Drivers responsibility to pre trip equipment prior to hitting the road. And as a old TM always said you get between 10-15 min time leeway to do so on the clock. The drivers you describe are just plain lazy and irresponsible. Lights, tires, and connections are a minimum pre trip and every driver should do that.
Lazy ones only do the lights and tires and a tug, but tugs don’t tell half the story. After thousands of drop and hooks I had a trailer full of vodka come off the 5th wheel thankfully I caught it on the rail and was able to crank it up and re hook because that claim would have been bad.
Since that happened I have become anal about checking the connection. I used to just listen for the click and tug a few times as I got complacent over the years. Had a steward when I was at Holland always say pull forward and turn the tractor, get out and visually check to make sure the jaws are locked and the saftey pin is out all the way because grease can build up and not allow the pin to come fully out. If that pin is not fully out you will still be hooked and able to pull the trailer but at some point it may come loose and that may happen to anyone. Carry a can of PB Blaster and spray that pin and all the springs under the 5th wheel occasionally and you will have less to worry about.