- Check under the vehicle for leaks
- Check for hazards around the vehicle
- Check for damage or unusual leaning
- All of these things should be included in the inspection
From The CDL Manual
Approaching the vehicle: Notice its general condition. Look for damage or vehicle leaning to one side. Look under the vehicle for fresh oil, coolant, grease or fuel leaks. Check the area around the vehicle for hazards to vehicle movement (people, other vehicles, objects, low hanging wires, limbs, etc.).
- Check belts and hoses for wear and tightness
- Check engine oil level
- Check coolant level
- Check engine oil temperature
From The CDL Manual
STEP 2: Check Engine Compartment
Check the following:
- Engine oil level
- Coolant level in radiator; condition of hoses
- Power steering fluid level; hose condition (if equipped)
- Windshield washer fluid level
- Battery fluid level, connections and tiedowns (battery may be located elsewhere)
- Automatic transmission fluid level (may require engine to be running)
- Check belts for tightness and excessive wear (alternator, water pump, air compressor)—learn how much “give” the belts should have when adjusted right, and check each one.
- Leaks in the engine compartment (fuel, coolant, oil, power steering fluid, hydraulic fluid, battery fluid).
- Cracked, worn electrical wiring insulation.
- Make sure parking brake is on.
- Start engine; listen for unusual noises.
- Put gearshift in neutral (or Park if automatic).
- All of these things should happen before in-cab inspection begins
From The CDL Manual
Get in and start engine:
Make sure parking brake is on.
Put gearshift in neutral (or Park if automatic).
Start engine; listen for unusual noises.
- Improper setting
- Looseness or sticking
- Damage
- All of these things should be checked during inspection
From The CDL Manual
Check condition of controls: Check the following controls for looseness, sticking, damage or improper setting
- As many as possible
- 2
- 4
- 3
From The CDL Manual
Check for safety equipment:
Spare electrical fuses (unless vehicle has circuit breakers)
Three red reflective triangles
Properly charged and rated fire extinguisher
- To show off your inspection abilities
- To make the truck go faster
- Impress your examiner
- To show that you know whether your truck is safe to drive
From The CDL Manual
CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Test
—To obtain a CDL you must pass a pre-trip vehicle inspection test. You will be tested to see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to drive.
- Within 1 minute
- Within 30 seconds
- Right away
- They shouldn't go on at all
From The CDL Manual
Warning lights and buzzers
–Oil, coolant, charging circuit warning lights should go out right away.
- 1 minute
- 30 seconds
- Within seconds
- 45 seconds
From The CDL Manual
Oil pressure
–Should come up to normal within seconds after engine is started.
- They will be fired
- Every hour
- Every 3 hours
- The DOT will inspect their truck
From The CDL Manual
Drivers of trucks and truck tractors when transporting cargo must inspect the securement of the cargo within the first 25 miles of a trip and every 150 miles or every three hours (whichever comes first) afterward.
- Pump pedal 3 times, then get out and look under the truck
- Cover the line in soap and watch for bubbles to form
- Pump pedal 3 times, then apply firm pressure and hold
- Accelerate to 20mph, then pump brakes furiously
From The CDL Manual
If the vehicle has hydraulic brakes, pump the brake pedal three times. Then apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for five seconds. The pedal should not move. If it does, there may be a leak or other problem. Get it fixed before driving.