complete with instructions, to repair any affected SR-5 trailer relay valves, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2016. Owners may contact Great Dane Customer Service Department at 1-912-232-4471.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.