Question About Pre-trip

Okay, so I've been reading a lot on here, and I have a question for y'all. It concerns the "Field Expedient Method."

If you don't know what that is, basically it's a process or procedure chopped down to its most essential bits to save time. For example, Boresighting a tank—basically aligning your sights, making sure that the gun is aiming where the sight is. By the book, it takes about 30-45 minutes, but an experienced tank commander and gunner can get it done to standard in 15.

I've been studying The High Road and the Missouri CDL manual, focusing on pre-trip. I want to have it down pat so I can first-time go the exam. But looking at it, it seems it would take a decent amount of time to do the entire thing "by the book," done every day, at the start of every trip. I know that after a while, it would be quicker, but still.

I know safety is paramount, and I'm not asking permission or anything, I'm just curious: do you guys and gals do the entire thing every time, or do you use the F.E.M. and do a quicker version? If so, what do you check, what do you skip over?

I do, but I cheat a little by starting before my 10 hours is up. I'll get the pre trip done, then once my 10 hours is up, I'll log in and do the computer work.

I am a firm.believer in doing a full Pre trip, maybe a bit of my OCD, or maybe just paranoia, but I like to think that if I do my part to check the truck every day, that it will help prevent a failure which may end up hurting someone, or myself, and also I'm generally not worried when I pull into a check station. Yeah, an officer will find something if they want to, no preventing that, but I feel if I at least do my part, then I've tried.

It's just sad to see people leave the truck stops every day who don't even check anything. There's no telling the last time their truck was Pre tripped.

Also, it doesn't take that long once you get a rythym down. I generally spend about 15 to 20 minutes checking everything.

Lastly, the Pre-Trip test in school is probably the only time you will have to say everything out loud. Often the CDL examination Pre-trip is a partial thing (you still need to get that right!). And in your "F. E. M." you do need to look and check, but you don't need to say things.

Unless a tire is flat, then you can say what you want!

It all depends on what you want to do. I've seen guys that don't do pretrial and I've seen guys that check everything every day. Myself I can usually do a pretrip in about 10 mins except for the one coming off home time. I don't check my brake liners or my tire pressures every day. Tire pressure I check about once a week unless it doesn't sound right when I thump them and brake lining only gets checked every other or every 3rd day. I do pop the hood and visually check the hoses and fluids every day but I only get into the nitty gritty of actually moving them about once a week. I also do a walk around to check the lights and kingpin every day as well. Now that's just what I do. Not saying it's right or perfect but it saves me a few mins every day.