Section 10: Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test

Section 10: Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test

THIS SECTION COVERS
* Internal and External Inspections

During the pre-trip inspection. You must show that the vehicle is safe to drive. You will have to walk around the vehicle and point to or touch each item and explain to the examiner what you are checking and why. You will NOT Have To Crawl under the Hood or under the Vehicle.

10.1 All Vehicles

Study the Following Vehicle Parts for the Type of Vehicle You Will Be Using During the CDL Skills Test. You Will Need to Identify Each Part and Tell the Examiner What You're Looking for or Inspecting.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT (ENGINE OFF)

Leaks/Hoses
• Look for puddles on the ground.
• Look for dripping fluids on underside of engine and transmission.
• Inspect closest for condition and leaks.

Oil Level
• Indicate where dipstick is located.
• See that oil level is within safe operating range. Level must be above refill mark.

Coolant Level
• Inspect reservoir site glass, or.
• (If engine is not hot), remove radiator cap and check for visible coolant level.

Power Steering Fluid
• Indicate where power steering fluid dipstick is located.
• Check for adequate power steering fluid level. Level must be above refill mark.

Engine Compartment Belts
* Check the following belts for snugness (up to 3/4 inch at center of belt), fax, or frays:
-- Power steering belt.
-- Water pump belt.
-- Alternator belt.
-- Air compressor belt.

Note: if any of the components listed above are not driven, you must:-- Tell the examiner which components are not vote driven.
-- Make sure the components are operating properly, are not damage or leaking, and a mounted security.

CAB CHECK/ENGINE START

Clutch/Gearshift
• Depress clutch
• Please gearshift lever in neutral (or park, or automatic transmissions).
• Start engine, then release clutch slowly.

Oil Pressure Gauge
• Make sure oil pressure gauge is working.
• Check the pressure gauge shows increasing or normal oil pressure or that the warning light goes off.
• If equipped auto temperature gauge should begin a gradual rise to the normal operating range.

Temperature Gauge
• Make sure the temperature gauge is working.
• Temperature should begin to climb to the normal operating range or temperature light should be off.

Ammeter/Voltmeter
• Check that gauges show alternator and/or generator is charging or that warning light is off.

Air/Vacuum Gauge
• Check for proper operation of, and acceptable readings on air and/or vacuum gauge(s) see Air Brake Check also.

Wisconsin
Speedometer
• Check for speedometer -- should be present, not obscured or obviously broken.

Wisconsin
Mirrors and Windshield
• Mirrors should be clean and adjusted properly from the inside.
• Windshield should be clean with no illegal stickers, no obstructions, or damage to the gas.

Emergency Equipment
• Check for a spare electrical fuses.
• Check for three red reflective triangles
• Check for a properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.

Notes: If the vehicle is not equipped with electrical fuses, you must mention this for the examiner.

Steering Play
• Non-power steering: Check for excessive play by turning steering wheel back in forth. They should not exceed 10 degrees (or about 2 inches on a 20 inch wheel).
• Power Steering: with the engine running, check for excessive play by turning the steering wheel back and forth. Play should not exceed 10 degrees (about 2 inches on a 20 inch wheel) before front left wheel barely moves.

Wipers/Washers
• Check that wiper arms and blades are secure, not damage, and operate smoothly.
• If equipped, windshield washer must operate correctly.

Lighting Indicators
* Test that dash indicators were when corresponding lights are turned on:
-- Left turn signal.
-- Right turn signal.
-- 4 way emergency flashers.
-- Highbeam headlight.

Horn
• Check that air horn and, or electric horn work.

Heater/Defroster
• Test that the heater and defroster worked

Parking Brake Check
• Apply parking brake only and make sure that it will hold the vehicle by shifting into a lower gear and gently pulling against the brake.

Hydraulic Brake Check
• With the engine running, apply firm pressure to the service (foot) brakes at all and hold for five seconds. The brake pedal should not move (depress) during the five seconds.
• If equipped with a hydraulic brake reserve (back-up) system, with the key off, depressed the brake pedal and listen for the sound of the reserve system electric motor.
• Check that the warning buzzer, and/or light is off.
• Check service (foot) brakes operation by moving the vehicle forward slowly (about 5 m.p.h.) and apply the brakes firmly. Note any vehicle "pulling" to one side, unusual feel or delayed stopping action.

Air brake check (they are brake equipped vehicles only)

Failure to perform on air brake check will result in an automatic failure of the Vehicle Pre-trip Inspection Test. Air brakes safety devices vary. However, this procedure is designed to see that any safety device operates correctly as air pressure drops from normal to a low air condition. For safety purposes, in areas where incline is present, you will use wheel chocks during the air brake check. The proper procedures for inspecting the air brakes system are as follows:

Test Air Leakage Rate (Static Check). With a fully-charged and air system (typically 120 PS I), turn off the engine, chock the wheels, release (push in). The parking brake button (old vehicles) and trailer air supply button for combination vehicles and time the air pressure drop. After the initial pressure drop, be lost rate should be no more than two psi and one minute for single vehicles and no more than two psi in one minute for combination vehicles.


(L.) – Leaks

Test Air Brake System for Leaks. With parking brake, (all vehicles) and trailer air supply button (for combination vehicles) released (pushed in), apply firm pressure to the service brake pedal. Watched air supply gauge and listen for leaks. After the initial pressure drop, illustrate for single vehicles should be no more than three psi in one minute and no more than four psi in one minute for combination vehicles. If the air lost rate exceeds these figures, and air system repaired before operating.

(A)– Alarm

Test Low-Pressure Warning Alarm And/Or Signal. Turn the key to the on position. Rapidly apply and release the service brake pedal to reduce air tank pressure. The little air pressure warning signal must come on before the pressure drops to less than 60 PSI in the air tank.

If the warning alarm/signal doesn't work, you could be losing air pressure without knowing it. This could cost for spring break to activate suddenly. Only limited braking can be done before the spring breaks come on.

(B) -- Button(S)

Check the Spring Brakes on Automatically. Continue to rapidly apply and release the service brake pedal to further reduce air tank pressure. The trailer air supply button (if it's a combination vehicle) and parking brake button should opt out when the air pressure falls to the manufacturer's specification (usually between 20 to 40 PSI). This causes the spring brakes to come on.

Check Rate of Air Pressure Build up. When the engine is operating at 1800 RPM, the pressure should build from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds and dual air systems. (If the vehicle has larger than minimum air tanks, the build time can be longer and still be safe. Check the manufacturer's specifications).

If air pressure does not build up fast enough, your pressure may drop to low during driving, requiring an emergency stop. Don't try up until you get the problem fixed.

Test Service Brakes. Wait for normal air pressure, released the parking brake and trailer air supply button (for combination vehicles), would the vehicle forward slowly (about 5 mph), and apply the brakes firmly using the brake pedal. Note any vehicle "pulling" to one side, unusual feel, or delayed stopping action.

This test may sure you problems, which you otherwise wouldn't know about until you needed the brakes on the road.

The driver must locate and identify all air brake components, perform the LAB (leaks, alarm and button(s)) correctly and check the service (foot) brake operation to pass a pre-trip inspection.

Safety Belt
. Check that the see people is securely mounted, adjust, and latches properly.

Lights/Reflectors
* Check that all external lights and reflective equipment are clean and functional. Lights and reflectors checks include:
-- Clearance lights (read on rear, amber elsewhere).
-- Headlights (high and low beams).
-- Taillights.
-- Turn signals.
-- 4 -- way flashers.
-- Brake lights
-- Red reflectors (on rear) and amber reflectors (elsewhere).

Notes: Checking the brake, turn signal and four way flasher functions must be done separately. You may ask examiner for help checking lights.