CDL Pre-trip Section: C (trailer)

(7½ ft. high, bottom to top of header board, 8½ ft. wide, 32’ ft. long, GVWR 61,000 lbs.)

• Header Board, DOT and Safety Check Stickers:

Securement:  Properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked or damaged. “DOT stickers are clean, visible and wraps around the trailer.  Safety Check sticker is current and valid.”

• Two Glad Hands and Rubber Seals:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged, cut or frayed.  Not leaking any air.  “Clean and clear of any grease, oil, water or foreign debris.”

• Electrical Plug In and Prongs:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged, cut or frayed.  “Clean and clear of any foreign debris.”

• Skid Plate and Apron:

Securement:  Properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or twisted.

• Side Markers, Reflectors and Rubber Seals:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged, cut or frayed.  “Clean and amber in color with the exception of the rear lights which are red.  Has no condensation.”

• DOT STICKERS:

“Properly mounted and secured.  Clean and visible.”

• Platform and Floor Boards

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked or damaged.  “Is clean and clear of any loose objects or foreign debris.”

• Container Lock, Tie Down Rings and Load Rings:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or missing.

• Frame and All Cross Members:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or twisted.  “Frame has no re-welds or excessive drill holes.”

• AIR LINE AND FITTINGS  (BRAKES):

Securement:  Fittings are present and is properly mounted and secured.  

Condition:  No Bulges, Cuts, Cracks, Tears, Holes, Excessive Rub or Air Leaks when the brakes are applied.

• BRAKE CHAMBER AND CLAMP  (BRAKES):

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and is properly mounted and secured.  

Condition:  Not Broken, Cracked, Damaged or Twisted.  No Leaks when the brakes are applied.

• PUSH ROD, CLEVIS PIN, COTTER PIN AND SLACK ADJUSTER  (BRAKES):

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not Broken, Cracked, Damaged or Twisted.  “To check the Slack Adjuster, I would ask someone to release the trailer brakes and step on the service brake.  The Slack Adjuster should not move more than 1”.”

• BRAKE PAD AND DRUM  (BRAKES):

*Point to Brake Pad and Brake Drum.

Securement:  Properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not Broken, Cracked or Damaged.  “There is no Grease, oil, re-welds, exposed rivets, metal shavings or foreign debris.  Brake pad is NO less than ¼ of an inch thick.”

• Two Axles:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.  

Condition:  Not Broken, Cracked, Damaged or Twisted.  Has no re-welds.

• (Suspension System) Spring Mounts, Floating Axle, U Bolts and Leaf Springs:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and properly mounted and secured.  

Condition:  Not Broken, Cracked, Damage, Twisted, Misaligned, Missing or Shifted.  “If ¼ or more of any leaf is missing, vehicle will be put Out of Service.”

• TIRES I.C.D.:

“Inner and Outer tire walls have no serious abrasions, bumps or cuts.  Not leaking any air.  Tire has even wear.  Rear tires must have at least 2/32 of an inch tread depth.  Can’t be mismatched.  Can be recapped.  I can check the pressure with a tire gauge.  Proper inflation is 105 psi.  No rubbing which could cause a fire.  Spacing between tires is clean and clear of any foreign debris”

• Valve Stem and Cap:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged.   Not missing or leaking any air.

• Front, Rear, Inner and Outer, Inner and Outer Rim, Lug Nuts and Wheel Studs:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged.  Has no repairs, re-welds, rust trails or shiny threads indicating a loose nut.

• Vent Holes:

“Free and clear of any of any foreign debris that could cause a tire fire.” 

• Hub Seal and Sight Glass 

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or leaking any gear oil.  “I can see that it is full.”

• Mud Flap:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or missing.  “Mud flap should cover the width of the duals and ¾ from the height of the tire to the ground.”

• Reflectors, 4 Way Flashers/Turn Signals, Brake Lights, I.D./Running Lights and Rubber Seals:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged, cut or frayed.  Clean and red in color.  Has no condensation.

• License Plate, Dock Bumper and Low Rise Bar:

Securement:  Properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or twisted.  License plate is clean and visible.  Registration is current and valid

• As I inspected…

“As I inspected my side markers, reflectors, rubber seals, DOT stickers, container lock, load ring, tie down ring, cross members and frame, brake system, suspension system, front rear inner and outer inner and outer rim, lug nuts, hub seal, sight glass, vent holes, valve stem, front rear inner and outer inner outer and upper tire and mud flap on the driver side, I would inspect it the same way on the passenger side.”

• Landing Gear Foot, leg, Cross Members, Gearbox and Crank:

Securement:  All nuts and bolts are present and tight and is properly mounted and secured.

Condition:  Not broken, cracked, damaged or twisted.  “Gearbox is not leaking any grease.  Crank has two gears, it goes all the way up and down properly.”

• Adequate spacing….

There’s adequate amount of spacing between the landing gear and the back of the tractor to allow for turning.

****DO CONNECTIONS AND FIFTH WHEEL****