I trained 4 weeks at one of the big 5, didn't like the company, then 6 weeks at a somewhat smaller national refer carrier. In total I had 4 trainers during that time, and I must have beat the odds and lucked out because all of them were good...not just "OK". Three of them had over 20 yrs experience each; the "newest" one had 8. All were patient and I learned a lot BUT....

Not one of them ever did a pre or post trip. EVER, in the 10 weeks, 35,000+ miles. We logged time on line 4 that said we did, but never actually did. One just said "I know my truck"; another told me I should check the oil "every other fuel stop or so" when I first got my own truck. Last two just never addressed it. One guy did check for physical damage on trailers we picked up, to cover his butt in case one had a tear or something, but thats it.

I also almost never see drivers at truck stops or rest areas do any inspections when they start out. I'm paranoid, so I do a walk around looking for obvious things, and thump tires, but is this lack of daily inspections the norm?

 

You'll see them pissing on the ground though in broad daylight :roll:

I totally agree with you. I've never seen another driver do a pre-trip. And yes I've been watching a long time.

 

I know what you mean.

When I went through OTJ training I did 1 pre trip just to satisfy my trainer that I knew how. He never did one. Closest he came to doing one was to kick the tires and check the oil about every 5th fuel stop. :roll: He would also get mad at me if I took longer than to make sure the lights were working when picking up a trailer.

Once I got into my own truck, my vehicle inspections were a daily on going process. While I rarely did a complete inspection when I started the day I would check everything through out the day, and depending on where I was running that day, some things would get checked 2 or more times.

More often than not my inspection would go something like this:

1st thing I would do a walk around checking lights, tires, 5th wheel, trailer tandems, air lines, and listen for air leaks.

When I fueled I would check fluids, brakes, lights, tires, steering mechanisms, etc.

When I stopped for a break I would check 5th wheel, trailer tandems, and air lines/air leaks.

When picking up a trailer it would get a good inspection before leaving the lot.

1st of every month the permit book would be gone through.

If I was going to be going down any steep grades I would stop within 10 miles and check the brakes and air lines.

End of day....do another walk around, recheck the brakes, fix any problems, fill out the DVIR and call it a quits.

 

If I was Paid to do a pre and post trip it I would do it. But I am paid by speed. CPM

 

I always did a walk around and check all the Safety items and belts before I left. And every time I stopped I checked thisg out and always watching for signs of troublewhile going down the road.

I do that even on my own POV.

I do not have to be paid to ensure my own safety...

 

getting paid for pre-trip and post-trip inspections does make a big difference for a lot of drivers, though.

in two years driving over the road, i almost never saw drivers doing anything resembling a thorough pretrip. i did a walkaround myself, but a DOT tester would fail me for sure on my pretrip. now that i'm local and getting paid up to 30 minutes for a pre-trip and 15 mintues for a post-trip, the terminal lot is crawling with guys tugging on slack adjusters, checking lights, fluids and contorting themselves to get a descent look at the backside of wheels, suspension, and steering components.

i agree that safety should be part of a daily routine, paid or not...but I have to admit it's alot easier to check some of those things that are a pain in the ass when you're actually being paid.

 

I have never seen anyone do them, I do every day and its because I seen the freaks at truck stops do stupid things like pull your fifth wheel and steal your trailer lights and more stuff as well... I see trucks going down the road with lights missing on the back and I call out on the CB saying your lights are out (missing) and they keep driving, another driver calls out and I say on the CB a pretrip would of found that error.... I have seen several times a driver starts to roll and the trailer comes off turnin out of the truck stop, a pretrip would of found the fifth wheel pulled, I check my truck before I roll everytime I start to drive, I could be just parked at a rest area for a potty break and I check before I roll to see if my lights are still connnected, I also got into this habit from my trainer, he stressed to do it and do it right, he hit a rock once an while parked lost all his oil and drove off to find a smokinn hot engine so he said to check everything, look for leaks on the ground and turn yer flashers on and walk around the truck.....so I do and its a good habit to follow or next time you loose a trailer in the middle of a turn you will ge this habit... I say do it and it makes you feel good knowing you done it.

 

My OTR trainer followed me around every morning for the first week to make sure I did a thorough pre-trip. After that he just ensured I did one.

Now that I'm on my own. I do some form of pre-trip every day. I might not do a comprhensive inspection every day. But, if I wake up at a truck stop I make sure my 5th wheel is securely latched, check my lights, tires, etc. I check fluids and belts about twice a week.

Recently I picked up a pre-loaded trailer at one of our yards. During the pre-trip I saw that the 2 red clearance lights on the rear corners of the trailer were missing (yes gone). The shop replaced them and said someone probably wanted LED lights.

I also seldom see drivers doing pre-trips at truck stops.

 

I do them. I might not pop the hood, but I do pop the hood at least once a day and check everything on both sides.

Every morning I check every light, tire, I also check any visible lines.

Every time I hook up to a trailer I'm underneath it, checking brakes, wheel seals leaking, etc..

At least I go after the "obvious" stuff that the DOT would give me trouble for.

My truck is in good shape, and I know what to look for on the truck. The trailers I do not trust, but that's a given.

Every month when I grease it I do a very thorough check. Every brake chamber(broken springs), check every brake, every air line, complete exhaust system, etc...

One thing I've always wondered, we're required by law to make sure our brakes are in adjustment. What about the "big boys" that can't fit under there?

 

Thank you