What it means
A pre-trip inspection is a walk-around and a cab check done before the vehicle moves. The driver looks at tires, lights, brakes, fluids, mirrors, hitch and coupling gear, load securement and the safety gear on board.
The checklist depends on the vehicle. A box truck, a tractor-trailer, a bucket truck and a pickup do not share one list. Follow the maker's manual and your company procedure for what to check and how.
If the driver finds a defect that makes the vehicle unsafe, the vehicle stays parked until it is fixed or cleared by whoever has the authority to clear it.
Why it matters
Most breakdowns and roadside failures show up as something small first. A low tire or a loose chain is easy to catch at the yard and expensive to catch on the highway. The check also shows the driver was looking.
What it looks like on a site
- The driver walks the same route around the vehicle every time, so nothing gets skipped.
- Tires, lights, brakes, fluid leaks and mirrors get a look. Trailers get the hitch and the doors.
- A defect gets written down with a photo, and the shop is told right away.
- A driver who finds an unsafe defect doesn't drive the vehicle. The lead finds another unit or waits on the repair.
- The record goes in the vehicle file so the next driver and the shop can see it.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary