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Practicle Pre and Post trips help!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Rubber Duckles, Jun 13, 2009.

  1. Jun 13, 2009 #1
    Rubber Duckles

    Rubber Duckles Bobtail Member

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    Jun 13, 2009
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    Heya good buddies, question here. I need a good source as my quality control so I am doing good pre and post trips that will keep me outa hot water with the manager...ah yea, and keep my truck running well too.

    Obviousy noone has time to do the pretrip we learned in school or had to do fer our tests, so what is a good check list to do in the real world. When I start in the morning, it's dark out.

    So, any help is appriciated.

    Rubber Duckles out.
     
    Rubber Duckles, Jun 13, 2009
    Rubber Duckles, Jun 13, 2009
    #1
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  3. Jun 13, 2009 #2
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    :biggrin_255:You're watchin' too many "Smokey & Bandit" movies. The "good buddie' lingo is long dead and gone.

    As far as pre-trip, you need a flashlight, then check oil, coolant, belts, hoses, tires, lights, turn signals, wipers, fuel level, air lines, mud flaps, and brake linings. Then as you are pulling out, pull your trolley valve down to be sure you got brakes to the trailer. Bleed your tanks, even if you have an air dryer. All this takes about 10 minutes. If you drive the same truck everyday, you will probably be able to skip the oil check and fuel level. Always check for flat tires at the end of the day. You will kick yourself if you come in to work and have a flat that could have been repaired overnight.:biggrin_2555:
     
    Allow Me., Jun 13, 2009
    Allow Me., Jun 13, 2009
    #2
  4. Jun 13, 2009 #3
    halfburn

    halfburn Medium Load Member

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    Jasper AL
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    Do it just like you were taught in school. Part of the joy of this job is the monotony of doing the same thing over and over and over the same way, day in and day out from now to eternity. And... when you start skipping a check that is what is going to break, blow, fall apart or stop working in the worst possible place.
     
    halfburn, Jun 13, 2009
    halfburn, Jun 13, 2009
    #3
  5. Jun 13, 2009 #4
    notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    Reconsider no one has time. How long does it take to do a proper pre and post trip compared to sitting on the side of the road for hours waiting on a service truck to fix what you should have caught prior to rolling? The good buddy term is now considered calling another driver gay.
     
    notarps4me, Jun 13, 2009
    notarps4me, Jun 13, 2009
    #4
  7. Jun 13, 2009 #5
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    After checking the front end and under the hood these are some shortcuts.

    If the trailer is hooked but not finished up and even if it is, unhook the lines check for moisture in the glad hands and corrosion in the plug.
    Hook up the hoses and lights, turn the turn 4 ways on and push in the supply button while leaving the yellow one pulled, then go back and do the trailer, checking from the left front to the right, listen carefully for leaks at the back of the trailer, if you hear one try to find the source. The air suspension should be coming up at this time as well.

    If no leaks, the tires are up and the lights working, you can then pull the trolley valve to check for service brake leakage and check the brake lights on the tractor and the trailer. The waist lights should flash bright and dim, not on and off with the 4 ways.

    If the trailer is hooked, you can't check the brakes from hooking; if from backing under, the trailer backs away, the brakes are not working correctly, either from adjustment or usually from breakage. This needs attention, might be broken springs in the chambers, but more likely,something is wrong with the mechanicals that apply the brakes.

    You can do a tug test to check the brakes, if they are barely noticeable, the brakes need fixing.


    On the lights, make sure the ICC marker lights are working on the trailer.
     
    25(2)+2, Jun 13, 2009
    25(2)+2, Jun 13, 2009
    #5
    LostSoulCA and halfburn Thank this.
  8. Jun 13, 2009 #6
    notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    notarps4me, Jun 13, 2009
    notarps4me, Jun 13, 2009
    #6
  9. Jun 13, 2009 #7
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Good Buddy says it all.

    You always have time for what you deem important. Pretripping is the most important thing you can do.
     
    Powder Joints, Jun 13, 2009
    Powder Joints, Jun 13, 2009
    #7
  10. Jun 14, 2009 #8
    Rubber Duckles

    Rubber Duckles Bobtail Member

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    Jun 13, 2009
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    Ok, thanks for the responces. Firstly, calm down, the Good Buddy thing was a freakin joke.

    Secondly, it doesn't appear you all really do all this EVERY DAY, so, I was hoping for real life situations. Oh well, have a good day good buddies.
     
    Rubber Duckles, Jun 14, 2009
    Rubber Duckles, Jun 14, 2009
    #8
  11. Jun 14, 2009 #9
    Rubber Duckles

    Rubber Duckles Bobtail Member

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    Jun 13, 2009
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    This was helpful...thank ye.
     
    Rubber Duckles, Jun 14, 2009
    Rubber Duckles, Jun 14, 2009
    #9
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