Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide - Flash Cards




You are currently viewing images with labels. To view images without labels, click here.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

+ Show List Of Items

+ 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 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

+ 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.