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Safety & Compliance
> Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
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There
are three excellent reasons for a professional truck
driver to perform a thorough pre-trip inspection. First,
it is the law. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
(49 CFR, Part 396.13) state “Before driving a motor
vehicle, the driver shall be satisfied that the motor
vehicle is in safe operating condition……”
Second,
costly vehicle breakdowns on the road may be prevented.
If vehicle deficiencies are noted at the beginning of
the trip, repairs may be made more easily, quicker,
and at less expense. Failures to meet delivery schedules
will be reduced.
Third,
and most important, accidents will be avoided. Most
commercial vehicle accidents that are attributable to
vehicle component failure could have been avoided by
detecting the deficiency prior to departure.
Pre-trip
inspections, properly done in a systematic manner, do
not take a lot of time. The few minutes that are spent
are a positive investment in safety.
The
following is a suggested method of performing a pre-trip
inspection.
- Inspect yourself. The driver is still the most critical
part of the safety equation. Are you well rested?
Feeling well? Fatigue and/or illness can drastically
affect your ability to concentrate on driving safely.
Do you have proper clothing for inclement weather,
including proper work shoes or boots, gloves, and
other warm clothing. How about your attitude? Are
you worrying about problems at home, difficulty with
the boss, financial worries? These are common to all
of us at some time, but we don’t all have the
tremendous responsibility to the public that you accept
when you get behind the wheel. Do your best to deal
with these distracting issues prior to coming to work,
so you can devote all of your attention to being a
safe driver.
- Note the general condition as you approach the vehicle.
Are there signs of fluid leakage on the ground? Is
there any body damage that was not visible previously?
Is there debris that may have been left nearby that
could cause you a problem when you drive away? If
you parked during hours of darkness, you may not have
seen hazards that exist. Look for overhanging wires
or tree limbs and other vehicles nearby.
- Check the engine compartment, if your company’s
policy requires you to include this in the pre-trip.
Some companies leave the “under-the-hood”
check for the maintenance staff. Check fluid levels,
belt condition, for frayed or broken wires, and any
other indication of a potential malfunction.
- Start the engine and check the gauges in the cab.
Make sure oil pressure and air pressure reach safe
operating range, temperature gauge should be rising
to normal range, and warning lights or buzzers should
be operable. Physically check the steering wheel,
clutch, brake pedal, parking brake, windshield wipers
and horn. Are the mirrors adjusted properly? Are the
mirrors and the windshield clean? Make sure the inside
of the windshield has does not have a film or haze
on it, often caused by smoking in the cab. Check for
emergency equipment (fire extinguisher, reflective
triangles, spare fuses). Now, turn off the engine
and turn on the headlights and four-way flashers.
- Begin the walkaround inspection.
- At
the front of the vehicle, check the headlights (check
both low and high beam) and the front four-way flashers.
Then turn off headlights and flashers and turn on
clearance, right turn, and parking lights.
- As
you work your way around the vehicle, carry a rag
with you to wipe all lenses as you make sure the
lights are working.
- At
the front, check the condition of the suspension
and steering components, reflectors, clearance lights
and right turn signal.
- On
the right side, check tires for wear, cuts, bruises,
bulges and inflation. Check wheels for lug nut tightness
and cracks. Watch for rust marks, a sign of loose
lug nuts. Check the condition of the fuel tank,
for leaks and proper mounting of crossover line.
- Check
brake condition for adjustment, leaks, worn components.
Check suspension system for broken or loose leaf
springs, defective air bags or U-bolts. Check the
condition of all hoses as you proceed. Look for
cracks in frame or cross members, missing bolts,
bent or missing parts.
- At
the rear, check right turn signal, reflectors and
clearance/parking lights. Check for the presence
and condition of mud flaps, and the rear underride
protection device (ICC bumper). Activate and check
left turn signal.
- Inspect
all items on left side, as noted for the right.
In addition, check the condition of the landing
gear and crank. Check the front left turn signal.
Now
you are ready to re-enter the cab. Turn off all lights,
re-start the engine, and check the service and parking
brakes. Secure your safety belt prior to departure.
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Safety & Compliance