How log to log pre/post trip?

I usually get up and go use the facilities and maybe grab a drink before going around the rig doing a pretrip. This is done before my 10 hour reset is up. Then I hop in the driver's seat at 10:01 and start the pretrip clock, do the digital inspection report and go at 5 minutes.

Is five minutes enough for DOT? Do they have an amount of time that is required for a pre/post trip?

 

Can you do it in 5 minutes if the inspector asked you to?

 

Actually yes. At my old company we would have driver ride alongs where a driver trainer would ride with you to see if any bad habits were sneaking into your routine. Then you would sit down with your manager and the trainer and talk about the ride along. No consequences just helpful feedback.
I had a gas station about to run out when I got to work so I was in a hurry. Slammed out the pretrip in 5 minutes and busted butt getting to and delivering the station. The only helpful criticism the trainer had was I did the pretrip too fast. The manager asked what I missed and he said nothing but it was to fast. Manager smiled and said then it wasn't a problem.

I used to have the pretrip walk-around for the CDL Driving test memorized, just did my pretrip that way for years. I think I'll try to memorize it again.

My concern though is if there is a required amount of time they need to see.

 

They don't give a time required.

 

It all depends on company policy, talk to your safety dept., they can overrule a dispatcher. I learned over years to ‘maintain your comfort zone’ regardless of dispatch. ‘Somebody else’s f-up, does not constitute an emergency on your part’.
A 5 min. pre-trip in a pinch is one thing on a truck you use everyday, if you are only one that uses it. But to do proper one, I mean proper throughou, checking lights, load securement, fluids, truck paperwork, b.o.l. etc, will take longer than 5 min.

 

15 minutes, is the standard and realistic, even though even it is short for a thorough pre-trip. Think, Tires Air pressure check. 18 wheels to pressure test. That's where the 15 min comes in. You can zip the rest by looking quickly at things and making quick decisions if it's good or bad, especially if you've been doing it for a while, but unless you have tire inflation systems, you may be able to speed even that up, but since most paper logs were minimum of 15 minute increments, 15 became a pretty good standard to go by. There are occasions where you may shorten it like you mentioned, but as you get older, you get slower too, so some of us in that age group stick to the 15 min.

 

Pretrip was always considered checking lights and tires. Assuming you did it full post Trip the night before. So yes 5 min is fine. Post trip I've always used at least 30 minutes. But also varie it.

Anyone who puts down 15 minutes. Sure better be able to do that for a court of law.

 

5 min pre trip checking tires, lights, and any puddles under the truck. 15 min post Trip checking everything else. That way issues can get fixed at night, not when I’m ready to leave in the morning.

 

For all the people saying 15 minutes. I'd love to see you crawl under the trailer and check all the slack adjusters in 15 minutes. SMH

 

Five minutes isn't the amount of time I spent pre tripping, it is the amount of time put down in the log. I try to not roll out of the bed into the seat. So I do a walk around and look for any problems before getting in the drivers seat and starting my official clock.
As a reffer driver I rarely have the luxury of pre-planning my end of shift shut down location. Too much depends on how it goes at a shipper/receivers. All planning needs to be done on the fly after they let you go.