10-4 May Safety Brief
PRE-TRIP INSPECTION
One thing that happens to all of us as we get more and more proficient at anything we tend to get complacent with the little things. The pre-trip inspection of your vehicle is no different. It becomes very routine and some drivers can fall into the trap of “it was fine yesterday”. In the same way that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, your pre-trip inspection is the cornerstone of having a safe vehicle.
Drivers are required to conduct this inspection before they begin their day and once every 24 hours. There is no set time for how long this inspection should take however a thorough inspection will take about 15 minutes.
Spending this time is in the driver’s best interest so that they can find the potential problems before they become an issue. Drivers need to make sure they log any problems found on their driver vehicle inspection report. This is a very basic way to protect your scores and your PSP.
Since the ELD mandate time has become an even more important commodity. Being placed out of service for an issue that could have been found on the pre-trip inspection can cost time and money.
Here is a list of commonly missed areas:
- Secondary Lighting (ID lights/Clearance lights)
- Braking System (Brake hoses)
- Reflectors (Mud flap/Upper body/Tractor)
- Reflective Tape-Trailer (Bumper/Bottom of door area)
- Wheel lug nuts
- Tires (Tread depth/Inflation/Noticeable defects)
- Log book/International Registration Plan (CAB Cards)/International Fuel Tax Agreement
