Safety & Compliance > Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist 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. Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. 4005 SE Naef Rd. | Portland, OR 97267 503.513.0005 | 503.513.0008 (fax) | 888-293-0005 | ortruck@ortrucking.org © 2004 Oregon Trucking Associations Inc.