Pre-trip inspections are mandatory for every trip, and knowing how to conduct them is a core requirement to pass the CDL test. Whether you’re an experienced trucker or preparing for the test, a pre-trip inspection checklist and fleet management software can be your best friends.

Compare Top Fleet Management Software Leaders

Article Roadmap

• What Is a Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist?
• Importance
• Primary Benefits
• Key Elements
• Download Your Checklist
• Common Issues
• Next Steps

What Is a Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist?

A pre-trip inspection checklist is a list of vehicle items that truckers must thoroughly examine before starting a trip. It helps identify and address mechanical and maintenance issues early on and prevent unexpected delays, breakdowns and severe accidents. Performing thorough pre-trip inspections promotes safety, ensures compliance and reduces accident-related costs.

The Department Of Transport (DOT) mandates that truckers with commercial driving licenses (CDL) perform a pre-trip inspection before driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). The inspection typically takes 15 minutes or less to complete. The items you need to check include:

• Brakes
• Air system
• Steering mechanism
• Lights
• Reflectors
• Tires
• Wheels and rims
• Windshield wipers
• Rearview mirrors
• Emergency equipment

Employers may customize this list based on their requirements and fleet attributes. Drivers also need inspection results to complete their driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR).

Importance

Besides compliance, ensuring driver, vehicle and road safety is the most vital advantage of pre-trip inspections. The federal mandate also aims to make roads safer for everyone.

Thoroughly checking items beforehand helps you face sudden DOT inspections with confidence. It enables your company to avoid significant violation fines and even decommissioning orders. You can also improve your CSA scores by promptly addressing issues identified during the inspection.

Traffic accidents and resulting injuries can cost you thousands of dollars and might damage your company’s reputation. Examining your vehicle’s status before every trip can minimize the risk of an accident and save you these costs.

Compare Top Fleet Management Software Leaders

Primary Benefits

Here are the top benefits of following a pre-trip inspection checklist and examining your CMV’s equipment before every trip.

Increase Safety

Ensuring vehicle and driver safety is the top priority for fleet managers. To achieve this, they must stay on top of potential issues that could lead to accidents. Examining each vehicle component enables the early identification of any defects to fix them before every trip.

Simplify Scheduling

Unexpected incidents like breakdowns or severe accidents can delay your deliveries, causing a loss of revenue and credibility. Inspecting your vehicles eliminates such risks and ensures smooth, on-time operations.

Save Time and Cost

Completing a routine pre-trip inspection takes just 15 minutes. However, fixing breakdowns requires much more time and monetary resources. So, it’s wiser to prioritize safety and preparedness over unforeseen setbacks.

Improve Customer Experience

Completing orders on time and maintaining smooth operations are essential for earning your clients’ trust and goodwill. Identify and address potential issues disrupting your operations and enhance your fleet’s professionalism to provide the best services.

Boost Driver Confidence

Driving a truck with expensive goods is more challenging than it seems. It takes a lot of confidence, skills and experience to complete each delivery.

The process can be even more unnerving for drivers who recently got their CDL. Knowing everything in the vehicle is in order can ease that feeling and ensure stress-free journeys.

Compare Top Fleet Management Software Leaders

Key Elements

The CDL exam is a core proficiency test during the evaluation process. To pass this test, every driver must know how to conduct a pre-trip inspection. Following and memorizing the pre-trip inspection checklist by heart is the best way to prepare for the exam.

To help you understand the whole process, we’ve created a checklist with the most common elements in all lists. Here’s a detailed guide on items you must thoroughly examine during the inspection:

Engine Compartment

• Fluids (oil, coolant and power steering): Ensure no tank leaks and check for cuts or splits.
• Belts (pumps, alternator and compressor): Check if belts are securely mounted. They shouldn’t have more than 1/2″ to 3/4″ of play.
• Hoses: Ensure the hoses are secure on all sides without cracks.
• Alternator: Wires must be connected.
• Water pump: It shouldn’t have any leakages.
• Air compressor: Check for cracks and leaks and make sure it’s properly mounted.

Front of the Truck

• Steering gearbox: Check for splits, cuts or leaks.
• Steering shaft: Ensure that it’s not bent or broken.
• Pitman arm: Tighten castle nuts and cotter pins.
• Drag link: Examine if the rubber is properly greased and not split.
• Tie rod: It shouldn’t be cracked or bent.

Front Suspension

• Spring mounts and spring hangers: Ensure they’re unbroken.
• Leaf springs: Check for cracks or shifts.
• U-bolts: Make sure they are all there.
• Shock absorber: There shouldn’t be any visible leaks, and the rubber should be in one piece.
• Airbag: Check for cuts, abrasions or audible leaks. Make sure no bolts are missing.

Fuel Area and Driver Door

• Fuel tank: Ensure there are no leakages, and the cap is tight and sealed.
• Mirrors and brackets: Check if the mirrors are clean and not cracked.
• Door and hinges: Examine if doors are closing and latching properly and if seals are not rotten or torn.
• Steps: They should be able to hold weight and be correctly mounted.

Rear of the Truck

• Drive shaft: There shouldn’t be broken U-joints or any debris.
• Exhaust system: Ensure there aren’t any leaks and the exhaust is tightly attached.
• Frame: It shouldn’t have any unauthorized attachments and cracks.
• Catwalk and steps: Check if they are properly mounted.
• Mudflap: Make sure that it’s at the right height.

Compare Top Fleet Management Software Leaders

Coupling Area

• Air connectors: They should be secure on both ends and not have any cuts, abrasions or audible leaks. Also, connectors shouldn’t tangle or drag.
• Electric lines: Make sure to secure them with adequately placed safety latches. Ensure that lines aren’t dragging on the tangle.
• Glad hands: Check the condition of seals.
• Fifth wheel platform: Ensure there are no cracks or unauthorized welds.
• Mounting bolts: Check if all the bolts are there and tightened.
• Skid plate: Grease it appropriately.
• Release arm: Check if it’s in a locked position.
• Kingpin: Look for cracks, bends and breaks.
• Locking jaw: Check if it’s locked around the kingpin.
• Apron: Ensure it’s mounted and secure without any cracks.

Brake System

• Brake hose: Check for cuts and air leakage.
• Brake chamber: Listen to air hissing sounds and leakage.
• Slack adjuster and push rod: Check that the push rod for releasing the brake doesn’t have more than 1” of play.
• Brake drum: Ensure no damage from heat.
• Brake pads and brake lining: Check for oil and debris and ensure the brake pad’s minimum thickness is ¼”.

Wheel System

• Wheel rims: Ensure no unauthorized weldings are present.
• Steer tires: Verify that tread depth is a minimum of 4/32” and evenly worn. Check the tire’s inflation levels.
• Drive tires: The tread depth needs to be a minimum of 2/32”.
• Valve stem. Examine leakages and whether the metal cap is there.
• Lug nuts: Ensure there are no cracks.
• Hub seal/axle seal: There shouldn’t be any visible leaks.
• Spacing: Make sure there’s proper space between tires.

Lights and Reflectors

• Check whether all lights and reflectors are working correctly or not.
• Ensure that hazard lights, brake lights and turn signals work properly when required.
• Reflector tapes must be clean.

Trailer

Make sure the following items are fully secured and not broken or cracked:

• Frame and cross-members
• Header board
• Landing gear
• Doors and hinges
• Tandem release
• Trailer leaf springs
• Trailer U-bolts
• Trailer shock absorber
• Torque arm and radius rod

Air Brake and In-Cab Inspection

• Seat belt: Check for rips or frays and whether it latches properly.
• Oil pressure indicator: Ensure normal operating range.
• Water temperature and air pressure gauge: Check for normal functioning.
• Ammeter/voltmeter: The reading should fall within the 13-14 volts range.
• Windshield: Shouldn’t have any crack more than 1”.
• Windshield wipers and washers: Make sure they’re working correctly.
• Horns (city and air): Examine whether they’re working.
• Heater/defroster: Turn on to check.
• Safety/emergency equipment: Check fire extinguishers.
• Steering wheel: Verify that it’s securely fastened to the steering column.
• Foot pedals: Shouldn’t have any obstructions.
• Hydraulic brake check: Ensure the pedal isn’t moving while applying pressure.
• Air brake check: Check pressure, lights, buzzers and valve pop-outs.
• Parking brake: Ensure it’s working correctly.
• Service brake: The steering shouldn’t pull to the left or right while braking.

Compare Top Fleet Management Software Leaders

Download Your Checklist

We’ve created a comprehensive pre-trip inspection checklist for you. If you don’t have DOT compliance software, you can just save this checklist and use it during your daily inspections.

Common Issues

You may encounter several issues while conducting pre-trip inspections. However, identifying and addressing them promptly is the main goal. Here are some of the most common problems you should be aware of:

• Leaning to one side is a significant problem, typically caused by uneven tire pressure or suspension issues. To fix this, you can check tire pressure, springs and suspension.
• Broken warning lights can cause serious trouble during a roadside inspection, so check them in your pre-trip inspection.
• Make sure that you use quality tires. Inspections can reveal worn tire treads, which can result in fines or lead to accidents.

Compare Top Fleet Management Software Leaders

Next Steps

Keeping safety as the top priority in your fleet business ensures smooth operations. With an effective fleet management system, you can not only conduct regular inspections but also maintain records and address issues quickly.

If you need help finding the best fit for your business, check out our free comparison report to analyze top fleet management vendors. The report offers insights into leading solutions, features and reviews to help you make an informed decision.

What else would you like to add to your pre-trip inspection checklist? Let us know in the comments below!