Here are parts of a pre-trip truck inspection that could get overlooked.
Safe driving on the road will always be important to truck drivers, but another thing that needs to be emphasized is pre-trip truck inspections. A truck inspection is a vital part of safety protocol for truck drivers because it lets you know whether or not a truck is safe to drive on the roads. There are many steps you should follow during a truck inspection, but some steps can sometimes get overlooked, resulting in the possibility that you look over a problem with your vehicle, which is a serious safety hazard. Here are parts of a pre-trip truck inspection that could get overlooked.
Chocking the Tires
When people hurry to get on the roads, they may forget to chock their wheels before setting off on their next trip. Chocks are vital for any truck because they stop it from moving accidentally. You don’t want to be beneath your vehicle during an inspection only to have it start moving towards you.
Testing the Brakes
Brakes do a lot of heavy work for your truck, and you use them all of the time, so you need to check on them constantly. This will require you to check them from both outside of, and within, the cab. In addition to this, take a moment to observe the slack adjuster and look at your brake adjustment. You want to be certain that the brakes are adjusted appropriately. Lastly, make sure you don’t have leaking air lines, and that the trailer side and glad hands seals are in working order.
Looking at Your Seatbelts
Seatbelts are life-savers, and this applies to all drivers, not just the ones who drive trucks. That’s why you should check your seatbelts to make sure they haven’t been damaged. You don’t want them to snap and let you down in the event of a collision.
In addition to checking for damage, be sure the seatbelts retract and return properly. If they don’t, you’ll likely need to get new ones. Lastly, all seatbelts should lock and release after you tug on them strongly.
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Tags: safety, truck drivers, truck maintenance