Pre Trip Inspections

yea it's pretty easy i only missed 4 on my pti on the test and i also have my diesel mechanics degree too lol so it helps.

 

Ever notice the walkaround gets shorter the more complex the aircraft?

RV-6 18 min
Skyhawk 13 min
Apache/Aztec 10 min
King Air 5 min

 

I believe the pre-trip is just or even more important than the post-trip. Just a little friendly advice here, try you best to find problems on your pre-trip so you'll know without a doubt the truck is safe.

 

And I was told a main thing is to check your 5th wheel locking handle after a night at a truck stop. My mentor was telling me that if someone has a bad day, they take it out on whoever and pulling the handle on someone is the easiest thing that will cause a lot of damage and headache.

 

I've witnessed this at a truckstop in Arizona. Guy got his 5th wheel pin pulled and his trailer slammed to the ground, nearly cracked his landing gear off. He was heavy too, from what I remember, close to 45K. His landing gear crank got all messed up and he had to call a tow with a boom to lift the trailer back up so he could slide under.

 

Push rod travel is another thing you don't usually check every day. That can take a while.

It is like anything, you become more efficient and proficient at the task the more you do it.

Don't skip your engine oil ever. If you are going to do a half assed inspection at the very minimum check your oil. New engines are somewhat pricey.

4 point brake check takes less than 30 seconds.

One thing I do is when you pull out of the dock is release trailer and try to pull away - check 1, then release truck and apply trailer then try again - check 2, use the spike to stop after I am clear of the dock - check 3 Leave the spike on. Go to the back of the trailer, listening for air leaks. Close the doors and now you will see if your brake lights are working. You can also quickly check your trailer brake adjustment if you have tattle tales. Close your doors and get back in the truck. Pull away and give the brakes a tap, check 4. It takes 10 times longer to explain it than do it.

Just an example of streamlining the process without letting the quality of your PTI decline.

 

You might want to go one step further and shut the engine off and apply brake pressure (at least 70-90 psi ) and in one minute you shouldn't loose more than 4 psi. If you do you need to find the leak. 9 times out of 10 it will be right at the gland hand connection to the trailer.

 

on our truck we actually had a air leak right on the firewall connection. When we got the truck washed the guy got up on the engine to scrub the windshield and must of kicked it. it was a pretty bad leak but some duct tape fixed it until we hit a ta.