Vehicle Inspection
Vehicle Inspection tests the seven-step pre-trip, the brake tests, and the habit of catching defects before they become breakdowns. The examiner wants a sequence, not a random walk around the truck.
The inspection sequence
Start with the engine off: check leaks, fluids, belts, and the area around the vehicle. Move to the front, then the left side, then the coupling area, then the right side, then the rear, and finish with the engine compartment and in-cab checks. Check lights, tires, wheels, rims, lug nuts, brake chambers, hoses, and securement.
Brake tests
- Parking brake test: with the vehicle parked, set the parking brake and pull against it in a low gear; it should hold.
- Service brake test: at low speed, apply the brakes and confirm the vehicle stops smoothly without pulling.
- Leak test: with the engine off and brakes released, pressure loss should be within the manual's limit; repeat with the brake pedal applied.
Worked example
During the walk-around you find a cut tire sidewall and a loose lug nut on the same wheel. You do not note it and go-you report it, get it repaired, and reinspect. A cut sidewall can fail at highway speed, and a loose lug nut can damage the studs and wheel.
Traps
Skipping the engine-off leak check; inspecting only one side; forgetting the coupling area on a combination; and treating a pre-trip as a formality rather than a go/no-go decision.