What should a driver check about the pintle hook during a doubles/triples inspection?

PINTLE HOOK INSPECTION: The pintle hook (on the rear of a trailer) connects to the lunette eye on the converter dolly's tow bar — a critical coupling point in doubles/triples. CHECK: Securely mounted to the trailer frame (no loose, missing, or broken bolts); not cracked, bent, or excessively worn; properly LATCHED and LOCKED around the dolly's tow bar eye; locking mechanism functional; no excessive play or movement in the connection; safety chains connected as backup; WHY CRITICAL: The pintle hook holds the rear portion of the combination — failure means the dolly and trailer(s) behind it could separate; a cracked, worn, or improperly latched pintle hook is a serious hazard; INSPECTION of all coupling points in doubles/triples: tractor fifth wheel, each dolly's fifth wheel, each pintle hook connection, safety chains, and all air/electrical lines; the additional connection points mean more inspection items than a single trailer; the pintle hook is the connection that doesn't exist on a single semi — it's specific to multi-trailer combinations and must be carefully inspected for secure mounting, condition, and proper latching every trip.