My Pre Tripping Method

Now it's a standard that in almost every truck stop in the country if you look at what does and what does not happen on a normal basis, the least likely event that does not happen, but should happen more often than not is a good pre-trip inspection.

Now I'm not saying that not everyone does one at one time or another, but almost more often than not, you don't see very many truckers doing a pre trip inspection really at all.

A lot of the time I run nights. My reasons for doing night runs are simple but very effective strategies. First I like to drive when the scales are more than likely closed, also I might add that theres much less traffic on the road and to top it off you can almost always find a really good parking space during the day rather than looping the parking lot all night waiting for someone to pull out.

Most of the time when doing my pre-trip inspection, I do it while i'm fueling up at the pump. See I park my truck and do my 10 hr break and save the fuel up for my pre-trip. You really don't get a good oil or fuel level until your engine warms up so why not check it at the pump after you come on duty. Besides they'er both on-duty not driving and in the same place normally where you would park during a break.

I always clean my mirrors and lenses all the way around, also I give the windshield a good washing, can't see if it aint clean, now is also a good time to toss that stinking garbage out of yur truck along with those nasty piss jugs just sizzling with an odor that says don't remove the cap or I'll stink you out.

Tire pressure, yah" how many people do you see actually checking that very often, do you even know whether your tires are inflated properly or not. Most likely you don't. And the temperature really can play a trick on you. Cold tires show a lower reading than hot tires and most people don't even got a clue about that idea. I always kick-em and kick hard, just to see if I can feel that tattle tale sign of under-inflation, a sign I might have been dragging a tire I didn't know I was dragging before. Checking your lights at night during a good pre-trip can make the difference on the next driver seeing your rig thru that old thick nasty fog or maybe to some family traveling home on a long trip from a vacation abroad. But that big one that most drivers never check in almost every inspection is the smallest of lights the license plate light, oh" yah" you can get a ticket for not having one operational, but most likely it won't be why they stopped you in the first place. Little things make bigger impacts on not only you as a professional driver but also to those around you. Showing you care about your rigs operational status really shows you are indeed a professional driver.

Be Safe and Have a Happy Ride, Sincerely DMus

 

Actually you're kidding to what I mentioned, I gave a brief mention to doing the pre trip, I did not specify the whole thing word for word if I had you'd still be reading an hour later, yes I check all my levels before and after I start the truck, All Im suggesting is do some of the pre trip items at the pump to finalize your pre-trip inspection, more over how about this pal. How about actually doing your pre-trip inspection like millions of drivers never do everyday. They get up, write it down and drive off without so much as even getting out of their truck just to look at anything period. Now that the truth has transpired you can't tell me you haven't seen it a thousand times a thousand how many times you actually witnessed trucks pull up to do their break and then they just leave. sure they might get out and take a leak on the side of the truck tire to mark their spot but actually do a pre-trip before they leave, give me a break thats a crock of "bs" and we both know it. Hey if you're going to do anything at all do it where you can see it, at least at the pump you got lighting and other accessories like usually and air hose, water, paper dispenser to check your oil with and a waste-can to throw out your garbage. Besides, did I mention you actually get to fuel up there? Imagine that? the use of pre-trippin at the fuel pump, hey maybe you'd be showing to other drivers you actually care about doing anything at all to your rig not only to keep it safe for your loads but also to the other people that use the highway while you're pulling your load down it, All I'm saying is once in a while try actually doing the work with out just writing it down...

 

You guys are worried about someone holding you up at the pump, lousy excuse. You pulled up behind the guy who just happens to be doing something,you got a choice you can back out of it and move to a different pump or watch the guy actually do something, its not like you just watched him grab his shower bag and head in for a rinse, you do have a choice. Now the guy who's gone and you see not a single hose going into the tank, oh ya I got ya", but to actually do something other than pump fuel, now thats ironic" Let me hold you up at the pump, by showing you I care about my rig, let me show you I'm willing to pull up and even be willing to go park just to get something to eat or to take a shower but at the pump, Im on-duty not driving, checkin what needs to be checked before I get down the road and find myself with the triangles out trying to figure out what went wrong, I got a clue... Do you?