Tractor/Trailer Inspection Proceedure

	Vehicle inspections help to catch potential problems before they occur. Conduct a walk around inspecion before you head out on the road and again during periodic rest amd meal stops. The following inspection proceedure for tractor/trailers was developed by the Federal Department of Transportation. 1. Left Side of Cab Click Here 2. Front of Cab Click Here 3. Right Side of CabClick Here 4. Right Saddle Tank Area Click Here 5. Trailer Front Click Here 6. Right Rear Tractor Wheels Area Click Here 7. Rear of Tractor Click Here 8. Coupling System Click Here 9. Right Side of Traile Click Here 10. Right Rear Trailer Wheels Area Click Here 11. Rear of Trailer Click Here 12. Required for Double and Triple Trailer Rigs Click Here 13. Left Rear Trailer Wheels Area Click Here 14. Left Side of Trailer Click Here 15. Left Rear Tractor Wheels Area Click Here 16. Left Saddle Tank Area Click Here 17. Inspect Inside the Cab Click Here 18. Controls, Mirrors, Windshield, and Emergency Equipment Click Here 19. Combination Vehicles Air Brakes Click Here 1. Left Side of Cab Note general condition of left front wheel Condition of wheel: Especially cracks, rim missing, rim bent, or broken studs, clamps, lugs Condition of tires: Properly inflated; valve stem not touching wheel, rim or brake drum; valve cap in place; no serious cuts, bulges, tread wear, or any signs of misalignment Wheel bearing and hub: No leaking Left front suspension Condition of springs, spring hangers, shackles U-bolts: No cracks, breaks or shifting Condition of shock absorber Left front brake Condition of brake drums and hoses Check air chamber mounting Check slack adjusters Back to List
	2. Front of Cab Condition of Front Axle Condition of Steering System No loose, worn, bent, damaged, or missing parts Condition of Windshield Chack for damage and clean if dirty Check windshield arms for proper spring tension Check wiper blades for any damage, "dead" rubber, and securement to arm Lights and Reflectors Cab parking, clearance, and identification lights; Clean, operating and proper color Reflectors should be clean and proper color Right front turn signal light should be clean, operating and proper color Back to List 3. Right Side of Cab Check all items as done on left side Back to List
	4. Right Saddle Tank Area Right Fuel Tanks Securely Mounted, not damaged or leaking Fuel crossover line secure Tank(s) full of fuel Cap(s) on secure Condition of visible parts Rear of engine: Not leaking Transmission: Not leaking Drive shaft: Looks OK Exhaust System: Secire, not leaking, and not touching wires, fuel or air lines Frame and cross members: No bends, cracks or breaks Air lines and electrical wiring: Secured against snagging and chafing Back to List 5. Trailer Front Air and Electrical Connectors Glad Hands: Properly mounted, free of damage, and not leaking Electrical Line Receptacle: Properly mounted, free of damage, plug adequately sealed, and safety catch engaged to prevent accidental disconnect Air and electrical lines should be properly secured against tangling, snagging, and chafing; with sufficient slack for turns Lights and Reflectors Front trailer clearance and identification lights: Clean, operating and proper color Reflectors: Clean and proper color Back to List
	6. Right Rear Tractor Wheels Area Dual Wheels Condition of wheels and rims: No cracks, missing or bent rims, broken spacers, studs, clamps, or lugs Condition of tires: Properly inflated; valve stems not touching wheels, rims or brake drum; valve caps in place; no serious cuts, bulges, tread wear, or any sign of misalignment, and no debris stuck between them Tires: All same type; do not mix radial and biased types on the same axle Tires: Evenly matched in circumference Wheel Bearing and hub: No leaking Tandem Axles Repeat wheel/tire inspection as above Suspension Condition of spring(s); spring hangers, shackles, and U-Bolts Condition of torque rod arms and bushings Condition of shock absorbers Axle alignment Brakes Condition of brake drum(s) Condition of hoses: look for any chafing Check slack adjusters Check air chamber mounting Check spring brakes Back to List
	7. Rear of Tractor Frame and cross members: not bent, cracked, or otherwise damaged or missing Lights and Reflectors: Tail lights and turn signal lights- operating, clean and proper color Splash Guards: Present, not damaged, properly fastened, not dragging on ground or rubbing tires Back to List 8. Coupling System Fifth wheel (lower) Securely mounted to frame No missing or damaged parts No visible space between upper and lower fifth wheel Locking jaws: Around the shank and NOT the head of the kingpin Release lever: Prpoerly seated and safety latch/lock engaged Fifth wheel (upper) Kingpin not worn, bent or damaged Sliding fifth wheel Mechanism not worn, bent, damaged; no parts missing Properly lubricated All locking pins present & locked in place If air operated: No air leaks. Be sure to check that the fifth wheel is not so far forward that the tractor frame will strike landing gear during turns Air and electric lines visible from this point: Should be secure from dangling, snagging and chafing Should be free from damages, oil, grease Back to List
	9. Right Side of Trailer Front trailer support (landing gear or dollies) Fully raised, no missing parts, not bent or otherwise damaged Crank handle: Present and secured (typically on left side) If power operated: No air or hydraulic leaks Spare Tire(s) Carrier or rack: Not damaged Tire and/or wheel: Securely mounted in rack Tire and wheel condition: Adequate for a spare (proper size and properly inflated) Lights and reflectors Trailer side clearance lights: Clean, operating, and proper color Reflectors: Clean and proper color Frame and body Frame and cross members: Not bent, cracked, damaged, or missing Body parts: Not damaged or missing Proper placarding Back to List 10. Right Rear Trailer Wheels Area Dual wheels Condition of wheels and rims: No cracks, missing or bent rims, broken spacers, studs, clamps, or lugs Condition of tires: Properly inflated; valve stems not touching wheels, rims or brake drum; valve caps in place; no serious cuts, bulges, tread wear, or any sign of misalignment, and no debris stuck between them Tires: All same type; do not mix radial and biased types on the same axle Tires: Evenly matched in circumference Wheel Bearing and hub: No leaking Tandem Axles Repeat wheel/tire inspection as above If equipped with sliding axles: Check position and alignment; look for damaged, worn, or missing parts; all locks present, fully in place, and locked against fallout Flexible air lines: Not cracked, cut, crimped, or otherwise damaged; secured against tangling, dragging, and chafing Suspension Condition of spring(s); spring hangers, shackles, and U-Bolts Axle alignment Condition of torque rod arms and bushings Brakes Condition of brake drum(s) Condition of hoses, lines, and valves Check slack adjusters Check air chamber mounting Check spring brakes (if so equipped) Drain moisture from air tank: close petcock Back to List
	11. Rear of Trailer Lights and reflectors Rear clearance and identification lights: Clean, operating, and proper color Reflectors: Clean and proper color Tail lights: clean, operating, and proper color Cargo securement Cargo: properly blocked, braced, tied, chained, etc. Tailboard: Up and properly secured End Gates: Free of damage; properly secured and in stake pockets Canvas or tarp (if required): Properly lashed down to prevent water damage, tearing, billowing, or blockage of either the mirrors or the rear lights Rear doors: Securely closed, latched, locked; required security seals in place Underride guard in place: Not cracked, bent, or broken Back to List 12. Required for Doubles and Triple Trailer Rigs Check these items if you are checking a double or triple combination Shut-off valves (at rear of trailer: In service and emergency lines Rear of front trailers OPEN Rear of last trailer CLOSED Convert dolly air tank drain valve CLOSED Be sure air lines are supported and glad hands are properly connected If spare tire is carried on converter gear (dolly: Make sure it is secured Be sure pintle-eye of dolly is in place in pintle hook of trailer(s) Make sure: Pintle hook is latched Safety chains: Are secured to trailer(s) Light cords: Firmly in sockets on trailer(s) This check should be repeated for each converter dolly in the rig Remeber to check each trailer if you are checking doubles or triples Back to List
	13. Left Rear Trailer Wheels Area Check all items as done on right side except for air tank draining Back to List 14. Left Side of Trailer Check all items as done on right side Also check any traffic side doors Back to List 15. Left Rear Tractor Wheels Area Check all items as done on right side Back to List 16. Left Saddle Tank Area Check all items as done on right saddle tank area except for spare tire Also check the following Battery (if not mounted elsewhere) Battery box: Securely mounted to vehicle, has secure cover Batteries: Secured against movement Battery Case: Not broken or leaking Non-Maintenance free batteries Fluid in batteries at proper levels Cell caps: Present and securely tightened Vents in cell caps: Free of foreign material Back to List
	17. Inspect Inside the Cab Get in the cab Make sure parking brake is on and gearshift in neutral (or "park" if automatic) Start engine: Listen for unusual noises Look at the gauges Oil pressure: Should come up to normal seconds after engine is started Back to List 18. Controls, Mirrors, Windshield, and Emergency Equipment Check all the following for looseness, sticking, ddamage or improper setting: Steering wheels, clutch, accelerator ("gas pedal"), and brake controls - foot brake, trailer brake (if vehicle has one), parking brake, and retarder controls (if vehicle has them) Test parking and service brake stopping action If vehicle has hydraulic brakes Check for leaks Transmission controls Interaxle differential lock ( if vehicle has one) Air compressor drive belt: Check tightness and condition Horn(s) Windshield wiper/washer Lights: Headlights, dimmer switch, turn signal, 4-way flashers, and clearance, identification, and marker light switches Check mirrors and windshield: Inspect for cracks, dirt, illegal stickers or other obstructions to seeing; Clean and adjust as needed Check emergency equipment Check safety equipment: Spare electrical fuses (unless vehicle has circuit breakers), three red reflective triangles, and properly charged and rated fire extinguisher Check optional items: Tire chains (where winter conditions require them), tire changing equipment, list of emergency phone numbers, and accident reporting kit Back to List 19. Combination Vehicle Air Brakes Check that air flows to all trailers (double and triple trailers) Test Tractor Protection Valve Test trailer emergency, parking and service brakes Check manual slack adjusters on S-cam brakes, and adjust Back to List