How thorough is your pre-trip inspection? (be honest)

So how much is about once a week?almost every week or what?sometimes you skip a week?Please clarify that.

 

I'm only in a body job F550 so there isn't much to check. Walk around, check lights, kick tires, look for obvious leaks.

 

I had the hood open Tuesday, the truck doesn't lose much oil, the coolant is so full of rust and sludge that it's impossible to check unless I remove the cap.

It's a Cascadia, it's a poorly designed truck, why would anyone tuck the hood latches back in that crack? Sure the fuel savings on doing that might be 7 ounces of fuel over the life of the truck, .......

 

The things I check the most are my 5th wheel, wheels for air pressure, wheel damage from nails or whatever, wheel bearings (leaks), breaks/air system, and lights and steering fluid too. Typically the things that can kill me if bad.

 

I kick the tires and light the fires

Kidding but really I just check the tires and oil. And check that some ####### hasn't pulled my kingpin and tandem release. Be fore I do this I turn the lights on to make sure the bulbs are running.

 

Thank you skinny cat

 

I check the Blinker fluid then roll out! Can never have enough blinker fluid. Running out sucks then you have to pull on the side of the 80mph freeway and try to add it in.

 

I stand between the sleeper and drive tires, take a leak, then hit the road.

 

Honest answer.

Company driver: is there fuel in the truck? Yes. Pretrip done!

Owner Oparator: tires are wore out, but not flat, some lights are out, but most still work, air leak, but still above 90 psi.
Let's roll!

 

I've never had this happen to me, or seen it happen, but my first movement (okay, SECOND "Movement" LOL) is in reverse with the trailer brake set. Just in case, the first thing I do when I fire up the engine is set back hard into the kingpin. It can't hurt and might help.

I rarely do more than kick the tires and light the fires in the morning. But I do a pretty good post-trip when I shut down (most days, sometimes it's just a walkaround with tire thumping and a quick peek at problem areas) and I reckon nothing's gonna change too much during the night.