Do you do a full Pre Trip everyday of driving?

I probably park at a truck stop other than fueling or showering. Half dozen times of year. I run same lanes and know where to park that is peaceful dark and quiet. lots of drivers do as well

 

What the #### is a pre trip?

 

Looks like you took the words out my mouth. Gotta love how this forum is full of these unicorn drivers that do everything by the book.

 

Like you, I would park almost anywhere but a truck stop.
Dark and quiet is the way to go.

 

Oh come on. Nothing like waking up to truck rocking and the sickening sound of free body work. While ####### 90 day wonder looks at you like your stupid, for being upset that he or she just ripped the truck apart.
nose first back row of I must park at demolition derby travel center.

 

I either do a full pre trip before starting or I schedule an extra block of time to stop right after starting to fix what I didn't gaf about checking before starting

 

This saved me a lot of typing... see above. Lol
I will add, I have a lazer temp gun, a hot tire is low on pressure or the plus are coming apart, hot hub is a bad bearing or dragging brake, great tool takes a minute to walk around and take temps.

 

Once upon a time there was a lesson for kids about "which one of these things doesn't belong." It would be a panel of 4 or so pictures of related items with one obviously appearing different. That is the nature of a pre-trip. If you aren't good at puzzles, or just not in the least mechanically apt, you should be using a checklist.

Not gonna lie. Some days it's just too darn cold, wet, icy and I do a pre-trip lite and GTFO down the road. But I know my equipment, do frequent walk arounds, and have a sharp eye for developing problems.

Here's a good one. How many drivers have you seen checking air pressure on a trailer equipped with an inflation system? How many do you think even know how to do it? I've also learned some expensive lessons about trailer tire inflation systems. After 5 years of owning the two I have, I could probably pass the Hendrickson MaxxAir Pro certification if such a thing was offered. In that time, I've replaced and calibrated both controllers, all the hub caps on the oldest trailer, and most recently a combo fail: PPV on the air tank plus wired in a new indicator light.

Moral of the story is: with my massive sample of two trailers, I can think of a dozen occasions in five years where the inflation system suffered a potentially tire ending failure. Now think again about how many people even know how to check the tire pressure on one, and multiply that by every trailer you see passing by on the road. It solves the mystery of all those tire service trucks hard at work on the side of the road, for sure.

Another mistake I seen in a few responses is: I got newer equipment and never find anything so don't look as often or as closely. Here's a fun story from two days ago. This is on the one year old truck with 120k miles on it, that my son drives. One steer tire had some weird wear that will address later with the dealer. I decided to just get two new ones put on. Prior to driving to the tire shop, I had done a pre-trip and actually a thorough one since it wasn't my usual ride.

So I'm there watching this young dude working harder than I'll never do again, busting the tires. And I take advantage of the wheels off to inspect brake pads and whatnot. I see this. Not really even visible when doing a walk around with the wheel mounted and on the ground, but definitely more than just dirt. I move in for a closer look and see one or two of the bolts are visually not as tight as the others. Hub oil is at the fill line, so didn't catch my attention on my pre-trip.



Having seen that, of course a closer look at the other side is warranted. See anything wrong with this picture?



Even less seepage and oil level also full, offering no clue. With the wheel on, I would have had to kneel down and shine a light in there to see it. I would have gotten mad at my son for missing it, if I hadn't also missed it myself. Just think how this problem would eventually develop into something more.

I elected not to tamper with it at the tire shop (5 miles away from where I park) to avoid disturbing the remaining seal and having a bigger issue right there and tie up their bay with it. Once parked, I went to the hardware store and got two sets of new bolts and lock washers and replaced them all on both trucks. Then cleaned up the stain with brake cleaner so I can tell if they leak again. $15 at the hardware store and an hour of easy work including going to the store. Versus possibly a serious missing wheel problem on the road eventually. This is being observant paying off real time.

 

Especially as a local driver, I haul fuel and I’m lucky that I don’t have to slip seat but I do a very thorough post trip on truck and trailer... and for a pre trip it’s a pull of the hood, fluid checks and lights and tires… Every stop once I get setup and dropping I look over my trailer.. if my truck is in the shop I almost want to go home because everytime I use someone else equipment without fail I get stuck with something that’s a easy fix or a nagging issue that shoulda been fixed weeks ago. My cycle also gets broken and I do a thorough pretrip is someone else drives my truck also… they may seem like good guys but you can’t trust nobody