Semi-trailer truck pre-trip inspection

Any semi-trailer truck pre-trip inspection should be based on the CDL Vehicle Inspection Test‎‎.

Versions

According to the 11.6.1 section of the CDL Vehicle Inspection Test‎‎, the tested applicant is "required to perform one of the four versions of a Vehicle inspection in the vehicle."

All versions include:

1. an engine start,
2. an in-cab inspection,
3. an inspection of the coupling system,
4. an inspection of the entire vehicle or only a portion of the vehicle.

Version A

1. Front of truck
2. Engine compartment
3. Steering components
4. Of one side of the steering axle:
   • Suspension components
   • Brake components
   • Tires
   • Wheels
5. Coupling system
6. Inside the cab, including Air brake check, Parking brake check, Service brake check

Version B

1. Driver's door/fuel area
2. Behind the cab
3. Of one side of any tractor tandem axles:
   • Suspension components
   • Brake components
   • Tires
   • Wheels
4. Coupling system
5. Inside the cab, including Air brake check, Parking brake check, Service brake check

Version C

1. Coupling system
2. Trailer front and sides
3. Of one side of any trailer tandem axles:
   • Suspension components
   • Brake components
   • Tires
   • Wheels
4. Trailer rear
5. Inside the cab, including Air brake check, Parking brake check, Service brake check

Version D

An inspection of the entire vehicle may consist of:

1. Front of truck
2. Engine compartment
3. Steering components
4. Of one side of any axle:
   • Suspension components
   • Brake components
   • Tires
   • Wheels
5. Driver's door/fuel area
6. Behind the cab
7. Coupling system
8. Trailer front and sides
9. Trailer rear
10. Inside the cab, including Air brake check, Parking brake check, Service brake check

Inside the cab

Brake check series

The brake check series consists of three different checks:

1. Air brake check
2. Parking brake check
3. Service brake check

Air brake check

Failure to perform all three components of the air brake check correctly will result in an automatic failure of thee vehicle inspection test. If you realize that you have missed something or did something incorrectly during your air brake check, you may start over.