Pre-trip inspection checklist
A printable walk-around checklist for tractor-trailers, in the order most CDL manuals teach it. Tap items to tick them off on your phone, or print it for the clipboard.
Approach
- Fluid puddles or leaks under the vehicle
- Vehicle leaning to one side (suspension or tires)
- Damage to body, lights, mirrors and glass
- Area clear of people, objects and low wires
Engine compartment
- Engine oil level
- Coolant level and hoses
- Power steering fluid and hoses
- Belts: tension, cracks, fraying
- Leaks: oil, coolant, fuel, hydraulic
- Wiring: insulation, loose connections
- Air compressor and mounting
- Steering box, linkage, nothing loose or missing
Start the engine, inside the cab
- Gauges: oil pressure, air pressure, coolant temp, voltage
- Warning lights and buzzers work, then go out
- Steering wheel free play within limits
- Horns (city and air)
- Wipers and washers
- Heater and defroster
- Mirrors and windshield: clean, no cracks in view
- Seat belt
- Emergency kit: fire extinguisher, three reflective triangles, spare fuses if required
Lights
- Headlights low and high beam
- Four-way flashers
- Turn signals, front and rear
- Clearance, marker and identification lights
- Brake lights
- Reflectors and conspicuity tape
Walk-around, each wheel
- Tire tread depth and even wear
- Tire inflation, no bulges or cuts
- Dual tires not touching, nothing between them
- Rims: no cracks or bent spots
- Lug nuts: none missing, no rust trails
- Hub oil seal: no leaks, level OK
- Brake chamber, pushrod, slack adjuster
- Brake drums and linings: no cracks, not too thin
- Brake hoses and lines: no leaks or rubbing
- Springs, spring mounts, shocks, airbags
- Mud flaps
Coupling
- Air and electrical lines connected, no leaks, not dragging
- Fifth wheel mounted securely, plate greased
- No gap between upper and lower fifth wheel
- Locking jaws around the kingpin shank, not the head
- Release arm locked, safety latch in place
- Sliding fifth wheel or tandem locking pins fully engaged
- Landing gear fully raised, crank handle secured
Air brake check
- Air leakage rate within your CDL manual's limit
- Low air warning comes on at or before 60 psi
- Spring brakes come on automatically as pressure drops
- Governor cut-in and cut-out pressures are normal
- Air builds up within the normal time
- Parking brake holds; service brake test stops the rig evenly
ilovemyrig.com/tools/pre-trip-inspection-checklist/ ยท General checklist. Follow your state CDL manual and company procedure.
This is a general checklist built from the order most state CDL manuals teach. Your state's CDL manual, your company's procedure and the FMCSA rules come first; use them for exact pressures and limits.
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