Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide - Flash Cards

+ Lights & Reflectors

• Proper Color
• Working
• Not Broken
• Not cracked

+ Leaks

• Check for puddles
• Check for drips under engine

+ Water Pump

• Mounted Securely
• No missing bolts or parts
• Hoses attached securely
• No leaking hoses or water pump
• Belts no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Belts not cracked, frayed, or damaged

+ Alternator

• Mounted Securely
• No missing bolts or parts
• Wires good connections, not frayed
• Belt no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Belts not frayed or cracked

+ Oil Level

• Check for proper level and condition

+ All Hoses and Wiring

• Not cracked, frayed, or broken
• Belts no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Hoses not leaking

+ Coolant

• Check for level and condition
• Hoses attached and not leaking

+ Power Steering Reservoir

• Mounted properly
• Hoses attached and not leaking
• Check for level and condition

+ Air Compressor

• Mounted Securely
• No missing bolts or parts
• No air leaks at lines
• Check if gear or belt driven
• Belt no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Belts not cracked or frayed

+ Steering Gear Box

• Mounted properly
• No missing parts, nuts or bolts
• Lines and hoses not leaking or broken

+ Power Steering Reservoir

• Mounted properly
• Hoses attached and not leaking
• Check for level and condition

+ Air Compressor

• Mounted Securely
• No missing bolts or parts
• No air leaks at lines
• Check if gear or belt driven
• Belt no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Belts not cracked or frayed

+ Steering Gear Box

• Mounted properly
• No missing parts, nuts or bolts
• Lines and hoses not leaking or broken

+ Steering Linkage

• Pitman arm, Drag link, Steering knuckle, Tie rods and tie rod ends not cracked, bent or broken
• Castle nuts and cotter pins not missing and in place

+ Air Compressor

• Mounted Securely
• No missing bolts or parts
• No air leaks at lines
• Check if gear or belt driven
• Belt no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Belts not cracked or frayed

+ Steering Gear Box

• Mounted properly
• No missing parts, nuts or bolts
• Lines and hoses not leaking or broken

+ Air Compressor

• Mounted Securely
• No missing bolts or parts
• No air leaks at lines
• Check if gear or belt driven
• Belt no more than 3⁄4 inch of play
• Belts not cracked or frayed

+ Leaf Springs

• Not shifted or out of place
• Not cracked, broken or missing

+ Spring Mounts

• Mounted securely- front, back, and U-blots
• Not cracked or broken

+ Shock Absorber

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent or dented
• Not leaking

+ Leaf Springs

• Not shifted or out of place
• Not cracked, broken or missing

+ Spring Mounts

• Mounted securely- front, back, and U-blots
• Not cracked or broken

+ Shock Absorber

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent or dented
• Not leaking

+ Hoses And Lines

• Mounted securely
• Not leaking
• Not cracked or frayed

+ Brake Chamber

• Mounted securely
• Not dented or damaged
• Not leaking

+ Slack Adjuster

• No more than 1 inch of free play at the push rod with the brakes released
• Not bent, broken, loose, or missing parts

+ Brake Drums

• Not cracked, broken or dented
• No oil leaking from inner oil seal
• Free of debris

+ Brake Linings

• No cracked, broken or missing parts
• Not less than 1⁄4 inch in thickness

+ Hoses And Lines

• Mounted securely
• Not leaking
• Not cracked or frayed

+ Brake Chamber

• Mounted securely
• Not dented or damaged
• Not leaking

+ Slack Adjuster

• No more than 1 inch of free play at the push rod with the brakes released
• Not bent, broken, loose, or missing parts

+ Brake Drums

• Not cracked, broken or dented
• No oil leaking from inner oil seal
• Free of debris

+ Brake Linings

• No cracked, broken or missing parts
• Not less than 1⁄4 inch in thickness

+ Tires

• Proper inflation – company or manufacturer specification
• No bulges, cuts, or retreads on steer tires
• Minimum tread depth of 4/32”

+ Rims

• Not bent or cracked
• No welding repairs

+ Lug Nuts

• None are missing
• Tight – no shiny threads or rust trails

+ Outer Hub Oil Seals

• Not leaking, no missing bolts
• Proper oil level

+ Driver's Door

• Door opens and closes properly
• Seal is in good condition

+ Driver's Mirrors

• Clean and free of obstruction
• Not cracked, broken, or damaged
• Mounted securely

+ Fuel Tank

• Mounted securely
• Not leaking
• Seal in cap OK

+ Air Lines & Electric Line

• Not cracked, frayed, cut, or kinked
• Mounted securely at the glad hands
• Not leaking

+ Battery Box & Batteries

• Box is mounted properly
• Batteries are secure in the box
• Lid secure
• Connections not corroded

+ Catwalk

• Mounted properly
• Not, missing, or damaged
• Free of obstructions

+ Drive Shaft

• Not bent or damaged
• Coupling, U-joints appear secure

+ Exhaust System

• Securely mounted
• Not dented or damaged
• Not leaking

+ Frame

• Not cracked, or damaged
• No missing bolts
• No illegal welds

+ Lights & Reflectors

• Clean and working

+ Header Board

• No holes or missing rivets

+ Lights & Reflectors

• None broken, cracked, or missing
• Working and proper color of amber

+ Control Arm Mount

• Mounted securely
• Not bent, broken or damaged

+ Control Arm

• Mounted securely – front, back, and U-bolts
• Not cracked or broken

+ Shock Absorber

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent, dented or leaking

+ Torsion Bar

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent, broken or damaged

+ Air Bags

• Mounted Securely
• Not leaking

+ Control Arm Mount

• Mounted securely
• Not bent, broken or damaged

+ Control Arm

• Mounted securely – front, back, and U-bolts
• Not cracked or broken

+ Shock Absorber

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent, dented or leaking

+ Torsion Bar

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent, broken or damaged

+ Air Bags

• Mounted Securely
• Not leaking

+ Hoses And Lines

• Mounted securely
• Not leaking
• Not cracked or frayed

+ Brake Chamber

• Mounted securely
• Not dented or damaged
• Not leaking

+ Slack Adjuster

• No more than 1 inch of free play at the push rod with the brakes released
• Not bent, broken, loose, or missing parts

+ Brake Drums

• Not cracked, broken or dented
• No oil leaking from inner oil seal
• Free of debris

+ Brake Linings

• No cracked, broken or missing parts
• Not less than 1⁄4 inch in thickness

+ Tires

• Proper inflation - company or manufacturer specification
• No bulges or cuts, can have retreads
• Minimum tread depth of 2/32”

+ Rims

• Not bent or cracked
• No welding repairs

+ Lug Nuts

• None missing
• Tight – no shinny threads, or rust trails

+ Outer Axle Seal

• Not leaking, no missing bolts

+ Space Or Spacer

• Check for objects between wheels
• Check for proper spacing

+ Lights & Reflectors

• Not cracked, or broken
• Working and proper color

+ Splash Guards

• Not missing or torn and properly mounted

+ Air Bags

• Mounted Securely
• Not leaking

+ Locking Jaws

• Check that the locking jaws are fully closed around the shank of the king pin

+ Release Arm

• Not bent, broken, or damaged
• Engaged in the lock position

+ Locking Pins

• No missing or broken parts
• Engaged and locked

+ Platform

• Securely holds skid plate
• Not cracked, or broken

+ Skid Plate

• Mounted properly on the platform
• Properly greased
• Tilting freely

+ King Pin

• Not broken, bent, or damaged

+ Apron

• No bends or damage to visible portions

+ Gap

• Check that the trailer apron is lying flat on the fifth wheel skid plate

+ Locking Jaws

• Check that the locking jaws are fully closed around the shank of the king pin

+ Landing Gear

• Fully raised and handle secure
• No missing parts
• Support frame not cracked, broken, or damaged

+ Frame

• Not cracks, bends, or damaged
• No missing or damaged cross members
• No signs of holes or damage to trailer floor

+ Tandem Release

• Locking pins secure and locked in place
• Release handle is secure

+ Lights & Reflectors

• Working and proper color
• Front and side are amber
• Rear edge is red
• Not broken, cracked, or missing

+ Leaf Springs

• Not shifted or out of place
• Not cracked, broken or missing

+ Spring Mounts

• Mounted securely – front, back, and U-bolts
• Not cracked, or broken

+ Torque Rod

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent, broken or damaged

+ Shock Absorber

• Mounted Securely
• Not bent, dented or leaking

+ Air Bags

• Mounted Securely
• Not leaking

+ Hoses And Lines

• Mounted securely
• Not leaking
• Not cracked or frayed

+ Brake Chamber

• Mounted securely
• Not dented or damaged
• Not leaking

+ Slack Adjuster

• No more than 1 inch of free play at the push rod with the brakes released
• Not bent, broken, loose, or missing parts

+ Brake Drums

• Not cracked, broken or dented
• No oil leaking from inner oil seal
• Free of debris

+ Brake Linings

• No cracked, broken or missing parts
• Not less than 1⁄4 inch in thickness

+ Tires

• Proper inflation – company or manufacturer specification
• No bulges, cuts, or retreads on steer tires
• Minimum tread depth of 2/32”

+ Rims

• Not bent or cracked
• No welding repairs

+ Lug Nuts

• None are missing
• Tight – no shiny threads or rust trails

+ Outer Hub Oil Seals

• Not leaking, no missing bolts
• Proper oil level

+ Space or Spacer

• Check for objects between wheels
• Check for proper spacing

+ Doors

• Not bent, broken, or damaged
• Close and latch securely
• Hinges secure, no damage

+ Door Ties

• Not missing, broken, and securely mounted

+ Splash Guards

• Mounted properly
• Not missing, ripped or torn

+ DOT Bumper

• Not bent or damaged

+ Lights & Reflectors

• Working and proper color
• Not broken, cracked, or missing

+ Emergency Equipment

• Spare Electrical Fuses
• 3 Reflective Triangles
  • Red and Mounted Securely
• Fire Extinguisher
  • Minimum of 10 BC
  • Fully charged
  • Securely Mounted

+ Safety Belt

• Latches Securely
• Mounted Securely

+ Steering Wheel

• No more than 10 degrees of free play

+ Clutch

• Engages and disengages smoothly

+ Shifter

• Moves in and out of gear properly
• Range Selector Works

+ Water Temp Gauge

• Gauge is working (170 – 210 degrees)

+ Oil Pressure Gauge

• Gauge is working properly
• Normal oil pressure (20 - 45 PSI)
• Check that the warning light goes out

+ Ammeter / Voltmeter

• Gauge shows (12 – 14) volts to show battery is charging and that the generator or alternator is working properly

+ Lighting Indicators

• Left and right turn signal
• 4-way flashers
• High beam indicator

+ Horns

• Electric (street) horn works properly
• Air horn works properly

+ Heater And Defroster

• Move switch from heat to defrost
• Check for air flow

+ Windshield

• Clean and free of obstruction
• Not cracked or broken

+ Wipers and Washer

• Working properly
• Mounted securely to wiper arm
• Rubber not torn
• Washer sprays properly

+ Mirrors

• Clean and adjusted
• Mounted properly

+ Parking Brake Valves

• Both are present and not leaking
• Place vehicle in 1st gear then release the tractor brake (yellow valve)
• Slowly pull against the trailer to ensure the coupling is secure, tug again to ensure that the brakes will work. Pull the tractor Valve back out.
• Release trailer brake (red valve)
• Slowly tug against the tractor brakes to ensure they work.