Vehicle Inspection
Vehicle Inspection tests whether you can find defects before a passenger bus leaves the lot and whether you know which defects are out-of-service. The pre-trip is not a quick walk-around; it covers the engine compartment, driver area, exterior, and passenger compartment.
What to inspect
- Engine compartment: fluid levels, belts, hoses, leaks, battery securement, and steering components.
- Driver area: seat, steering play, horn, wipers, gauges, mirrors, and emergency equipment.
- Exterior: lights, reflectors, tires, wheels, rims, brake chambers, mud flaps, and body damage.
- Passenger area: seats, doors, windows, aisles, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, and reflective triangles.
Tire and brake specifics
- Front steer tires need at least 4/32 inch tread; other tires need at least 2/32 inch. Do not use recaps on front tires.
- Check inflation, cuts, bulges, and loose lug nuts. Check brake adjustment and air loss.
Worked example
A front tire measures 3/32 inch tread. It passes the 2/32 general minimum but fails the 4/32 front-axle minimum. The bus should not be dispatched until the tire is replaced. Reasoning: steer-axle tires carry the most steering and braking load.
Traps
Inspecting only the outside; forgetting interior emergency exits; accepting 2/32 on a front tire; skipping brake adjustment; and failing to record and report a defect.