What is the Class-A Pre Trip Inspection?

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what is the class a pre trip inspection

The pre-trip inspection is an important part of each truck driver’s day, and it is the responsibility of each driver to inspect their vehicle before every trip.

The CDL Pre-Trip inspection is a seven step process that examines each part of the vehicle. This thorough inspection ensures all parts of your truck are in good working order which gives you the best chance at avoiding issues on the road.

When you take your CDL test, you will be required to perform a CDL inspection for your exam proctor. Though it is a very long process, it’s important to remember these steps and perform the exam every time before you get on the road!

The pre-trip inspection is quite long, but don’t be tempted to skip any steps! Following the pre-trip inspection in its entirety is very important because drivers are responsible for making sure their rigs are in the best condition before getting on the road. Failure to do so makes you 100% liable if anything goes wrong with your rig.

The Ultimate CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist!

Step 1: Approach the Vehicle

  • Vehicle posture

    • Is the vehicle leaning or sagging to one side? This can mean that your truck is loaded improperly, a tire is flat, or that there are problems with the suspension.

  • Cargo

    • Doors to your trailer should be closed and secured. For flatbed trailers, cargo should not hang over the side and restraints should be able to withstand 1 to 1 ½ times the pressure of the load.

  • Damaged, loose, or missing parts

    • Inspect your trailer and truck for missing mudflaps, cracked glass, dents, lights that are out, etc. Inspect your truck for items that may be loose and fall off.

  • Leaks

    • Inspect under your truck for any leaks that look suspicious like oil, coolant, grease, or fuel. Look for signs of air leakage, especially in your tires.

  • Area around vehicle

    • Look for anything around your vehicle that you may collide with when you drive away. This may include other parked vehicles, overhead wires, or low-hanging tree branches. Also look on the ground for objects like nails, glass, or other things that could damage the underside of your truck.

  • Review the most recent pretrip and post trip vehicle inspection reports.

Step 2: Check Under the Hood

  • Fluid levels

    • Check fluids like engine oil, coolant, water, and even washer fluid. Refill if any of these are low.

  • Leaks

    • Look for leaks like oil, water, or hydraulic fluid in the engine compartment. Also check for soot, grease, power steering fluid, and other fluids.

  • Electrical system

    • Check that the battery connectors are attached to the battery correctly and that there is no corrosion on the terminals.

  • Belts and pulleys

    • Inspect the alternator, air compression and water pump belts for cracks and to make sure they are attached properly.

  • Cooling system

    • Inspect all parts of the cooling system to make sure they are secured. Look for cracks, rips, or damage to hoses and hosing parts.

  • Steering system

    • Examine the steering and gearbox to make sure they are secure, looking for signs of wear.

  • Exhaust system

    • Look at the muffler and make sure it is connected, is not damaged in any way, and that the lines and hoses are securely connected.

  • Braking system

    • Look for cracked brake drums, missed brake shoes, and missing hoses or slack adjusters.

Step 3: Start the Engine and Check Inside the Cab

Get into your truck and start the engine.

  • All the controls and instruments should work properly

    • Gauges and meters should all be in working order. They should also display correct readings.

    • Listen to the engine. It should not make any strange noises.

    • Check the steering, clutch (if you drive a manual transmission), the gas and brake pedals.

  • The doors should open as they are supposed to

  • There are no loose or broken parts in the cab

  • Both bumpers are secured (the rear bumper should be about 30 in. off the ground when empty)

  • Make sure you have all required emergency equipment

    • Figure extinguisher, triangles, flares, and personal protection gear

  • Check your mirrors and the glass

    • Stickers are only allowed no more than 4-½ inches into the viewing area of the windshield

    • Cracks or marks longer than ¼ inch are now allowed in the windshield

    • Mirrors should be adjusted so you can see your surroundings clearly

  • Primary and secondary controls

    • Check these items with the engine running:

      • Steering

        • Make sure there is minimal play in the steering. Look out your window to make sure the wheels are following where you turn your wheel.

      • Clutch (if applicable)

        • Depress the clutch until you feel it engage slightly. This should be about 1-2 inches of “freeplay” before the clutch engages.

      • Transmission

        • Depress your clutch and shift into neutral and other gears. This should be easy to do and smooth.

      • Gas and brake pedals

        • See if there is any play or sticking in either of these pedals. Make sure there is no dirt or anything under them that would cause them to stick or not work.

    • Secondary controls

      • Check your:

        • Defroster

        • Fan

        • Horn

        • Interior lights

        • Turn signals

        • Hi-beam indicator

        • Heater and AC

        • Lanyard to the air horn

        • Windshield washers and wipers

        • Dashboard lights

        • 4-way lights

        • Steering tilt

Step 4: Check Lights and Mirrors

  • Check your low beam and high beam headlights. They should be aligned.

  • Check the 4-way flashers. They should all work correctly.

  • Adjust your mirrors as necessary

Step 5: Conduct Walkaround Inspection

This is the biggest part of your inspection. During this part of the inspection, you will walk around the entire vehicle and inspect everything on the outside.

  • Left side of cab

    • Driver’s door glass

      • You should be able to see out of your window

    • Wheels, tires, and rims

      • These items should be in good working order, with no broken, bent, or missing parts. Your tires should be inflated properly (check using a gauge) and should not have any damage or excess wear on them.

    • Look for badly mounted tires and loose or missing lugs

    • Inspect for leaking lubricant from the wheel seals

    • Left front tire

      • Make sure it is inflated properly and has proper tread depth

    • Left front suspension, left front brake, and brake chambers

  • Front of cab

    • Front axle

      • Inspect for cracks

    • Steering system

    • License plates should be secured

    • Windshield should be free of damage and you should be able to see out of it clearly. Make sure your wiper blades are in good condition.

    • Parking, clearance, and identification lights should all work and display the correct colors.

    • Reflectors should work properly and be affixed to the correct place and be reflective.

    • Right turn signal should work correctly and display the proper color.

  • Right front

    • Check all the same items you did on the left side of the cab, but this time, for the right.

  • Right Saddle Tank Area

    • Right fuel tank should be mounted securely and not leak fuel.

    • Engine

      • Check the condition of the visible parts at the rear, making sure that nothing is leaking, the exhaust system is securely in place, and that nothing is damaged or out of place.

    • Driveshaft should be in the proper position

    • Exhaust system

      • All items should be securely fastened and nothing should be leaking. Fuel lines and electrical wires should not touch exhaust parts.

    • Frame and cross members should be straight and free of cracks.

    • Electrical wires and air lines should not be worn or rubbing against anything.

    • The spare tire and the spare tire carrier should be in good condition and the tire should be inflated properly.

    • Cargo secure

      • The cargo should be secured correctly. The header board, sideboards and stakares need to be undamaged, placed correctly, and secured. IF you have a canvas or tarp, it needs to be placed so it doesn’t tear, billow, or block mirrors.

    • Oversized load

      • If your load qualifies as oversized, you should have the correct permits and signs placed correctly.

    • Curbside cargo compartment doors

      • Make sure these are closed and latched correctly.

  • Coupling system

    • Lower fifth wheel

      • Ensure it is properly lubricated, mounted properly and firmly. There should be no missing parts, and there should be no space between the upper and lower fifth wheels. The locking jaws should be secure and round the kingpin’s shank. (Do not leave them around the kingpin’s head!)

    • Upper fifth wheel

      • The guide plate needs to be mounted firmly on the frame, and the kingpin should be free of damage, rust, or other issues.

    • Air and electrical lines to the trailer

      • Make sure these are in good condition and that they are not dirty, tangled, or damaged. They must be firmly connected to the glad hands, the hose connectors between the trailer and the tractor.

    • Sliding fifth wheel

      • If you have one, it should be in good condition and not damaged. Inspect for missing parts, proper lubrication, and ensure all the lock pins are locked into place. Your in-cab lever should be locked into the correct position.

  • Right rear tractor wheels

    • Dual wheels and rims

      • Inspect the wheels, rims and tires for broken or missing lugs, studs, spaces, or clamps.

    • Dual tires (if you have them)

      • They should match

    • Suspension

      • Check the springs, spring hangers, U-bolts, and shackles. Make sure the axle is secure and that the drive axle is not leaking oil.

      • Torque rod arms and brushings should be in good condition.

    • Retractable axles

      • Check for leaks if it is airpowered. Check the lifting mechanism.

    • Brakes, brake chambers, and slack adjusters

      • The drums should be in good order. Check the hose’s wear.

      • Most slack adjusters are self-adjusting, but not all. If yours are not, wear gloves and pull hard on each adjuster you can reach. Each adjuster should move less than an inch where it attaches to the push rod. If needed, adjust them so they move less than an inch.

    • Lights and reflectors

      • Your side marker lights (turn signal lights) should be clean, visible, and should appear as the right color.

  • Rear of trailer

    • Rear clearance and identification lights

      • All lights, especially the tail lights, should be working and show up as red. They should also be clean.

    • Reflectors and red/silver continuity tape

      •  The tape and reflectors should be clean and reflective.

    • Turn signals

      • Both right and left indicators or the rear should flash the correct color.

    • License plates

      • Your plates should be clean, legible, and have the correct tags affixed. They should also be attached securely.

    • Splash guards

      • These should be undamaged, not dragging on the ground, and attached securely.

    • Air and electrical lines

      • Should be secure, not rubbing or dragging, and be in good condition.

    • Cargo

      • Should be properly secured and, if applicable, chained/strapped at the rear correctly.

    • Tailboards

      • The tailboards need to be up and secured correctly. End gates should be in good condition and the stakes secured in their sockets.

    • Rear doors

      • Should be locked!

    • If applicable

      • Canvas and tarps

        • Your tarps should be secured to avoid tearing, the tarp billowing out, or blocking your mirrors/view.

      • Overlength or overwidth loads

        • All signs and additional lights/flags should be in the proper positions. You should also have all the right paperwork on board.

  • Front trailer area

    • License/registration holder

      • This needs to be in the correct place, contain your up-to-date registration, and be mounted correctly

    • Headboard needs to be mounted correctly and not damaged

    • Clearance/ID lights/reflectors

      • These all should be clean, the proper color, and in good working order.

    • Tarp (if applicable)

      • The tarps should be in good condition, undamaged, and mounted securely to the trailer.

  • Right side of trailer

    • Landing gear and/or dolly

      • The landing gear should be fully raised. These should not be bent, damaged, or missing. The crank handle, both automatic and power, should be present and in good working order. It must be secured and in a low gear if possible.

    • Spare tire carrier or rack

      • Should be in working condition, and be able to hold the tire securely.

    • Spare tire and wheel

      • The tire and wheel need to be in good condition. If you need to use it, you should feel confident in its ability to function in an emergency situation.

    • Lights and reflectors

      • Lights should function as designed and be clean. The side markers must also be clean and present.

    • Frame and body

      • Cross members and frame should not be bent, cracked, or rusty. No cross members should be missing.

    • Cargo

      • All cargo must be secured according to the type of cargo you are hauling.

    • Doors

      • Must be present and secured in the right place.

  • Right rear trailer wheel area

    • Dual wheels and rims

      • Check your rims, wheels, and tires for missing or broken studs, lugs, clamps, etc.

    • Dual tires

      • These should be matched evenly using the same type of tires, be inflated to manufacturer specifications, and must not be missing any valve stems or caps. Also, tires should not be bulging, cut, or have excessive wear. The wheel bearing and seals should not be leaking.

    • Suspension

      • The shock absorbers, torque rod arms and bushings should all be in good condition, along with the springs, spring handers, shackles, and u-bolts.

    • Brake chambers and slack adjusters

  • Rear of trailer

    • Lights and reflectors

      • All lights should work as designed and in the correct color. Both reflectors and lights should be clean and present.

    • Frame and body

      • Cross members and frame should not be bent, cracked, or rusty. No cross members should be missing.

    • ICC underride prevention bumper

      • This must be present, attached well, and in good condition

    • License plates should be present, up-to-date, and easily read.

    • Splash guards

      • Must be free of damage and present

    • Cargo

      • All cargo must be secured according to the type of cargo you are hauling.

    • Doors

      • Must be present and secured in the right place.

  • Left rear trailer wheel area

    • Repeat all the items you inspected on the right side for the left side. The only components that will be missing are the air tanks.

  • Left side of the trailer

    • Inspect all the same things on the left that you did on the right.

  • Left saddle tank area

    • Check the same things you previously checked on the other side of the tank area. Check the battery box and the battery, if it's located there, as well.

Step 6: Check Signal Lights

  • Return to the cab, and turn off all the lights, then activate your turn signals. Walk around your truck and make sure the lights blink in the correct color and that all lights work. Check both the right and left side on the back of the truck, front of your truck, the sides of your truck, the sides of your trailer, and the back of your trailer.

Step 7: Check the Air Brake System

  • Go back to your cab and turn off your lights again. Get ready to start driving.

    • Have all your appropriate documents and permits before you go.

    • Make sure everything is secured and your seatbelt is fastened.

  • Low-pressure alarm/light

    • Fan the air pressure on and off by depressing and releasing the foot brake. A warning indicator should come on if it drops below 60 psi

  • Tractor protection valve

    • Keep fanning the air pressure. The emergency spring-action brakes should activate if the psi gets below 20 lbs. If this does not happen, there is a defect.

  • Parking and trailer hand valve brakes

    • Lock the brakes on your tractor, and release the spring brakes on your trailer. Slowly release the clutch and feel if the tractor pulls against the trailer.

    • Set the trailer and tractor brakes and then pull.

    • Then release all brakes, applying the trailer hand valve brake, and pull against the trailer brakes. Finally, move your tractor forward, let go of the clutch, brake, and bring your rig to a stop.

  • Brake system balance

    • In a place that is not a street, speed up your rig 5-7 MPH and then brake sharply. If you notice your rig pulling on one side or another, or if there is anything else wrong with the brakes, get them inspected before you go out on the road.

This list is quite large, but each part of the inspection process is very important. Doing the inspection every time will save you time and money down the road because you will catch issues before they happen.

Test your knowledge with our CDL practice tests here!

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