New Truck Drivers Get Help Here - Pre Trip Inspection

Once you get on the road, when doing your pre trip inspection is there a standard checklist on the things that need to be checked? Is there a form for this that the company provides if you are a company driver or is this something you can make on your own? How does the DOT check to make sure you have done your pre-trip if asked?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Marty

There are many standard forms and your company may provide you with one, but typically you won't fill one out all the time.

The DOT will check your logbook, that's how they will confirm that you spent 15 minutes on line 4 doing your pre-trip before you started your day.

There are many standard forms and your company may provide you with one, but typically you won't fill one out all the time.

The DOT will check your logbook, that's how they will confirm that you spent 15 minutes on line 4 doing your pre-trip before you started your day.

The important inspection is the POST inspection. You must have a written copy of it in your truck.

There is no time standard by D.O.T. for doing the inspection. Only that the time must be shown. To be truthful you can't do a inspection in 15 minutes.

Check the R&R forum it has been hashed around there times.

kc0iv

The important inspection is the POST inspection. You must have a written copy of it in your truck.

There is no time standard by D.O.T. for doing the inspection. Only that the time must be shown. To be truthful you can't do a inspection in 15 minutes.

Check the R&R forum it has been hashed around there times.

kc0iv

True, there is no time standard, but you cannot log less than 15 minutes for it. Personally, I've never met anyone who has logged more than 15 minutes on a daily PTI. Not saying it can or cannot be done, that will depend totally upon the equipment that you are in.

The same can be said for fueling. You might pull in, fuel and leave within 10 minutes, but you will log 15 for it.

well ... as someone who has just started and trying to learn all this stuff I was told never log anything less then 30 minutes ... so far it's worked great ... we have been pulled in to many state dot inspections and never had any problem. we log that we inspect our truck at least 3 to 4 times a day ... we drive team so we never do a post trip always a pretrip

One added point, the post trip does have to be noted, but it does not have to be a fully completed form. Most companies that provide their own logbooks to drivers (as most do) satisfy DOT standards by putting a couple of check boxes for your post trip. One says vehicle is in satsifactory operating condition and the other says it is not. If you check the box that is not, you then have to list what was wrong and if you don't have it fixed immediately you have just placed yourself out of service. IMO, do your pre and post-trip, if you find a tail light out, replace it and check the satisfactory box. If you find something major that you can't fix, report it and have it fixed. Of course, then you will have to document what you had fixed and any particulars.

I'm not saying that I advocate skipping either inspection at all. By all means do them thoroughly. A proper inspection can save your life or the life of another.

If you are wanting some kind of pre-printed check list go to a truckstop and in the section they keep log books and other forms look for an annual vehicle inspection report. Listed on that is everything that must be checked and passed in order for the vehicle to pass its annual inspection, and it is the same thing that is looked at during a Level 1 DOT inspection.

CLICK HERE (http://www.cvsa.org/programs/inspection_procedures.cfm) if you want to see what a level 1 insection consists of.

The important inspection is the POST inspection. You must have a written copy of it in your truck.

There is no time standard by D.O.T. for doing the inspection. Only that the time must be shown. To be truthful you can't do a inspection in 15 minutes.

Check the R&R forum it has been hashed around there times.

kc0iv

True, there is no time standard, but you cannot log less than 15 minutes for it. Personally, I've never met anyone who has logged more than 15 minutes on a daily PTI. Not saying it can or cannot be done, that will depend totally upon the equipment that you are in.

The same can be said for fueling. You might pull in, fuel and leave within 10 minutes, but you will log 15 for it.

Sorry you are wrong. If you wanted to you could flag the pre and post inspections. I wouldn't recommend it but D.O.T. says nothing as to time. Only that the post inspection must be done. See: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?rule_toc=765&section=396.11&section_toc=1953

In respect to the pre-trip. See: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?rule_toc=765&section=396.13&section_toc=1954

Same thing goes for fueling. D.O.T. does not give a time. As with everything else D.O.T. requires you to show the time it took and location where it was done.

kc0iv

Thanks to everyone that replied. The FMCSA website had a ton of info I was wanting to know about.

Be safe out there!

Marty

You can do what my trainer does, and fill out the report and rock and roll. In four weeks i have yet to see him do anything other than kick a tire...............open the hood or check under the rig, never, might find something he might have to ignore......

This is the one we used in school at Crowder for our CDL test and it is also the one CFI uses. Only CFI has a few additional items.

PRE-TRIP INSPECTION
FRONT - (From top to bottom)
"My partner is inside the vehicle turning things on and off as needed."
· Clearance lights - working properly, not broken.
· Windshield - illegal stickers, clear on driver's side (no cracks)
· Wipers - no pieces hanging loose.
· Headlights (high/low beams, 4-ways, turn signals, market lights) - working properly, not broken.
· Check on flat ground for leaning - indicates possible suspension problems.
· Check ground under vehicle for fluid leaks.
UNDER HOOD
(Passenger side)
· Duct work - securely fastened, no cracks or holes.
· Exhaust - securely fastened, no breaks, black soot, check all the way back.
· Stack - securely fastened, not twisted, heat shield secure (return to front).
· Water pump - no cracks, no signs of leaks.
· Water hoses - securely fastened at either ends, no cracks, leaks, or kinks.
· Anti-Freeze - check level, should be full (indicator shows half).
· Oil - check level, secure cap.
· Alternator - securely fastened, wires attached.
· Alternator belts - not worn, broken, ½ to ¾ inch play.
(Driver's side)
· Jaws snapped in
· Lever locked in place
· Safety latch is locked (if equipped).
· 5th wheel slide pin is locked.


TRAILER
· Header board - rivets/bolts secured, none missing.
· Sheeting - not pulled loose.
· Clearance/marker lights - all the way down the side and back, working properly, not broken.
· Apron (metal plate) - securely welded, not bent out.
· Cross members - secured to base of trailer (check all the way down the trailer).
· Floor - load worthy, no holes.
· Landing gear - foot secure, handle stowed, not bent.
· turn signal - working condition, not broken.
· Air lines - secured top springs, not dragging the ground.
· Back sliding frame - pins locked in place.
· Flaps - not torn/ripped, hanging within 8 inches from ground.
(Back)
· Door hinges - bolts in place, not bent.
· Door latches - top/bottom secure.
· Safety latch - in place, not missing.
· Lights - turn signals, brakes, 4-way, running, marker (clearance) - working properly, not broken.
· License plate/light - working properly, securely mounted.
· DOT bumper - secure, not falling off.
· Open door hangers - attached to side of trailer if doors are opened.


"I will check the other side of the vehicle the same as this side."



IN CAB
Truck OFF
· Seat - securely bolted to floor, positioned correctly.
· Seat belt - in good condition, latches properly.
· Mirrors - clean, not broken/cracked, adjusted for you.
· Gear box - mounted securely.
· Brake knobs - in place, not broken/damaged.
· Debris - floor of cab should be free of debris.
· Clutch - should have about 1½ inches of free play.
· Horns (city & air) - working properly.
(Windshield was checked from the outside)
Truck ON
· Guages
· Oil - working, minimum of 30lbs.
· Volt - working, around 14 volts.
· Water - working, around 180.
Air pressure - working, at least 120 (primary, secondary).
· Defroster - good working condition.
· Light indicators - 4-way, turn signal, high beam indicator.
· Wipers - working properly.
· Steering wheel - no more than 2 inches of play either direction (truck must be running).







BRAKE TEST
· Tug test - push in one brake knob (yellow/red), place truck into 1st gear.
· Repeat with other brake knob.
· Depress both brake knobs and place truck into neutral.
· Shut off engine.
Truck OFF/Key ON
· Depress brake pedal, hold 90 psi on application gauge ... shouldn't drop more than 4 psi per minute.
· Pump brake until warning buzzers & lights come on (primary & secondary), around 60 psi.
· Continue to pump until brake knobs pop out, around 20 - 40 psi.

Along with the FMCSA website, there is another that I find useful: the National Transportation Library (NTL). If you have a question about the meaning of a part of the regulations that isn't clear to you, and you can't seem to find an answer anywhere else, go to the NTL. Click on the ask-a-librarian link, and post your question. If they can't answer it, they may give you the name and web address or email address to someone at FMCSA who can answer your question. At least, that has been my experience using the NTL.

http://ntl.bts.gov/