Page 215 - Driving Commercial Vehicles Manual+

chapter 10 — vehicle and air brake pre-trip inspections

Class 1 1. Under hood
pre-trip inspection
As you approach, look under the vehicle for leaks.
Drain the reservoirs (for your road test, you’re only required to drain the
supply reservoir).

Check the following:
driving tip
❏ Licence plate • check for licence plate and valid decal
It’s often easier to spot leaks
and body damage as you
approach your vehicle than ❏ Fluids • check fluid levels and condition
when you’re right beside it. (for example, colour, smell) including:
engine oil, engine coolant, power steering
fluid and windshield washer fluid
fast fact
❏ Belts • ensure any drive belts have good tension
All reservoirs should be with no cracks, frayed cord or missing teeth
drained daily.
❏ Hoses • ensure hose connections are secure with
It can be hard to tell the
supply reservoir from the no kinks, leaks, cuts, abrasions or cracks
primary and secondary
reservoirs. Checking the ❏ Compressor • ensure lines are securely attached with no
air pressure gauges while kinks, leaks, cuts or abrasions • compressor
draining the reservoirs is securely mounted
may help you to tell which
reservoir is which.
❏ Steering components • check steering shaft, steering box,
tie-rods, idler arm and connections
• ensure they’re secure • no bends or
driving tip cracks

As you’re circling the vehicle ❏ Suspension As you inspect the vehicle, check the
conducting the pre-trip suspension at all wheels:
inspection, check each tire,
wheel and mud flap. Also • ensure there are no cracked, missing or
check suspension and frame, broken springs, torsion bars or walking
brake lines, brake chambers beams • no loose, missing or broken
and slack adjusters. Measure U-bolts • if air suspension, no cracked,
air brake chamber pushrod
travel. worn or inoperative airbags • mounts are
secure
Also remove the keys from
the ignition to ensure that
nobody tries to move the ❏ Frame As you inspect the vehicle, check the frame:
vehicle while you’re checking • ensure there are no cracks, broken
underneath.
welds, holes or other damage to the frame
including cross members and floor

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