Proper Pre-Trip For Newbies

Sure, when you have your CDL and no longer need to worry about having a DMV right there breathing down your neck.... but unless your practicing for the test it's simply good to know what component you are checking...

 

YOU CHECK EVERYTHING it is that simple. You should know what most of the stuff is if you have ever driven a car. The only things that are different are trucks have the air system, the fire extinguisher, and the flares or emergency triangles. The air system should be covered in the little books you can get from the DMV. If you dont know what a fire extinguisher looks like then you need more schooling, same with emergency flares or triangles.

You are checking the fluid levels
You are checking the belts
You are checking for leaks
You are checking for loose bolts, hoses fasteners of all shapes and sizes
you are checking lights
you are checking tires
you are checking the air system
you are checking the controls
you are checking the gauges

YOU ARE CHECKING EVERY POSSIBLE VISABLE THING THAT YOU CAN SEE, AS WELL AS SOME THINGS YOU CANT SEE.

 

There's also a pretty comprehensive list in the Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas. 2012's version is on pg A5.

 

TURN SIGNALS-- Properly mounted and secured not cracked, bent or broken, good rubber seal, no moister, clean, clear in color, function .....should be amber color!!!

 

this was very informative and it was simular to the one i did at Career Tech fotr their pre trip test, it covered most of what they covered just some extra things which they covered as well.

 

The official Rand Mc Nelly truckers road map also has a complete run down of a driver's inspection list of things to do.

 

All I know thus far is that it is a pain trying to memorize

 

you shouldnt be memorizeing it, you should be Learning it. It wont do you any good if you only know what to say, you need to know what all the parts look like, what your looking for, whats good, whats bad, and whats legal. Make sure your school is teaching you all of this! Its important, real drivers can tell road service whats wrong so they can show up with the right tools and parts the first time, while a idiot is gonna be there all day while the road service guys have to make multiple trips to fix the problem.




American Trucker

 

Quick question. I am starting a new driving job in the next two weeks. The company is a food distributer. My schedule will be out 2 days, home 1 and out another 2 and home 2. I'm fairly new to trucking, ( did the local soft drink gig for a few months) and that's about it. What my question is, I'm pretty sure the trucks I will be driving are equipped with a C B radio, and I would prefer to have one while on the road, even for the few days I will be out. Do they sell CB's that I can plug into the cig. lighter and run that way, this way I can take it when I go home, because most likely I won't be running the same truck all the time. Thanks !

 

yes you can just get a power cord for your CB that plugs into the lighter socket.



American Trucker