Your Pre-Trip Truck Inspection Checklist
As a responsible truck driver or fleet manager, it is imperative that you understand how to properly inspect your vehicle before a trip. Taking the time to walk around your truck and look it over thoroughly can help save you a headache down the road if a tire blowout occurs or you do irreparable damage to your vehicle by driving with bad parts or insufficient fluids.
Not only do you need to do this for the safety of yourself and other drivers, but it’s also generally a legal concern: you’re required by the Department of Transportation to perform an inspection to avoid violations.
K. Neal Truck and Bus Center, with four locations throughout Maryland and Virginia, is your local truck dealer. We’ve outlined exactly how to check your truck before a big trip below!
Front of the Truck
Open the hood and take a look at the components of your engine. Fluids are one of the most crucial things to check on here, including your windshield-wiper fluid, power steering fluid, coolant and oil, the latter of which could require changing if it’s sludgy. Make sure the water pump, alternator and air compressor are in good working order.
This might seem like it goes without saying, but make sure your gas tank is full of fresh fuel before you depart, too: many a driver has been stranded by the side of the road because they failed to notice that “empty” gauge.
Down Either Side
Walk down both sides of your truck and examine the air hoses, catwalk and exhaust. Check the drive axle over and make sure your suspension system is in order. One of the most important parts to check on is the condition of your tires: all your tires need to be aired up to the manufacturer’s recommended psi levels.
You should also ensure that your tires have sufficient tread depth and don’t sport any bald patches or sidewall cracks. A bad tire can wreak havoc on a small compact car if it blows on the highway; imagine how awful it would be if you suffered a blowout in your truck!
Coupling Unit
Take a look at the fifth wheel and kingpin connection on your truck. You don’t want your coupling to come undone while you’re cruising down the road at highway speeds, so make sure that all the parts are in good shape and that everything connects as it should.
In Your Cab
Finally, it’s time to climb in the cab and make sure that it’s reasonably clean and that you can see clearly through your windshield and that your mirrors are properly adjusted. Make sure that all safety devices are in place and functional, including the parking brake and even your seatbelt. Turn on your vehicle and ensure that your windshield wipers work, your gauges are operational, that your heating and cooling systems come on and that all your lights and signals work properly.
Keep in mind that if your truck requires some professional attention before your next trip, you should get in touch with our service department. The team here at K. Neal will be happy to help you out however we can to get your truck into shape. If you’re looking to buy, visit one of our four dealerships in Virginia and Maryland to take a look at our wide stock of new and used trucks for sale. K. Neal Truck and Bus Center proudly serves the cities of Gaithersburg and Hyattsville, MD, as well as Lorton, VA.