What is a "real life" pretrip?

Pre trips are important, I do a walk around and do a visual before taking off after 10. For example I picked this up at a truckstop. If I took off it would've pierced all the way through and ruined my day....

 

You should do a pretrip inspection like taught. Aditionally, you should always be checking the truck. Walking back to it from the trucker store, look for leaks and dangling stuff that where not there during your pretrip. Look for low tires or bolts, nails and screws in tires. I just found a bolt the other day, while looking at my drive tires, during untarping. Saved us big bucks just repairing a tire, instead of replacing a tire. And with my super single tires, saved us a road call too. Learn and pay attention to how your truck sounds and feels. That'll tip you off to a lot of things before even a pretrip will. Doing a thorough pretrip inspection is important, but equally important and seldom mentioned is the "all the time and forever" inspection.

 

The more you walk around truck, checking everything. The less time stuck waiting for road service. And think how nice it is to have all lights clean and working. Take note on a trip how many company trucks , and how many owner operaters are broke down. You will see more company trucks because it's not there equipment.

 

I didn't know all those old FLD's broke down were company trucks.

 

Saw a brilliant one the other day, actually had video of it, this driver pulling out of the truck stop to go to work while I was pulling in, only one headlight functioning.

 

I do the basics, check the fluids when I fuel, so every other day. Check the brakes" press the while moving slowly forward, same with the trailer brakes". Check the tires. Then I look at stuff they're gonna see driving past a scale. Lights, mud flaps, hanging lines. You want to check for any damage that might have happend while you were away from the truck, maybe another driver bumped ya. That's as much to cover your ##* with the company, as to not draw attention at a scale or inspection. I also do a tug test from time to time, it's never happend to me but I've heard stories about people's King pin release being pulled.

 

@toledoT cool dog

 

If the truck rolled into the place, chances are it will roll out.