Pre-Trip Inspection Test...Any Tips/Advice?

Remember that the parts are right there in front of you, so you have a cue as to what you need to be talking about.

As others have said - flash cards. Once you write them out and review them, get either a blank set of cards or a piece of paper and write it all out again. I used abbreviations that made sense to me to get through this faster. Every night I would go through the pre-trip at least three times, visualizing and writing it out each time, then checking against the script to be sure I was not leaving anything out.

Reading something and reviewing it helps, but writing it out will make it stick. Plus it gives you a written record to grade so you can see what you've left out.

Also - it helped me to go through it all in reverse order. When I was in school, we started at the front of the truck, did the engine compartment, in-cab, driver's side, rear, and passenger side ending at the front of the truck. So I'd start with the front passenger side and work around in the opposite direction.

And finally, if you can, team up with two or three other students that are motivated to learn, and test each other. It helps to get feedback and it also makes one less self-conscious about performing in front of others - since that has to be done on test day.

For me, my brain was focusing too much on how to say it, that I would get tongue tied, try and go back to correct, and mess it up more.

I went through two notebooks. I would write the section, word for word, from the study guide, twice. Then I would watch the video once. Flip the page, and write out what I remembered, then go back and check the section. Then I would go to the actual truck, go through "the script" while touching/pointing at the truck parts.

Then I would do it all again. Knowing how your brain works is the key to being able to retain and recall the information. I needed the script, to keep everything in exact order, so I wouldn't trip over myself with nerves, and forget an entire section!

I would recite it while shampooing my hair. While folding laundry. Any time I had a minute, I filled it with repetition.

When I tested, I missed zero items/steps on the pre trip. You will get there, it just takes practice and repetition. I still recite it while I'm looking my truck over.

This is what I did to learn my pre-trip inspection.

# 1. Take whatever study guide your school has given you and actually write out how you would be saying it to the examiner. # 2. Then take your script out to your truck and record yourself doing your pre-trip. Just like you will be saying everything to the examiner. # 3. Now.. you listen to your own pre trip .. in your own words.. as much as you can possibly stand it. Then listen some more. Now... Do the same thing for your in-cab inspection and air brakes test. Trust me.. this works.

Our school training director did a YouTube video on the pre-trip. We were not required to do it in his exact order, but the video was a big help. I watched that thing every day. Also, one of my instructors showed me the order in which he did his in-cab portion, which made more sense to me and was easier to remember.

Also, we were allowed to use a cheat sheet during our on-field training. Some here have mentioned flash cards. I made an outline to use as a reminder (front and back of two pieces of paper), put it in a clear sleeve to keep the dirt/grime off of it, and carried it every pre-trip I did during training. Each time, I used the cheat sheet less and less, until I was getting through the pre-trip without help.

On exam day, I missed two things: I failed to call out check air pressure on the drive tires, and I missed a torsion bar on the trailer tandems.