Pre-trip/Maneuver Week Coming

Fellow truckers, last week completed week 3 of school, not to bad. We received our Bumper to Bumper certificates. Friday, we were able to do a pre-trip practice test A,B,or C along with coupling system in cab and air brake test. I didn't do hot, my flow wasn't quite what I wanted even though I memorized the packet. At then end, if that was for the actual cdl test, I would have passed that part. What are some of y'alls tips/practice for pre-trip flow? Also will take any additional advice on maneuver, straight, off set, and parallel are the 3 we will do. Not sure why 45/90 ally dock isn't taught. Well, thanks in advance.

My truck on pre-trip was to write down from memory the parts in the order I would do them in an actual pre-trip and check myself correct it and do it again until I could do it without missing any. Then you have the parts and just have to talk about condition and securement. Our school taught us phrases to use over and over like cracked, damaged or broken for metal parts, abrasions, bulges or cuts for rubber, stray wires, frayed wires or illegal tape for electrical lines, riped, torn or frayed for like your seat belt. And everything is properly mounted and secured.

As far a backing goes I highly suggest using every moment you can and I really found it helpful to go to the straight back and purposely pull up slightly crooked so it was more challenging and taught me more about how to move the trailer. That was once I could straight back pretty good.

Good luck!

The best way I know to help you maintain a good flow while saying the pre trip is to pretend you are teaching it to someone who has never done a pre trip before. When I was in school we had new groups of students coming in each week. Whenever I had a new student watching me practice pre trip it was easier for me to say because I felt like I was teaching it instead of just saying the words. It had more meaning i guess.

Flash cards helped me with the pre trip. Especially if you have someone who can test you with them

• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
• Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
• Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
• Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions

Thank you all very kindly for your posts. I will try out some of these ideas tomorrow morning. I'm just hoping since it was kinda a on the spot thing, that after this week of actual pre-trip time and intro to maneuvers it will all fall together nicely. One can hope anyways. I'll post an update tomorrow after school. Thanks again for y'alls tips and replys. Stay safe & warm out there.

Hello,

I was taught, and did my pre-trips starting at the top and go front to back (or back to front) of the engine compartment, starting with the drivers side. Then for my "walk around", I would start at the front (facing the tractor) and go to the passenger side and work my way around, going from top of the truck/trailer, until I got back to the front. This way I wouldn't forget or miss anything, and by finishing where I started, I knew I did a complete pre-trip. And in almost 5 years, I passed any DOT inspection, and the only thing that was found (that I didn't pick up) at a 60 day inspection was a front wheel bearing seal on the inside of my right steer tire that had just started to slowly leak, and I only missed 1 day on the road because they had to get the sweal from the dealer because it was the 1 and only seal for the entire truck that they ran out of (LOL), and they caught it on a Saturday, and I had weekends off.

The only thing that I will suggest is that what ever way you learn it in school, and from your trainer at whatever company you go with, keep doing it the same exact way, every time, every day... Then this way you will usually not miss anything, and you will build a good habit.

Thank you kindly for the advice. Our handouts we have, we were not allowed to use last Friday for this impromptu event lols. For some reason, I just felt I was missing things, then got the jitters and felt like jumping all over. With this topic I am going to try several different things and hopefully find my flow. Verbiage isn't horrible, definitely not perfect, but after reading numerous threads here, I want to be one who can turn around and help out one day and strive to give truckers a good name like so many here.

Fellow truckers, Being humble I feel is very important to being who I am. Today as we started week 4 of school I was kinda in shock that some of the students who were really good at all the classroom work and obtaining that permit and memorized the pre-trip hand out, were ones today who were hiding when one of the instructors asked for a volunteer to do a random pre-trip inspection complete with coupling, in cab, brake test. Well, after yalls insight I just jumped off the deep end. The instructor picked B, so I took a deep breath and before I knew it, I was finishing the Tug tests, and he was just sitting there like...well..is that it. I was a little stricken by that, and looked him in the eyes and yes sir. I'm complete. To my surprise, I only lost 4 points for very minor details, and said if this was test day, you would have smoked it. I feel I owe you all my gratitude for the wisdom and other threads. It was just the confidence boost that made me feel refreshed and relieved lol. Well, tomorrow morning, I will get to start the maneuver 101 portion as I call it. The straight back. Lol. Yall stay safe n warm. Again, thank y'all kindly for the wisdom and time.

Congratulations Sir!