Originally Posted by Patchesthedog

Dear American Trucker;

Your pre-trip form is well presented and thought out, no doubt, it's the DOT requirement. However, some of the items that are required to check, you would have to be a top-notch mechanic to be able to tell if things are right or not. There is no way, unless you've had mechanical training, to be able to observe if something (steering, linkage, suspension, brake chambers, adjusters, brake lines, drums, etc.) are mounted and secured properly. Does the DOT REALLY think we are mechanics? You could probably make MORE MONEY as a mechanic than as a driver anyway.

I had to go through this same pre-trip routine to become a school bus driver, and honestly, just to pass the test to get our learner's licenses. The real pre-trip that school bus drivers do twice a day is to test the tires, lights (yellow and red loading lights, hazards, turn and brake signals), all glass, air brakes, oil pressure and spring/service brakes, seat belt, seat security and mirrors before each run. We are not expected to be mechanics. That's what we have mechanics on premise for.

So just how detailed do you actually realistically get with this trucker's pre trip? Are you a trained mechanic?

Just wondering!

P.

A lot of the stuff to check you don't need to be a mechanic to find missing slack adjusters, bad steering linkage, leaking air lines and chambers, etc.. Besides...where's the mechanic going to be when you top that nice LIL mountain and your and everyone else's butt is on the line if your $!*% isn't squared away because you wanted to wait for a mechanic to check it at a later date?

And by the way...school bus drivers are hauling everyone's and MY kids. You'd better be more thorough on your checks than what you are suggesting in your statement. My aunt has been driving a school bus for 15+ years and 2 others I know personally for 10+. I guarantee you they check far more than you suggested.

Just saying.

Originally Posted by Crazed

A lot of the stuff to check you don't need to be a mechanic to find missing slack adjusters, bad steering linkage, leaking air lines and chambers, etc.. Besides...where's the mechanic going to be when you top that nice LIL mountain and your and everyone else's butt is on the line if your $!*% isn't squared away because you wanted to wait for a mechanic to check it at a later date?

"And by the way...school bus drivers are hauling everyone's and MY kids. You'd better be more thorough on your checks than what you are suggesting in your statement. My aunt has been driving a school bus for 15+ years and 2 others I know personally for 10+. I guarantee you they check far more than you suggested.

Just saying.

I have been a school bus driver for 12 yrs and say to say there are drivers that cheat on the pretrip. I believe it is my responsibilty to do my job and driving a safe inspected bus was my job! I did my pretrip 100% every time. I will approach my driving and pretrip of a truck the same. Thanks AT for the list. I plan on using it to jelp study