Safety First 03: Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections

Safety First · Lesson 03 of 30 · Basic Operation
Free safety education based on the federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory curriculum. This is not certified ELDT training and does not count toward a CDL.

The third unit of the federal Class A theory curriculum is Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections. It covers how a driver checks the vehicle before driving, during the trip, and at the end of the day's work.

Federal rules place inspection duties on the driver and on the motor carrier. This lesson explains the driver's part.

Prefer to listen? Hear this lesson on the 18whings Safety podcast.

What this unit covers

Under 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix A, this unit teaches driver-trainees to conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections, including appropriate inspection locations, and en route inspections. The unit refers to two federal rules: 49 CFR 392.7 and 49 CFR 396.11.

1. Before driving: the driver must be satisfied

Under 49 CFR 392.7(a), a driver may not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless the driver is satisfied that these parts and accessories are in good working order:

  • service brakes, including trailer brake connections,
  • parking (hand) brake,
  • steering mechanism,
  • lighting devices and reflectors,
  • tires,
  • horn,
  • windshield wiper or wipers,
  • rear-vision mirror or mirrors,
  • coupling devices,
  • wheels and rims,
  • emergency equipment.

Under 49 CFR 396.13, before driving, the driver must also:

  • be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition,
  • review the last driver vehicle inspection report, if one is required, and
  • sign that report to acknowledge the review and that there is a certification that required repairs were performed.

2. Intermodal equipment: container chassis

Under 49 CFR 392.7(b), before taking intermodal equipment over the road, the driver must inspect these components and be satisfied they are in good working order:

  • service brake components that are readily visible to the driver, including trailer brake connections,
  • lighting devices, lamps, markers, and conspicuity marking material,
  • wheels, rims, lugs, and tires,
  • air line connections, hoses, and couplers,
  • king pin upper coupling device,
  • rails or support frames,
  • tie down bolsters,
  • locking pins, clevises, clamps, or hooks,
  • sliders or sliding frame lock.

A driver who operates the equipment over the road is deemed to have confirmed that these components were in good working order when the driver accepted the equipment. If a component is not in good working order, do not take the equipment over the road until the problem is fixed or the equipment is replaced.

3. The inspection routine

CDL manuals teach a seven-step inspection method (for example, Section 2.1.5 of the New York manual). Before Step 1, as you approach the vehicle, look at its general condition, check for damage or leaning to one side, look under it for fresh leaks, and check the area around it for hazards.

  1. Vehicle overview. Review the last vehicle inspection report.
  2. Check the engine compartment.
  3. Start the engine and inspect inside the cab.
  4. Turn off the engine and check the lights.
  5. Do a walk-around inspection. Lights, wheels, tires, suspension, brakes, cargo, and more, all the way around the vehicle.
  6. Check the signal lights.
  7. Start the engine and check. This includes testing the brakes.

Learn the full routine in your state CDL manual, and follow it the same way every time.

4. Tires and emergency equipment

Tread depth (49 CFR 393.75):

  • Front tires of a truck or truck tractor: at least 4/32 of an inch, measured at any point on a major tread groove.
  • All other tires: at least 2/32 of an inch.

Emergency equipment (49 CFR 393.95):

  • Fire extinguisher: one rated 5 B:C or more, or two rated 4 B:C or more. A power unit carrying placardable quantities of hazardous materials needs one rated 10 B:C or more. It must be filled, readily accessible, and securely mounted.
  • Warning devices: three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles, or at least six fusees. Fusees and other flame-producing devices may not be carried on certain hazardous materials loads and on vehicles that use compressed gas as fuel.

5. After the day's work: the inspection report

Under 49 CFR 396.11(a), at the completion of each day's work, the driver must, with limited exceptions, prepare a written report on each vehicle operated. The report lists any defect or deficiency, discovered by or reported to the driver, that would affect safe operation or result in a mechanical breakdown. A report is not required if no defect or deficiency is discovered by or reported to the driver.

Intermodal equipment is handled differently. The daily report under 396.11(a) excludes intermodal equipment tendered by an intermodal equipment provider. Under 396.11(b), the driver or motor carrier must report any known damage, defects, or deficiencies in that equipment to the provider, or its designated agent, when the equipment is returned. The provider must repair problems likely to affect safety before the equipment is used again.

Quick check

  1. Under 49 CFR 392.7(a), who must be satisfied that the brakes, steering, lights, and tires are in good working order before driving? (Answer: the driver.)
  2. What is the minimum tread depth on the front tires of a truck or truck tractor? (Answer: 4/32 of an inch.)
  3. When must a driver prepare a written report under 49 CFR 396.11(a)? (Answer: at the completion of each day's work, when a defect or deficiency is discovered by or reported to the driver.)

Find every Safety First lesson under DRIVE.

This lesson is general education, not legal advice. Follow the inspection routine in your state CDL manual and your carrier's policy, and confirm current rules with FMCSA. Drivers getting their first Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or getting a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement for the first time must, with limited exceptions, complete entry-level driver training from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.

Sources

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