Pre trip inspection Flashcards
When doing the pre-trip, you should tell the examiner each item you are checking and 2-3 things you check each item for.
- True
- False
True
Try not to overdo the item or what you are checking it for. You only get 30 minutes to check everything on the vehicle.
Should you do an overview of your vehicle as you approach it (including looking for leaks, leaning, or excessive damage)?
Yes.
Overviews give you a chance to catch major problems early.
When checking the lights at the front of the vehicle what should you check for?
All lights will need checked at the front, back and sides of the vehicle. They will need checked for covers, cleanliness, secureness, and that they work.
When checking the windshield, what should you be looking for?
Mentioning the windshield and checking it for cracks, chips, and cleanliness is not enough. You will have to check the seals and for leaks to get it marked as checked.
When opening the hood, you should check?
The hood will always need checked, mainly for damage, but don’t forget the hinges, catches, and springs or you might not get credit.
Checking the mirrors on the outside of the vehicle you should check for?
Properly mounted, clean, no cracks.
Don’t forget you can have mirrors on the hood, and on the doors of the cab. While outside check for mounts, cracks, and cleanliness. You should also check them again when inside the vehicle to make sure they are properly adjusted.
In the engine compartment there are four fluids you must check, they are?
Moisture or leaks, oil, coolant, power steering fluid.
It is best to check all your fluids during a pre-trip inspection, but the fluids you have to say are oil, coolant, power steering, and checking for moisture and leaks.
In the engine compartment there are four major belt or gear driven components. What are they?
Power steering pump, alternator, air compressor, and water pump.
It is best to check all your belt and gear driven components, but the power steering, alternator, air compressor, and water pump are all that appear on the CDL pre-trip.
What should you check each of the fluids in the engine compartment for?
Proper level, clean of debris, not leaking.
All fluids should be at the proper level, clean, free of debris, with no leaks. You can also add proper color to this list. Some coolants are red, green and orange. Red or clear for most power steering. Oil can be difficult, it should be tan in color, but normally after use of the vehicle it gets black.
What are the main components of the steering controls found in the engine compartment?
The steering linkage consists of upper steering linkage, universal joints, power steering pump, pitman arm, drag link, tie rod ends, tie rod. They will all need checked separately.
What should you check the steering linkage for?
Along with the castle nuts, cotter pins, and excessive play you can check for illegal welds and cracks.
The leaf springs, shocks, U-bolts, shackles, and air bags are part of what system?
Suspension system.
Hoses in the engine compartment should be checked for?
Cracks, frays, & tears; tight, secure connections; no leaks.
The engine belts should be checked for?
Excessive play; cracks, frays, & tears.
Check each belt individually. There can be belts for a few different components under the hood. The excessive play of more than 3/4 of an inch.
Brake lines should be checked for?
As with all hoses, make sure the connections are tight and secure. That there are no frays, cracks, or damage to the lines with no leaks. With an airline leaks can be found by suspicious clean spots on the hose.
The slack adjuster is part of the braking system, what is the maximum play allowed with the brakes off?
1 inch.
There should be no more than 1 inch of play in any slack adjuster on the vehicle, with the brakes off.
Brake pads should be checked for?
They should have at least a 1/4 inch of life left on the brake pad, since they can wear unevenly also check that they are not dangerously thin, and no cracks or breaks.
Brake drums?
Make sure they are not misshapen (out of round), no illegal welds, and no cracks.
Brake drums (or discs) must not have cracks longer than:
1/2 the width of the friction area.
The area where the brake shoes touch the drum is considered the friction area, there should be no cracks 1/2 the width of that area.
Tires should be checked for?
Tires should not have any cuts, cracks, or bulges. You will need to make sure the tire pressure is up to manufacturer specifications, and that it has the proper tread depth.
Lug nuts (that hold the rim to the axle) should be checked for?
Lug nuts need to be tight and secure, no stripped or worn threads. The rust marks will start at the best of the lug nut and run to the outside of the rim and indicate a loose lug nut.
Check your mirrors from the inside of the cab for?
Adjusted so you can see.
If you checked them for mounts, cracks, and clean while outside of the vehicle there is no need to state those again. Adjustment can only be checked from the driver’s seat, but if you forgot to mention the mirrors on the outside of the vehicle you can check them now for everything.
The air pressure in a commercial vehicle should rise to governor cutout of?
120 psi.
Which gauge should be between 12-14, and in the green?
Voltmeter.
