Driver Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist

Confirm CDL class and endorsements match the equipment and freight (Class A for combo; H or X for hazmat loads). Check the DOT medical card expiration — a lapsed med card is an automatic out-of-service violation under Part 391.41. Cab registration, IRP cab card, and current insurance card must be physically present.

Power up the ELD (Motive, Samsara, Geotab, etc.) and confirm it shows the correct driver, current duty status, and synced engine data. If the ELD is malfunctioning, switch to paper logs immediately and notify dispatch within 24 hours per Part 395.34.

Confirm 10 consecutive hours off-duty before starting the 14-hour clock. Check remaining 11-hour drive time, 60/70-hour cycle, and whether a 30-minute break is due after 8 hours of driving. Flag any unresolved exceptions from the prior day for dispatcher annotation.

With engine off and ignition on, fan brakes down: low-air buzzer should activate at ~60 psi and the spring brakes should pop out at ~20–40 psi. Failure here is a CVSA out-of-service item — do not depart.

Glove-box accident packet should contain witness cards, camera/phone instructions, post-accident drug-test contact info, insurance card, and the carrier's 24/7 dispatch number. Post-accident testing window is 8 hours for alcohol and 32 hours for controlled substances under Part 382.303.

Steer tire tread depth must be at least 4/32" in any major groove (Part 393.75). Check for sidewall cuts, bulges, exposed cord, and uneven wear. Verify cold pressure against the tire placard — typically 105–110 psi for steers on a Class 8 tractor.

Drive tire minimum tread is 2/32". Look for missing or loose lug nuts, rust streaks indicating loose wheels, and cracked or bent rims. Mismatched tire sizes on the same axle is a Part 393 violation.

With brakes released, push rod stroke on Type 30 chambers should be under 2" — anything longer is out-of-adjustment per CVSA OOS criteria. Look for cracked chambers, leaking diaphragms, and broken or missing slack-adjuster components.

Check headlights (high/low), turn signals, marker lights, clearance lights, hazards, and ICC bumper reflectors. Mirrors should be clean and properly aligned for the right-side blind spot. A single inoperative required lamp can fail a roadside Level 1 inspection.

Verify oil, coolant, power steering, and washer fluid levels. Look for visible leaks at the oil pan, water pump, and turbo. Inspect belts and hoses for cracks or fraying. Check DEF level — a low DEF tank will derate the engine and strand the truck.

Get under the trailer and visually confirm the fifth wheel jaws are closed around the kingpin with no gap between the trailer and the fifth wheel plate. Tug-test by pulling forward against locked trailer brakes. An unlocked or high-hitched fifth wheel is a top cause of trailer drops.

Confirm red (emergency) and blue (service) gladhands are seated with seals intact. Air lines and the seven-way electrical pigtail should be free of cuts, abrasions, and ice buildup, and routed clear of the catwalk and driveline.

Set the trailer brake only (yellow valve in, red out), release tractor brakes, and gently pull against the trailer — it must hold. Reverse and confirm the tractor parking brake alone holds the combination. Failure indicates an air leak or stuck valve.

Landing gear fully retracted, crank handle stowed and secured. Mud flaps present and not dragging. Trailer tires meet the 2/32" minimum and show no sidewall damage. Check that the DOT annual inspection sticker is current — an expired sticker is OOS at roadside.

For dry van: confirm doors are closed, locked, and the shipper seal number matches the BOL. For flatbed: verify straps, chains, edge protection, and tarping per Part 393 Subpart I working load limits. For reefer: confirm set point, fuel level, and continuous-vs-cycle mode per shipper instructions.

Complete the driver vehicle inspection report per Part 396.11. "No defects" is a defensible certification only if the walk-around actually happened — copy-paste DVIRs are routinely subpoenaed in litigation and used to impeach the driver. Capture odometer and trailer number.

Attach photos of any defect noted — air leak source, tire damage, light failure, or fluid leak. Include the part of the equipment in the frame so the shop can stage parts before the truck arrives.

Call the shop manager with the defect, expected repair time, and whether the unit is OOS. Dispatch reassigns the load or arranges a swap. Do not depart on an OOS condition (brake out-of-adjustment, tire below tread, inoperative required lamp at night, leaking fuel tank).

Electronic or wet signature certifying the inspection per Part 396.13. The DVIR must be retained for at least three months. The signature is the legally operative artifact in any post-accident discovery.

Pull the rate confirmation and BOL in the TMS or driver app (McLeod, Motive, Truckbase). Verify pickup number, appointment time, and any low-clearance, hazmat, or Prepass routing notes before rolling out of the yard.