Well you have made it through CDL school and now it is time to take the test at the DMV and the first part of the exam is knowing the pretrip inspection. Now it should be noted that each State or Province may be looking for specific things in their pretrip inspection exam so hopefully your CDL school instructors have prepared you properly as a good percentage of drivers flunk out of their CDL exam by not knowing the proper pretrip inspection
Pretrip Inspection: The Secret To Memorizing The Pretrip
Needless to say when you see the pretrip on a piece of paper or a computer screen it is a lot to remember. The secret to memorizing it is repetition and breaking it down to each section. When you have free time during your CDL school use that time to focus on the pretrip and do it by walking around the truck and trailer. Always start at the front of the truck on the drivers side and slowly work your way around ending at the front of the truck on the passenger side.
Pretrip Inspection: Engine Driver Side
- Radiator brace: No cracks or missing bolts.
- Radiator: Not leaking, secure mounting.
- Water pump: No cracks, not loose or leaking.
- Fuel water separator/filter: Not leaking, secure mounting.
- Pitman arm/drag link: Not cracked, castle nut secured with cotter pin.
- Steering gear box: Secure to frame, not leaking.
- Power steering reservoir: Secure mounting, no leaks, proper level.
- Dipstick: Right level, secured after check.
- Steering shaft: Secure, not loose or damaged.
- Fuel pump: No cracks, not loose or damaged.
- Engine air ductwork: No cuts, clamps secured.
- Oil filler cap: Secure, no cracks.
- Engine coolant reservoir: No leaks, proper fluid level
Pretrip Inspection: Front Brakes
- Brake drum: No cracks.
- Brake lining: No cracks or damage.
- Slack adjuster: Proper angle to the brake chamber, clevis and cotter pin intact.
- Brake air line: No bulges or cuts, fitting tight. No signs of rubbing
- Brake chamber: Mounting bolts secured, band clamp secured.
Pretrip Inspection: Tires
- Tire: ABCs (abrasions, bulges, cuts), pressure = 120 PSI, tread depth = 4/32 min (DOT).
- Wheel: Not cracked or bent.
- Hub oil: Not leaking, at proper level – if it’s a sealed unit, you can not check levels.
- Oil seal (outer): Not leaking.
- Valve cap: Not missing.
- Lug nuts: None missing, no streaks or shiny areas, none loose.
Pretrip Inspection: Steer axle suspension
- U-bolts: No cracks, no loose or missing nuts.
- Leak spring: No cracks, not loose or shifting.
- Tie rod: Secured with castle nuts and cotter pins.
- Shock absorber: Secure mounting, not leaking oil.
- Axle: Not cracked.
Pretrip Inspection: Rear Suspension
- Spring mount: No cracks, secure mounting.
- Tire: ABCs (abrasions, bulges, cuts), pressure = 110 PSI, tread depth = 2/32 min (DOT).
- Airbag (bellows): Fully inflated, secure mounting, not ruptured.
- Shock absorber: Secure mounting, not leaking oil.
Pretrip Inspection: Side Of Cab
- Mirrors: Secure mounting, no broken glass.
- Doors: No damage, glass not broken, hinges secured, opens and closes well.
- Lights and turn signals: Working, not cracked.
- Steps: Mounted, secured to skirting.
- Battery box: Secure mounting, cover latched.
- DEF cap: Cap secured.
- Fuel cap/tank: Gasket in place, vent in place, chain secures the cap to the tank.
- Side skirting: No damage, panels secure.
- Side box: Secured, safety triangles present.
- Side of sleeper berth: No body damage.
- Sleeper berth window: No cracks.
- Inspection sticker: Up to date, legible
Pretrip Inspection: Rear Of Cab
- Electrical cord: No bare wire, no corrosion, check the plug at the end of the cord.
- Air line: Not tangled or worn, rubber grommets not worn, fittings tight.
- Cab shock absorber: Secure mounting, not leaking oil.
- Cab airbag (bellows): Not ruptured, securely mounted.
Pretrip Inspection: Driveshaft
- Driveshaft: Not cracked.
- Universal joint: Not cracked, not missing bolts, no shiny areas.
- Differential: Not leaking oil.
- Frame: Straight, no non-factory welds.
Pretrip Inspection: Fifth Wheel
- Pivot pin: Keeper pin and cotter key intact.
- Slider lock pins: Fully engaged.
- Release arm: Not bent.
- Slider rail: No broken welds or missing bolts.
- Slider stop blocks: Welds not broken, not missing bolts.
- 5th wheel platform: Well-greased, tilted down.
Pretrip Inspection: Front Of Trailer
- Top rail: No cracks or collision damage.
- Clearance lights: Not broken, working properly.
- Registration: Not missing, readable.
- Document box: Not missing or loose.
- Air line/glad hands: No bulges or cuts in air lines, rubber grommets not damaged on glad hands.
- Electric hook up: No broken pins, cover intact.
- PM sticker: Current, legible.
- Height sticker: Legible, legal for route.
- Placard holder: Not broken or missing rivets.
- Tracking device: No cracks or collision damage.
Pretrip Inspection: Side Of Trailer
- Top rail: Not cracked, no collision damage.
- Clearance light: Not broken, operational.
- Bottom light: Not cracked, no collision damage, no missing bolts.
- Landing gear: Legs straight, no broken welds in bracing, sand pads secured and clean handle in cradle.
- Reflector tape: Clean. No missing pieces
- Side panels: No holes or cuts, no missing rivet
Pretrip Inspection: Back Of Trailer
- Latches: Secured, not damaged.
- Reflector tape: Clean.
- Lights: Not broken or missing, operational.
- Splash guard: Brackets and guard secured.
- License plate: Secure and clean, light is working.
- Bumper: Not damaged, no broken welds.
- Door hooks: Not loose, no missing bolts.
- Hinges: Not cracked, no missing bolts on both sides.
- Door seals: No separation, no rubber tubing sticking out.
Pretrip Inspection: Trailer Suspension
- Air line: No bulges or cuts, fittings are tight and not rubbing.
- Axle: Not bent or broken.
- Clevis pin/cotter key: Not missing.
- Slack adjuster: Proper angle, clevis pin and cotter pin intact.
- Brake linings: Minimum of ¼ inch thick, not cracked.
- Brake drum: Not cracked.
- Tire: (ABCs), tread depth = 2/32, air pressure = 110 PSI.
- Spring: Not broken, not shifted.
- Spring mount: No broken welds.
- U bolts: Not loose, not cracked.
- Torque rod: Secure mounting, bushings intact.
- Spring brake chamber: Secure mounting, band clamp secure
Pretrip Inspection: Engine Passenger Side
- Air filter housing: Secure mounting, cover in place.
- Windshield washer fluid reservoir: No leaks, proper fluid level.
- Turbocharger: No oil or exhaust leaks.
- Engine air ductwork: No cuts, clamps secured.
- Alternator: Mounting secured, no broken or loose wire.
- Accessory drive belt: Not cracked or frayed.
- Air conditioner compressor: Secure mounting.
Pretrip Inspection: Inside Of Truck
- Fuel: Matches visual when looking in the tank.
- Def level: Maintain a minimum of one light bar.
- Oil pressure: 25-50 PSI.
- Speedometer: 0-60 MPH.
- Air pressure: 90-120 PS
- Dash has nothing on it – Hazard risk if there is
- Floor has nothing on it – Hazard risk if there is
- Windshield is clean with no cracks
- Steering Wheel Has Adequate Play
Pretrip Inspection: Conclusion
Now the pretrip is inspection is going to be a bit different depending on the type of truck and the State or Province that you are testing. Every truck company has a different pretrip and what they tend to focus on. I borrowed the majority of the above pretrip from Schneider National
Once you get your CDL you will soon learn that performing a DMV pretrip is not that realistic just due to the sheer amount of time it takes however when it comes to testing for your CDL the more specific that you are the better off that you will be
