Practicing Pretrip Is Hard.

Thank you Sofia & you're Right!! I practice almost everyday. Getting the hang of it quicker than I expected. Especially after read Daniel's guide I'm getting better and better at it. And congratulations on joining the trucking world. There are plenty amazing companies out there. Just got to find the one that stands out to you the most. Lots of luck in finding your first home in trucking.

During CDL school, what helped me the most was just "taking my medicine" and going through the pre-trip over, and over, and over and......, well, you get the point. You just have do it. Learning Pre-trip was the only part of training I disliked, only due to its boring and repetitive nature. When you can go through the entire pre-trip without hestitation or looking at notes, then you passed the first step. The second step is then continuing to go through the pre-trip ad nauseam, until you can do it in your sleep. Pre-trip is 1/3 of your testing and it has to be done, and done well. Unlike Behind the Wheel time and backing, practicing Pre-trip (along with book study) is the only part of learning where you have control over how much time you get to practice/study. Use your time very wisely.

During CDL school, what helped me the most was just "taking my medicine" and going through the pre-trip over, and over, and over and......, well, you get the point. You just have do it. Learning Pre-trip was the only part of training I disliked, only due to its boring and repetitive nature. When you can go through the entire pre-trip without hestitation or looking at notes, then you passed the first step. The second step is then continuing to go through the pre-trip ad nauseam, until you can do it in your sleep. Pre-trip is 1/3 of your testing and it has to be done, and done well. Unlike Behind the Wheel time and backing, practicing Pre-trip (along with book study) is the only part of learning where you have control over how much time you get to practice/study. Use your time very wisely.

Great points, Don! I agree with everything you wrote.

I group my engine compartment pre-trip into components and then created a "flow" where one thing leads to another so I just have to remember the next thing.

Component Groupings:

1. General overall (standing in front of the truck).

2. Passenger side (general hoses; alternator)

3 Driver side component groups:

a. General hoses.

b. Coolant and water pump.

c. Oil dipstick.

d. Steering.

e. Suspension

f. Wheel.

The "flow" for the driver's side starts at the top, goes to the bottom and then outside.

I start with the coolant reservoir, which is on top. The coolant flows through the water pump, which I do next.

The oil dipstick is a stand alone component group, but I do that next.

Below the oil dipstick is the power steering fluid reservoir. The hoses from the power steering fluid reservoir lead to the power steering pump which is inside the frame. While there, mention the air compressor.

The hoses from the power steering pump behind the frame lead to the power steering gear box, which has the pittman arm, drag link, tie rod, and castle nuts all connected in sequence. Just flow from one to the next, with the tie rod as the last one.

When pointing at the tie rod, you're essentially pointing to the shock absorber, which is the beginning of the suspension component group (all the stuff connected to the frame). So point to everything that is bolted to the frame and connected in some way to the wheels.

When you're done with all the things bolted to the frame and connected to the wheel, you will notice the brake air hose coming through the frame. This leads to the "wheel" component group.

Follow the air hose to the brake chamber, slack adjuster, brake drum, and brake pad lining. Essentially, everything that is on the inside of the wheel. Ending with the brake pad lining, which is on the inside center of the wheel.

Then I flip to the OUTSIDE CENTER of the wheel. Go from the center out. Hub seal, lug nuts, rim, tires.

So all you have to remember is three and three. Three separate areas 1) in front of the truck, 2) passenger's side, and 3) driver's side. Once on the driver's side, you only have to remember the three plastic fluid containing components 1) coolant reservoir, 2), oil dipstick, and 3) power steering fluid reservoir. All the other components flow from these three.

Also, its easier when you have a truck you're touching, because you develop muscle memory the more you do it.

BTW, I had printed Daniel B's pre-trip with pictures, which great.