Of all the different CDL testing components, the pre-trip inspection is one of the most challenging. Studying all of the different elements of the pre-trip inspection and remembering them in front of an examiner can be quite intimidating; however, coming up with a checklist for your pre-trip inspection makes the process a lot easier. RPM is here to help with our pre-trip inspection safety checklist:
What Is the CDL Pre-Trip Inspection?
In order to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you must first pass a pre-trip vehicle inspection test. This test requires applicants to thoroughly inspect the vehicle's condition to make sure that it’s safe to drive.
How Do You Pass the Pre-Trip Inspection?
The pre-trip inspection is an important component of obtaining a CDL that comes in the latter part of the process after successfully completing a driver training course, submitting an application, paying a fee, providing proof of identity and residency, submitting a medical report, passing a vision test, and passing a knowledge test.
Once you successfully complete all of these items, you will be issued a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and you will be able to schedule your road skills examination after a 14-day waiting period. On the day of your road skills examination, you must provide your own vehicle and pass a pre-trip inspection before you actually begin driving the vehicle.
The pre-trip inspection is a verbal test wherein you walk the examiner through the inspection process. To pass the pre-trip inspection, you should try to mention at least two things about every item that you inspect while pointing to or touching each item. Also, make sure to mention any damaged items to the examiner during your inspection.
How Long Should a Proper Pre-Trip Inspection Take?
When inspecting your vehicle in front of the examiner, you need to be extra thorough and detailed with your process and observations. As a result, a proper pre-trip inspection during your CDL examination should take around 30 to 50 minutes since you’re identifying each item that you’re inspecting.
Once you receive your CDL and become more familiar with the pre-trip inspection process, you may be able to complete it more efficiently since you’re not walking someone else through your entire thought process.
While there’s no set time frame for a proper pre-trip inspection, a thorough inspection usually takes somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes. Anything less than 15 minutes indicates that a driver is cutting corners and isn’t practicing due diligence.
Why Is a Pre-Trip Inspection Important?
A pre-trip inspection is just one of many safety regulations for drivers by state and federal authorities. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) must inspect vehicles and certify that all vehicle parts are in good working order.
Failure to complete pre-trip inspections violates federal regulations and can lead to fines and loss of license.
How Often Should a Pre-Trip Inspection Be Done?
You should perform a pre-trip inspection before each haul. A post-trip inspection should also be completed on each vehicle operated at the end of each workday. Drivers of for-hire passenger CMVs must submit inspection reports after every trip, even if no defects are found.
All other CMVs only have to submit a report if a defect is found that would affect the vehicle's safe operation.
Additionally, vehicles must undergo a periodic inspection at least once every 12 months. After completing a periodic inspection, the motor carrier must retain the inspection report while clearly displaying the inspection sticker.
What Should I Check During a Pre-Trip Inspection?
During your CDL pre-trip inspection, you will be required to do a light check, coupling system, and an in-cab inspection. You may also have to do either the engine compartment, driver’s door fuel area, or the trailer.
Specifically, you need to check to ensure that all mounted items are “PMS” or properly mounted and secure. You also need to check to ensure that all rubber items are free of “ABC” or abrasions, bulges, and cuts. Finally, you need to ensure that all metal items are not “CBB” or cracked, bent, or broken.
What Should I Include in an Inspection Checklist?
Here are 15 things that you should include in an inspection checklist, as well as how to check each item:
1. Fluids
You must check all fluids to ensure that levels are sufficient to complete the trip safely. Specifically, you need to check coolant, oil, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. Top them off if any fluids are running low before beginning your trip.
Also, make sure that all caps are tight and that dip-sticks are properly placed. During this stage, you should also check the condition of any hoses used to connect these fluid reservoirs.
2. Air Compressor
You must inspect the gear-driven air compressor as a part of your CDL pre-trip inspection. The air compressor is located behind the frame and can be hard to locate, so just make sure to show the inspector its general location.
Then, check to ensure that the air compressor is properly mounted and secure, not cracked, bent, or broken, and not leaking.
3. Air Brake System
To be cleared to drive a vehicle with an air brake system, you must successfully conduct an air brake test that contains three different components. First, you must conduct the applied pressure test to ensure that you did not lose more than 4 PSI in one minute with the brakes fully pressed.
Second, you must check the air brake system warning light and buzzer by pumping down on the brake pedal until they come on, which should be at or before 60 PSI.
Finally, you must conduct a tractor/trailer protection valve pop-out test wherein you pump down on the brake pedal until both the tractor and trailer protection valves pop out, which should be between 20 and 40 PSI.
4. Lights
There are numerous lights on your vehicle that must be checked before you can safely hit the road. Remembering to check all these lights and their different locations can be difficult at first, which is why it’s often helpful to break it down into locations and functions — there are five of each.
The five locations where you must check your lights are the front of the truck, sides of the truck, rear of the truck, sides of the trailer, and rear of the trailer. You must check the five functions: the left turn signal, the right turn signal, the four-way emergency flashers, high beam/low beam headlights, and brake lights.
Starting on the inside of the vehicle as part of the in-cab inspection, check for any warning or indicator lights on the dashboard. Also, check to ensure that the dashboard lights come on and off for turn signals, headlights, four-way emergency flashers, and parking brakes.
Before moving to the outside of the vehicle, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, and turn on both low beam headlights and four-way emergency flashers.
Then proceed to walk around the vehicle in its entirety — making sure to cover all five locations mentioned above. Your lights should meet these requirements:
- Properly mounted and secure
- Not cracked, bent, or broken
- Clean and illuminated
- The proper color
During your CDL exam, your examiner will help you check the rest of the five functions, including the turn signals and brake lights. Make sure to check all of the five locations for each separate function. After your CDL exam, you will be responsible for doing this walkaround inspection on your own.
5. Brakes
Your brakes are one of the most important safety components of your vehicle. As a result, it’s extremely important to make sure that your parking brake and service brakes are working before you hit the road.
Test your parking brake by letting the vehicle roll forward slowly without pressing the gas. Then, apply the parking brake and see if the vehicle stops. If the vehicle doesn’t stop after applying the parking brake, it needs to be fixed before you can safely drive the vehicle.
Test your service brakes by driving about five miles per hour before pushing down on the brake pedal. If the vehicle doesn’t slow down/stop after applying the service brakes or if it pulls to one side, they need to be fixed before you can safely drive the vehicle.
6. Tires and Wheels
Your tires are another key safety component of your vehicle that ensures the proper stopping and starting of the vehicle. Tires are also at-risk of frequent wear and damage, so it’s important to inspect them thoroughly.
Start by checking your tires' air pressure with an air pressure gauge. Ensure that the air pressure of all the tires is within the range specified by the manufacturer on the tires.
Next, check the tread of your tires. Measure the font tires and ensure that you have at least 4/32 of an inch of tread depth in every major groove. Measure the rest of the tires and ensure that you have at least 2/32 of an inch of tread depth in every major groove.
Finish with a visual inspection to make sure that there’s no tread separation, fabric showing through, cut or cracked valve stems, or any other signs of damage.
Move on to your wheels and make sure that there’s no damage to the rims, rust around the wheel nuts, damaged lock rings, or missing clamps, spacers, studs, or lugs.
7. Adjusters
The slack adjusters are typically combined with the pushrod into a single component. So check to make sure that the slack adjusters in the trailer and the truck are properly mounted and secure and are not cracked, bent, or broken.
Ensure that the pushrod doesn’t move more than one inch when the brakes are released and pulled by hand.
9. Shift Controls
Indicate the gear shift and make sure that you’re easily able to shift into different gears, keeping in mind that this process will differ depending on whether the vehicle has an automatic transmission or a manual transmission.
10. Transmission
Check all the transmission elements, starting with the levels of automatic transmission fluid, if applicable. Afterward, check the transmission itself on the right side of the truck for any signs of leaking or damage.
11. Windshield Wipers
During your in-cab inspection, you will need to check your windshield wipers to ensure they are operational. Windshield wipers are an essential safety component in bad weather as they help the driver see the road in front of them.
Before testing the operation of the windshield wipers, first, make sure that they are properly mounted and secure. Also, make sure that the windshield wiper blades aren’t cracked, rotten, or otherwise damaged.
Next, spray the windshield washers and turn on the windshield wipers. They should operate smoothly and wipe away the washer fluid on the windshield.
12. Horn
Another component of your in-cab inspection involves checking to ensure that both your city horn and air horn are operational. Horns communicate with other drivers on the road and are a key safety component.
To check the city horn, push on the center of the steering wheel and listen for any sound. Pull on the cord and listen for any sound to check the air horn.
14. Steering
Inspect the steering system for any signs of damage or defects. Be on the lookout for missing nuts, bolts, or cotter keys. Verify that the steering column, steering gearbox, and tie rods aren’t bent, loose, or broken. Inspect power steering hoses, pumps, and fluids, if applicable.
Check to make sure that the steering wheel play is less than 10 degrees or has less than 2 inches of movement.
15. Engine on Driver and Passenger Side
Finally, you should check the engine by looking at both the driver's and passenger's sides. Specifically, you need to check belts for tightness and any signs of excessive wear.
You also need to make sure that any belts are adjusted correctly and have the right give. Next, you need to check for any leaks in the engine compartment coming from fuel, coolant, oil, power steering fluid, etc.
Finally, be on the lookout for any cracked or worn electrical wiring.
The Bottom Line
A pre-trip inspection checklist provides for the safety of your products and drivers. The inspection doesn’t take long and should be performed before every trip. The checklist ensures you remember to check all important internal and external features of the vehicle. For more information on shipping your goods and materials, visit RPM today.
Sources:
Your DOT Pre-trip Inspection Guide for New Truck Drivers [Plus Checklist] | CDL.com
How to Get a CDL (Commercial Driver License) in 2022 | Driving Tests
5.2.2 Vehicle Inspections | FMCSA
