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Pre Trip
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Pre-Trip Inspection
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1626824033088{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Pre-Trip Inspection is a thorough inspection of the vehicle and all of its major systems. Inspecting the vehicle before driving each day is a Federal requirement and normally takes about 15 minutes. It must be logged in your logbook as “on duty not driving.”
You will have to do thorough safety inspections of the coupling system, the vehicle lights, engine compartment, tires and brakes, the chassis, the fuel tanks, and an in-cab inspection.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1336″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css_animation=”fadeInRight”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Form A Be advised examiner may not specify form wise .
My ID clearance lights are Amber in Color Not cracked or broken or damaged, securely mounted to vehicle.
Headlights Hi-low: Clean, not fogged, not cracked or broken secure to the vehicle
Turn signals and Reflectors: Amber in color, not cracked, fogged or broken and secure to the vehicle.
Underneath Vehicle: No leaks no puddles, no loose or hanging part, not leaning left to right.
Engine Compartment:
Passenger Side : Washer Reservoir : Capped ,filled above refill mark , not leaking ,secure to the vehicle ,my hoses have no abrasions, bubbles, no cuts not leaking and are secure to the vehicle.
My Alternator :Is belt driven , not cracked ,broken ,dent ,not missing any bolts and securely mounted. My alternator wires are securely fastened not spliced or cut ,missing or loose. My belt is not frayed or torn or worn ,not loose, not cut no more than 3/4 inch play at center of belt .
Overall : on this side I am going to inspect all hoses and wires make sure they are not loose ,worn or torn ,not leaking and are securely mounted . I am going to inspect all hardware make sure there is no damage ,no leaks, nothing broken or missing .
Driver Side :
Coolant Reservoir : Capped , filled above refill mark , not leaking ,secure to the vehicle ,my hoses have no abrasions, bubbles, no cuts not leaking and are secure to the vehicle.
Water Pump : Belt Driven My belt is not frayed or torn or worn ,not loose, not cut no more than 3/4 inch play at center of belt . My water pump is not cracked, not leaking ,not broken ,dent ,not missing any bolts and is securely mounted.
Oil Reservoir : Capped ,not leaking and secure to the vehicle .
Oil Dip Stick : I will check my oil level with my dipstick and make sure its in safe operating range and above refill mark.
Power Steering Reservoir : Capped ,filled above refill mark , not leaking ,secure to the vehicle ,my hoses have no abrasions, bubbles, no cuts not leaking and are secure to the vehicle.
Power Steering pump : I will inspect my hoses which are not torn ,worn ,no abrasions ,bubbles or cuts no leaks and inspect my power steering pump which is gear driven . It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose and securely mounted to the vehicle.
Air Compressor : I will inspect my air lines hoses which are not torn ,worn ,no abrasions ,bubbles or cuts no leaks and inspect my air compressor which is gear driven . It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose or leaking and securely mounted to the vehicle.
Steering System :
Gear Box : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose and securely mounted with cotter keys & castle nut to the vehicle. : I will inspect my hoses which are not torn ,worn ,no abrasions ,bubbles or cuts and no leaks.
Control arms and Tie Road: It is not dent, bent or broken or loose and securely mounted to the vehicle. No more than 10 degrees of play, I will inspect Upper and lower joints not worn or torn or loose and
greased, securely mounted to vehicle.
Pitman Arm and Drag Link: It is not dent, bent or broken or loose and securely mounted to the vehicle.
Suspension System :
Shock Absorber : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose or leaking and properly greased ,securely mounted to the vehicle.
Spring Mounts or Bracket : : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose and properly greased, securely mounted to the vehicle.
Leaf Springs : not missing or shifted ,cracked or broken . If more than ¼ are missing or broken I will put the vehicle out of service.
U-Bolts : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose and properly greased ,securely mounted to the vehicle.
Shackles : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose ,securely mounted to the vehicle.
Brake System :
Clamp : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose or missing and ,securely mounted to the vehicle.
Brake Chamber : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose and not leaking ,securely mounted to the vehicle.
Brake Hose ,and line: coupling and fitting : I will inspect to make sure they are not leaking ,not loose ,not cut, frayed or worn and are secure to the vehicle.
Drum Brake : It has no HOLES , not dent ,bent or broken or loose or missing and no debris or oil or grease ,securely mounted to the vehicle.
Brake Linings : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose and no less than ¼ of an inch and are not worn dangerously thin and are securely mounted to the vehicle.
Slack Adjustors and Push Rods : : It is not dent ,bent or broken or loose or missing and ,securely mounted to the vehicle. No more 1 inch travel when pulled by hand .
Tires :
Remember: ICD ; Inflation , Condition and Depth
Inflation : I will check inflation with a tire gauge make sure its 105 psi.
Condition : Evenly Worn , not cuts or bubbles or other damage to tread or sidewall .They are the same type . No recap ,retread or regroup
Depth : My minimum depth should be 4/32 secs.
Rim : No repaired welds : not cracked or bent or broken and its round no rust trails indicating its loose on the wheel
Lug Nuts : None missing ,or loose, no shiny treads ,no rust, free of cracks and distortions, and secure to the vehicle.
Valve Cap and Stem : not broken or missing cap in place .
Hub Oil Seal : Its not leaking ,and is full .
Coupling System :
Air / Electrical Lines: All my fittings and seals from truck and trailer are not worn, torn or loose and
are secure. They are not touching the catwalk, not tangled, spliced, not chafed, not worn, or cut or leaking and are secure to the vehicle.
The tractor Electrical plug is firmly sealed and locked in both places and safety latch is not broken.
Slider Air Line: not spliced, not chafed, not worn or cut or leaking and are secure to the vehicle.
Platform: Not Cracked, broken and securely mounted to the vehicle
Mounting Bolts : not loose ,not broken or missing, no rust and are securely mounted to the vehicle.
Slider Pins : not cracked ,broken, locked and secure to the vehicle.
Release Arm : In locked position, not cracked ,broken , and secure to the vehicle.
Skid Plate : No cracks or breaks ,not broken , and properly greased and securely mounted to the platform .
Apron : No cracks or breaks ,not broken, and properly greased and secured to the vehicle.
Apron and Skid plate : No gap ,no sunlight .
Kingpin and Locking Jaw: My locking jaws are fully closed around my kingpin and are in locked position and not cracked or broken and securely mounted.
Bolts and Cutter keys are in locked position and secure to the vehicle.
This concludes Form A remember they may not ask form A they could just point at any section and you have to inspect it properly. Coupling should always be inspected in any combination[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Form B : Truck Inspection
Driver Door : Inspect my doors they open and close properly ,from the outside . Hinges are secure with seal intact .</span
Mirrors and mirror brackets are not damaged ,not loose and fitting are secure and free of excessive dirt from the outside.
Windows are clean and work properly from the outside
Signals and reflectors: Not cracked, broken and they are amber in color and secure to the vehicle and fully functional
Fuel Tank : Is not dented, cracked or broken. Cap is on tight and strapped, no leaks from tank, lines or cap and securely mounted to the vehicle.
DEF Tank : it has more than 1/8 in the tank , : Cap is on tight ,no leaks from tank, lines or cap and securely mounted to the vehicle.
Catwalk and Side step: Are clear of debri ,not broken and securely mounted to the vehicle.
Drive shaft : No cracks or breaks ,not broken no obstructions, and properly greased and securely mounted to the vehicle. Couplings (U-joints ) are secure and free of foreign objects.
Exhaust System : No rust or soot ,no severe holes ,not cracked or bent or broken and no loose clamps and securely mounted to the vehicle.
Frame : No cracks, broken welds, no damage and securely mounted
Crossmember : No cracks ,broken welds or damage.
Torque Bar : Not bend ,dent ,cracked or broken and secure to the vehicle.
Repeat :
Suspension System include Air bags : not leaking, not ripped or cut or frayed and securely mounted
Brake system ; same as earlier
Tire : Remember : Inflation is know at 100psi , also ,remember we have duals, so they are not touching or debri and tread depth is 2/32 secs . And yes you can have retreads ,regrooves so long as they are same type on drive axles. Got to inspect ICD just like steer tires with minor changes.
You know have an Axle seal instead of Hub oil seal : inspect same way .
The rest stays the same meaning explain Rim, and valve to.
Rear Lights : I will inspect all my lights , brake light, signal ,4 wy flashers all red in color and reverse light which is clear are not cracked or broken and are secure to the vehicle.
Repeat Coupling System : as Stated Earlier
Form C : Trailer :
My ID clearance lights are Amber in Color Not cracked or broken or damaged, securely mounted to vehicle.
Header Board : Free of damage ,not broken ,not missing any rivets, no holes ,no bulges ,no cracks.
Side of trailer : Free of damage ,not broken ,not missing any rivets, no holes ,no bulges ,no cracks, no welds.
Trailer Frame and crossmembers : : Not Bend ,dent ,or broken, or no holes and secure to the vehicle.
Crank handle : Not Bend ,dent ,or broken and in secured or stowed position
Landing Gear :Frame and Crossmembers : Not Bend ,dent ,or broken and secure to the vehicle.
Landing Leg : Not Bend ,dent ,or broken and in the raised position and locked.
Sandpad : Raised and in locked position no damage not cracked or broken and no debri
Turn signal : Amber in color not cracked or broken and secure to vehicle.
ABS light marker : Amber in color not cracked or broken and secure to vehicle.
Brake lights ; Red in color not cracked or broken, clean and fully functional and secure to vehicle.
Repeat Suspension System NO AIR BAGS or SHOCK ABSORBER ON THESE TRAILER , brake system and Tire just like you did the drive axle .
Rear lights including lights at top of rear trailer or other wise called ID clearance lights all in red color, not cracked or broken and secure to vehicle
Rear door are in locked position and ties are not cut or frayed
Licence Plate : Light bulb not cracked or broken and its secured to the vehicle.
Pintle hook and chain bar : Not bend ,dent or broken and secure to vehicle.
Don’t Forget you still have to inspect Coupling its goes with any combination .
Air Brakes and In-Cab
Governors Cut Out :
Perform Safe Start before you insert keys into ignition , apply (pull out) tractor and trailer brakes. Truck in neutral look around say clear ,start accessories. ABS light on/off indicates it working , start truck.
I am going to increase my RPM to about 1000 and speed up my air pressure build up. It should cut out no higher than 140 psi. For this test I am observing the primary gauge , my needle has stopped rising at 127 psi this is a good test. DO NOT TAKE FOOT OFF TILL YOU CALL OUT READING DO NOT GO OFF BASED ON SOUND WATCH NEEDLE.
Turn off vehicle for the rest of the tests.
Turn on accessories only make sure you see needles swipe, release (push in) tractor ,trailer brakes , put truck in any gear except reverse. Remember truck ignition is off only accessories are on .
Applied Leak Test : Step on service brake wait for primary gauge needle to settle start timer for 1 min.Important if you hear hissing sound do not start timer wait till it goes quite.
If you don’t lose more than 4 psi for this truck since its combination it’s a good test. Straight truck is 3 psi. Do not let go of brakes till you finish saying everything
Low Air warning : fan service brake slowly one at a time and say I am monitoring my primary gauge for this test.
My low air warning light : CRITICAL BUZZER IS NOT WHAT YOU ARE WAITING FOR : MOMENT LIGHT COMES ON CALL IT. In this truck you see 2 separate brakes lights call out first one as soon as it appears , at no lower than 55 psi.
Spring Brakes Test : keep fanning service brakes slowly , tractor and trailer brakes should pop out indicating it’s a good test.
Last test is the 3 way break test : for this test I am going to first place my truck is in neutral , perform a safe start than turn on ignition.
While I am waiting for the air to build up to the Governor cut out I am going to inspect me in cab .
Remember Safety First : Already check seat belt, my fire extinguisher is properly charged and securely mounted .
I have 3 red reflective triangles securely placed .
I have 6 fuses securely kept in the glove box.
My Mirrors are clean and adjusted from the inside for me .
My Windshield is not cracked ,no illegal stickers, or obstructions clean with no damage to the glass.
My heater defroster turn on and off demonstrate it works .
Gauges :
My Temperature Gauge : my needle is climbing to normal operating gauge
My Oil Gauge : : my needle is climbing to normal operating gauge
My Voltmeter is charging .
My Fuel gauge is working and My DEF gauge is working ,and is more than 1/8 full.
check all your lights ,right ,left ,hazards ,high beams
Inspect Washer and Wiper turn it on and off : blades are secure ,not damaged and operate smoothly.
Inspect service horn by blowing it lightly this is critical I hear it’s a fail point not sure just don’t miss it .
I have reached Governor cut out I can carry on with my 3 way break test .
Begin with Tractor ; release :remember they are already applied so just release one at a time repeat with trailer make sure you apply tractor and release trailer than release both and test service brake.
I am ready for my skills test.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_hoverbox image=”1297″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]
At Dave Truck Driving School, we guide you through the entire Pre-Trip section for getting CDL. Enroll to get started!
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