Cdl Pretrip Inspection

Front 1

Leaks/Hoses

Back 1

· Look for puddles on the ground.
· Look for dripping fluids on underside of engine and
transmission.
· Inspect hoses for condition and leaks.

Front 2

Oil Level

Back 2

· Indicate where dipstick is located.
· See that oil level is within safe operating range. Level must be above refill mark.

Front 3

Coolant Level

Back 3

Inspect reservoir sight glass, or
· (If engine is not hot), remove radiator cap and check for visible
coolant level.

Front 4

Power Steering Fluid

Back 4

· Indicate where power steering fluid dipstick is located.
· Check for adequate power steering fluid level. Level must be above refill mark.

Front 5

Engine Compartment Belts

Back 5

Check the following belts for snugness (up to 3/4 inch play at center of belt), cracks, or frays:
- Power steering belt.
- Water pump belt.
- Alternator belt.
- Air compressor belt.
If any of the components listed above are not belt
driven, you must:
- Tell the examiner which component(s) are not belt driven.
- Make sure component(s) are operating properly, are not
damaged or leaking, and are mounted securely

Front 6

Clutch/Gearshift

Back 6

· Depress clutch.
· Place gearshift lever in neutral (or park, for automatic transmissions).
· Start engine, then release clutch slowly.

Front 7

Oil Pressure Gauge

Back 7

· Make sure oil pressure gauge is working.
· Check that pressure gauge shows increasing or normal oil
pressure or that the warning light goes off.
·If equipped, oil temperature gauge should begin a gradual rise to the normal operating range.

Front 8

Temperature Gauge

Back 8

· Make sure the temperature gauge is working.
· Temperature should begin to climb to the normal operating range or temperature light should be off.

Front 9

Ammeter/Voltmeter

Back 9

· Check that gauges show alternator and/or generator is
charging or that warning light is off.

Front 10

Mirrors and Windshield

Back 10

Mirrors should be clean and adjusted properly from the inside.
· Windshield should be clean with no illegal stickers, no
obstructions, or damage to the glass.

Front 11

Emergency Equipment

Back 11

· Check for spare electrical fuses.If the vehicle is not equipped with electrical fuses, you must mention this to the examiner.
· Check for three red reflective triangles.
· Check for a properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.

Front 12

Steering Play

Back 12

· Power steering: With the engine running, check for
excessive play by turning the steering wheel back and forth.
Play should not exceed 10 degrees (or about two inches on a 20-inch wheel) before front left wheel barely moves.

Front 13

Wipers/Washers

Back 13

· Check that wiper arms and blades are secure, not damaged, and operate smoothly.
· If equipped, windshield washers must operate correctly.

Front 14

Lighting Indicators

Back 14

· Test that dash indicators work when corresponding lights are
turned on:
- Left turn signal.
- Right turn signal.
- Four-way emergency flashers.
- High beam headlight.

Front 15

Horn

Back 15

· Check that air horn and/or electric horn work.

Front 16

Heater/Defroster

Back 16

· Test that the heater and defroster work.

Front 17

Parking Brake Check

Back 17

· Apply parking brake only and make sure that it will hold the
vehicle by shifting into a lower gear and gently pulling against
the brake.

Front 18

Hydraulic Brake Check

Back 18

· Pump the brake pedal three times, then hold it down for five seconds. The brake pedal should not move (depress) during the five seconds.
· If equipped with a hydraulic brake reserve (back-up) system,with the key off, depress the brake pedal and listen for the sound of the reserve system electric motor.
· Check that the warning buzzer or light is off.

Front 19

Air Brake Check (air brake equipped vehicles only)

Back 19

For safety purposes, in areas
where an incline is present, you will use wheel chocks during the air brake check. The proper procedures for inspecting the air brake system are as follows:
- With the engine running, build the air pressure to
governed cut-out (100-125 psi). Shut off the engine,
chock your wheels, if necessary, release the tractor
protection valve and parking brake (push in), fully applythe foot brake and hold it for one minute. Check the air gauge to see if the air pressure drops more than three
pounds in one minute (single vehicle) or four pounds in
one minute (combination vehicle).
- Begin fanning off the air pressure by rapidly applying and releasing the foot brake. Low air warning devices (buzzer,light, flag) should activate before air pressure drops below 60 psi.
- Continue to fan off the air pressure. At approximately 40psi on a tractor-trailer combination vehicle, the tractor protection valve and parking brake valve should close (pop out). On other combination vehicle types and single vehicle types, the parking brake valve should close (popout).

Front 20

Safety Belt

Back 20

· Check that the safety belt is securely mounted, adjusts, and latches properly.

Front 21

Lights/Reflectors

Back 21

· Check that all external lights and reflective equipment are clean and functional. Light and reflector checks include:
- Clearance lights (red on rear, amber elsewhere).
- Headlights (high and low beams).
- Taillights.
- Turn signals.
- Four-way flashers.
- Brake lights.
- Red reflectors (on rear) and amber reflectors(elsewhere).
Note: Checks of brake, turn signal and four-way flasher
functions must be done separately.

Front 22

Steering Box/Hoses

Back 22

· Check that the steering box is securely mounted and not leaking. Look for any missing nuts, bolts, and cotter keys.
· Check for power steering fluid leaks or damage to power
steering hoses.

Front 23

Steering Linkage

Back 23

· See that connecting links, arms, and rods from the steering box to the wheel are not worn or cracked.
· Check that joints and sockets are not worn or loose and that there are no missing nuts, bolts, or cotter keys.

Front 24

Springs/Air/Torque

Back 24

· Look for missing, shifted, cracked, or broken leaf springs.
· Look for broken or distorted coil springs.
· If vehicle is equipped with torsion bars, torque arms, or other types of suspension components, check that they are not damaged and are mounted securely.
· Air ride suspension should be checked for damage and leaks.

Front 25

Mounts

Back 25

· Look for cracked or broken spring hangers, missing or
damaged bushings, and broken, loose, or missing bolts, ubolts or other axle mounting parts. (The mounts should be
checked at each point where they are secured to the vehicle frame and axle[s]).

Front 26

Shock Absorbers

Back 26

· See that shock absorbers are secure and that there are noleaks.
Note: Be prepared to perform the same suspension
components inspection on every axle (power unit
and trailer, if equipped).

Front 27

Slack Adjustors

Back 27

· Look for broken, loose, or missing parts.
· The angle between the push rod and adjustor arm should be a little over 90 degrees when the brakes are released, and not less than 90 degrees when the brakes are applied.
· When pulled by hand, the brake rod should not move more
than one inch (with the brakes released).

Front 28

Brake Chambers

Back 28

· See that brake chambers are not leaking, cracked, or dented and are mounted securely.

Front 29

Brake Hoses/Lines

Back 29

· Look for cracked, worn, or leaking hoses, lines, and couplings.

Front 30

Drum Brake

Back 30

· Check for cracks, dents, or holes. Also check for loose or missing bolts.
· Brake linings (where visible) should not be worn dangerously thin.

Front 31

Brake Linings

Back 31

· On some brake drums, there are openings where the brake
linings can be seen from outside the drum. For this type of drum, check that a visible amount of brake lining is showing.

Front 32

Rims

Back 32

· Check for damaged or bent rims. Rims cannot have welding
repairs.

Front 33

Tires

Back 33

· The following items must be inspected on every tire:
- Tread depth: Check for minimum tread depth (4/32 on
steering axle tires, 2/32 on all other tires).
- Tire condition: Check that tread is evenly worn and look
for cuts or other damage to tread or sidewalls. Also,
make sure that valve caps and stems are not missing,
broken, or damaged.
- Tire inflation: Check for proper inflation by using a tire gauge, or inflation by striking tires with a mallet or other similar device.

Front 34

Hub Oil Seals/Axle Seals

Back 34

· See that hub oil/grease seals and axle seals are not leaking and, if wheel has a sight glass, oil level is adequate.

Front 35

Lug Nuts

Back 35

· Check that all lug nuts are present, free of cracks and distortions, and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads.
· Make sure all bolt holes are not cracked or distorted.

Front 36

Spacers

Back 36

· If equipped, check that spacers are not bent, damaged, or rusted through.
· Spacers should be evenly centered, with the dual wheels and tires evenly separated.

Front 37

Door(s)/Mirror(s)

Back 37

· Check that door(s) are not damaged and that they open and
close properly from the outside.
· Hinges should be secure with seals intact.
· Check that mirror(s) and mirror brackets are not damaged and are mounted securely with no loose fittings.

Front 38

Fuel Tank

Back 38

· Check that tank(s) are secure, cap(s) are tight, and that there are no leaks from tank(s) or lines.

Front 39

Battery/Box

Back 39

· Wherever located, see that battery(s) are secure, connections are tight, and cell caps are present.
· Battery connections should not show signs of excessive
corrosion.
· Battery box and cover or door must be secure.

Front 40

Drive Shaft

Back 40

· See that drive shaft is not bent or cracked.
· Couplings should be secure and free of foreign objects.

Front 41

Exhaust System

Back 41

· Check system for damage and signs of leaks such as rust or carbon soot.
· System should be connected tightly and mounted securely.

Front 42

Frame

Back 42

· Look for cracks, broken welds, holes or other damage to the longitudinal frame members, cross members, box, and floor.

Front 43

Splash Guards

Back 43

· If equipped, check that splash guards or mud flaps are not damaged and are mounted securely.

Front 44

Doors/Ties/Lifts

Back 44

· Check that doors and hinges are not damaged and that they open, close, and latch properly from the outside, if equipped.
· Ties, straps, chains, and binders must also be secure.
· If equipped with a cargo lift, look for leaking, damaged or missing parts and explain how it should be checked for correct operation.
· Lift must be fully retracted and latched securely.

Front 45

Air/Electric Lines

Back 45

· Listen for air leaks. Check that air hoses and electrical lines are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn (steel braid should not show through).
· Make sure air and electrical lines are not tangled, pinched, or dragging against tractor parts.

Front 46

Catwalk

Back 46

· Check that the catwalk is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to tractor frame.

Front 47

Mounting Bolts

Back 47

· Look for loose or missing mounting brackets, clamps, bolts, or nuts. Both the fifth wheel and the slide mounting must be solidly attached.
· On other types of coupling systems (i.e., ball hitch, pintle hook, etc.), inspect all coupling components and mounting brackets for missing or broken parts.

Front 48

Locking Jaws

Back 48

· Look into fifth wheel gap and check that locking jaws are fully closed around the kingpin.
· On other types of coupling systems (i.e., ball hitch, pintle hook, etc.), inspect the locking mechanism for missing or broken parts and make sure it is locked securely. If present, safety cables or chains must be secure and free of kinks and excessive slack.

Front 49

Platform (fifth wheel)

Back 49

· Check for cracks or breaks in the platform structure which supports the fifth wheel skid plate.

Front 50

Release Arm (fifth wheel)

Back 50

· If equipped, make sure the release arm is in the engaged
position and the safety latch is in place.

Front 51

Kingpin/Apron/Gap

Back 51

· Check that the kingpin is not bent.
· Make sure the visible part of the apron is not bent, cracked, or broken.
· Check that the trailer is laying flat on the fifth wheel skid plate
(no gap).

Front 52

Locking Pins (fifth wheel)

Back 52

· If equipped, look for loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel. If air powered, check for
leaks.
· Make sure locking pins are fully engaged.
· Check that the fifth wheel is positioned properly so that the tractor frame will clear the landing gear during turns.

Front 53

Air/Electrical Connections

Back 53

· Check that trailer air connectors are sealed and in good condition.
· Make sure glad hands are locked in place, free of damage or air leaks.
· Make sure the trailer electrical plug is firmly seated and locked in place.

Front 54

Header Board

Back 54

· If equipped, check the header board to see that it is secure, free of damage, and strong enough to contain cargo.
· If equipped, the canvas or tarp carrier must be mounted and fastened securely.
· On enclosed trailers, check the front area for signs of damage such as cracks, bulges, or holes.

Front 55

Landing Gear

Back 55

· Check that the landing gear is fully raised, has no missing parts, crank handle is secure, and the support frame is not damaged.
· If power operated, check for air or hydraulic leaks.

Front 56

Doors/Ties/Lifts

Back 56

· If equipped, check that doors are not damaged. Check that doors open, close, and latch properly from the outside.
· Check that ties, straps, chains, and binders are secure.
· If equipped with a cargo lift, look for leaking, damaged or missing parts and explain how it should be checked for correct operation.
· Lift should be fully retracted and latched securely.

Front 57

Frame

Back 57

· Look for cracks, broken welds, holes or other damage to the frame, cross members, box, and floor.

Front 58

Tandem Release Arm/Locking Pins

Back 58

· If equipped, make sure the locking pins are locked in place and release arm is secured.