Partial pretrip inspection CDL test

If they say pretrip under the hood, do everything that you would check that's under the hood on a pretrip. Hoses, belts, brakes, leaks, tires, etc. Too much is better than not enough.

If the school is testing you, ask them for clarification.

 

DO you have a cdl manual?

If so it is in the manual.

BUT ....

You may be asked for the following -

if the fan belt is in good condition or with cracks and what constitutes a bad belt

If the springs have any cracks or any defects that you can see.

You shouldn't be asked to do this but you may be asked to describe how to test for loose steering components, including free play. They may also ask you how to test the steering for free play in the steering column either while you are inside or outside the truck.

You will also be asked where different items are like coolant tank, dip stick, shocks and other items are.

You will also be asked what the wear limit is for the steers - this one seems to trip up everyone.

Again there isn't much they will ask you about the read, but they will ask you what the wear limits are on the drive tires, they are different than the steers.

Everything they ask is in the book.

 

You will need to plan on checking everything listed in your manual. Yes, many times the examiner will stop you halfway through and say that’s good enough. But that seems to be at their discretion so it’s hard to say what will happen for you when you go to test.

The more thorough you are right from the start, the more likely they will let you skip over things.

 

I’m not sure if this is correct or not, but while watching a pretrip video, the guy said that you can usually get away with saying, I would do the same on the other side, if it is a component that is on both sides of the vehicle.
Anyone know for sure?

 

.cdl pretrip is broken into 4 sections for testing. A,b,c and d.
A is front of cab from the front edge of door forward and coupling. B is from door to rear of tractor and coupling. C is trailer and .Coupling. D is the whole thing

 

I've never known a tester to ask for the location of a given part. It's your responsibility to know the parts, what they do and the location of those parts. If doing a partial, provide more info than less and even begin to start the identification of another area. Leave it to the tester to tell you, "OK, that's enough."

 

I read somewhere that some drivers actually do a pre-trip. I went to a 10 day cdl school and the instructor said, "Wake up, get out of truck, stand between drives and sleeper, take a leak, hit the highway."

 

Why get out in the cold? Pee in a bottle or drill a hole in the floor.

 

connect a tube long enough so you can pee while driving. just solved a first world problem there