The Importance of Pre-Trip Inspections

All truck drivers are required to go through pre-trip inspections of their vehicles before they hit the road. This is a crucial safety measure to ensure all truck parts in La Salle, CO are operating in accordance with applicable safety regulations. While advances in technology have done more to alert truck drivers when something is wrong with their vehicles, the pre-trip inspection allows you to catch all potential issues before you actually take to the road, helping you eliminate some of the danger associated with truck driving.

Most trucking companies will provide their drivers with a detailed overview of everything that should be included in a pre-trip inspection, but the general idea is to conduct a comprehensive overview of all the most important parts of a truck, and to get a sense of its overall condition. Here are just a few examples of some of the items that should always be included in a pre-trip inspection:

• General walkaround of the vehicle: Before you focus on any specific part of the vehicle, conduct a walkaround and perform a general visual inspection. Look for any signs of wear or damage or anything that could indicate an underlying issue. If anything does stick out, such as a rust spot or a dent that was not previously there, take whatever action you deem appropriate.
• Check your fluids: Before every trip, examine the levels of steering fluids, coolant, oil, transmission fluid etc. Keep an eye out for possible leaks. Do you notice any oil spots under the vehicle after it’s been parked? You can also examine the lines and reservoirs to see if there are any potential areas where leakage is occurring. If you do spot signs of leakage, you should get those parts of the vehicle repaired immediately. Never go out on the road if you know you have a fluid leak.
• Check the tires: The tires are the sole point of contact between your vehicle and the road, and they’re what keeps your drive smooth and safe. You should make sure that all tires are in good condition—any signs of damage or bulging should make you consider replacement. Check the tread of the tires as well. If the tread wears down too low, then you’ll lose a lot of friction on the road, thus making the drive less safe. Finally, make sure you check the pressure of your tires regularly with a pressure gauge. The pressure should always be within the manufacturer-recommended range.
• Check the engine block: Keep a close eye out for any signs of cracking on the engine block. This is another spot where you could potentially find some fluid leaks, but your main purpose here should be to check the condition of the belts to ensure they’re not frayed.
• Check the wiring: Do a quick visual inspection of the wiring in your vehicle, and if you see any bare or exposed wires, or wires that don’t appear to belong, get some maintenance assistance as soon as possible.

For more information about conducting a pre-trip inspection and to ensure you have fully functioning truck parts in La Salle, CO, reach out to J.H.T. Service & Repair, LLC.

Categorised in: Truck Parts

This post was written by Writer