Kingpins and Jesus Nuts

This past week a truck in Grandview, Washington hit a curb and lost its load.  The flatbed trailer was stacked high with boxes of apples.  The upset load came crashing down on the side of the rig and the trailer.  Interestingly, the force involved twisted the trailer like a tornado, but the tractor and front part of the trailer stayed upright.

This goes to show just how strong the fifth wheel lock jaws are when they grab ahold of the kingpin on the trailer.  I have even seen pictures of a semi-truck cab hanging off a bridge, hanging only by the kingpin on the trailer.  The next time you are driving down the road, think about how it is that the tiny kingpin is holding 40,000 lbs or more of cargo and trailer together with the truck pulling it.

The tiny kingpin is attached underneath the semi-trailer.  Thank goodness they make them strong!

This simple but essential element in a tractor-trailer rig setup is critical for its successful operation.  Do you know of any “kingpins” in your company or organization?  Someone that everyone seems to pivot around, but is rarely celebrated?  I think we all can think of someone that matches that description.  Sometimes it is the person with a seemingly small part to play in a big operation that is most critical for the overall success of the group.

As an aside, this also reminds me of the “Jesus Nut”, which is another critical piece in a complex machine.  Without this part doing its job, the entire machine would fail and likely cause the death of anyone unlucky enough to be riding in the vehicle.  What am I talking about?  The “Jesus Nut” is the part of the old Huey style helicopter that holds the rotor onto the body of the aircraft.  It it comes undone, there is nothing to keep you airborne.  That is why service members would refer to it as the “Jesus Nut”: everyone would pray that this single part would not fail!

Newer helicoptors may not have a “Jesus Nut” but you get the idea.  Now the question is this: is the person you were thinking of before a Kingpin or a Jesus Nut?

Without the Kingpin the truck and trailer would not stay together.  Without the “Jesus Nut” holding the rotors on, a helicopter would not fly.

Never underestimate the importance of a single, small part to play.  It often is critical for everyone to be successful in getting their jobs done.