Pulling an empty trailer, otherwise known as deadheading, is unavoidable. It uses up fuel, time, and puts wear on the truck. The driver or his employer isn 't making money because they aren 't transporting a commercial load. On top of this, driving without weight inside the trailer is dangerous. It adversely affects the truck 's handling and makes it vulnerable to a jackknife or a rollover truck accident. Jackknifing With an empty trailer hitched to the tractor, the drive wheels have little weight on them which reduces their traction. This means the driver can 't brake hard without locking up the drive wheels, especially when the pavement is wet. When the drive wheels lock, the tractor fishtails while the trailer remains straight. This is