Safety is at the heart of a trucking career. Knowing how to drive and maintain your rig to maximize efficiency and security is the best thing you can do in order to not only keep yourself safe behind the wheel, but also keep other drivers safe on the road. That’s why inspections are such a key part of a trucker’s day-to-day life, and pre-trip inspections in particular are a must-do before truckers start their day. But what is a pre-trip inspection? What does it involve and why is it important?

What Is a Pre-Trip Inspection?

Pre-trip inspections are a safety routine that is mandated by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for all drivers of commercial vehicles. Drivers go through a checklist of parts and components, noting down anything defective or out of alignment – a review that should be performed:

  • At the beginning of a shift
  • After a break of 10 hours or more
  • After a new trailer is picked up
  • After a driver takes over a vehicle that was being driven by someone else
  • After repairs

At the end of each work day, drivers must fill out a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) for all these components, and any carriers are required to retain these reports for three months. For owner operators, they are in charge of their own inspections and documentation and ensuring they have all the reports they need. If you are driving for a fleet or carrier, while you still are responsible for performing pre-trip inspections, your fleet manager will cover things like vehicle repairs, documentation compliance, and setting out specific inspection procedures.

How Are Pre-Trip Inspections Different from Other Inspections?

While our focus in this article is on pre-trip inspections, a commercial driver has other inspections throughout their day as well, so they can continuously ensure the safety of their vehicle and get out ahead of any trouble.

What Is Involved in a Pre-Trip Inspection?

If you are tasked with performing a pre-trip inspection as a commercial driver, here is the checklist you’ll need to follow to stay compliant with the FMCSA . They recommend a seven-point walkaround to ensure you check everything:

  • Front of Vehicle: Headlights, front turn signals, clearance lights, windshield condition, wiper blades and washer fluid, front bumper and license plate, air dam condition
  • Driver Side: Tire tread depth, tire inflation, lug nuts tight, wheel seals for leaks, brake drum/rotor condition, brake hose and lines, suspension components, fuel tank cap and leaks, exhaust system, side marker lights and reflectors
  • Rear of Vehicle: Taillights, brake lights, turn signals, clearance lights, reflectors and reflective tape, license plate light, rear bumper, cargo doors secured, mud flaps present and undamaged
  • Passenger Side: Repeat steps from driver side, plus fuel leaks and lights
  • Engine Compartment: Oil level, coolant level, power steering fluid, belt condition, hose connections, wiring for chafing or exposed conductors, air compressor and lines, alternator, water pump, fan blade condition, leaks of any fluid
  • Cab and Safety: Oil pressure, air pressure, coolant temp, mirrors, horn, windshield wipers, seatbelt, parking brake, air brakes, spring brake pop-out
  • Coupling System: Fifth wheel secured and good condition, kingpin intact and seated, no audible air line leaks, electrical cords connected and functional, safety chains attached, landing gear fully raised

Why Are Pre-Trip Inspections Important?

The FMCSA makes these inspections and reports mandatory for a reason. They are an essential part of keeping truckers as safe as possible while they’re on the road. And they can be a life saver when it comes to discovering small issues before they become big problems.

If your brake pads are shot, you’re looking at major expenses, downtime, and danger that can be detrimental to your work. But if you’re keeping a consistent eye on those brake pads via inspections, you have a clear idea of what state they’re in and when the wear and tear is too much, so you can get them replaced on your schedule and with less disruption.

Inspections inform routine maintenance, and that routine maintenance is also beneficial to your fuel efficiency and the overall lifespan of your rig. Which means you can stay on the road longer, safer, and with less impact to your expenses.

Get Behind the Wheel at ASC

If you’ve been looking for a new career move and have been considering training to get your commercial driver’s license, ASC Technical Institute in El Paso, Texas, can help you get started. Our 8-week Truck Driving CDL program prioritizes time behind the wheel, getting the experience and knowledge you need so that you’re fully ready for life on the road – including when it comes to conducting inspections. If you are interested in learning more, ASC Technical Institute is here to help. Learn more about our Truck Driving CDL Program today to get started.

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