[REQUESTED] - Pre-Trip Safety Inspection Checklist

[CHEESE_WAGON]

One other thing...

While most skoolies do not have engine brakes, for those who do, I added this little gem for when descending hills...

"IF you have an engine brake, do NOT use it in wet / slick weather. The engine brake can cause a skid and result in a loss of control or a rollover."

What this means, essentially, is if the pavement is wet or slick from rain, snow, slush, etc... Do NOT use the engine brake to descend hills under these conditions. The engine brake kicking back against the drive axle can cause the tires to lose traction or hydroplane, which can cause a serious accident.

 

[rhbcub]

This is great stuff. Thank you for taking the time to write it up and even go back and edit.

Gives one a lot more confidence. Very cool.

Someone ought to sticky this

 

[Romoshka]

Thanks!

As a new skoolie gonna-be I’m currently looking for my build platform and this was a perfect find!
Would love to find a similar document discussing the various engines and transmissions.

 

[miwealia]

I’m with you! I feel overwhelmed by all of this but understand the necessity. I’m guilty of thinking I could just hop in and go.

Yes! That was kinda what I thought, too...before I read this awesome but overwhelming thread!

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Late addition I didn't think to add before...

When checking the air brake system compressor, be sure to check for oil and air leaks. Oil leaks are particularly dangerous because some compressors (likely most) use the engine's oil supply, which can deplete quickly with a severe leak in this area. This DOES apply to belt-driven compressors as well as gear-driven. The T444E is one such engine to which this applies.

Added to the original post, but worth nothing for those who have already printed it out. Also, there is another 'C' to check for on belts and hoses - Cuts as well as Cracks.

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Yes! That was kinda what I thought, too...before I read this awesome but overwhelming thread!

It will seem overwhelming to anyone who's never done it before and doesn't know what is okay and what is not. Just take your time going through the list as practice, it will become second nature eventually. You can (and should) do it on any vehicle, even your daily driver.

Look on the bright side -- you get to learn it at your leisure and at your own pace. Trucking company training recruits get approximately 14-21 days to learn it before they have to impress a DOT examiner that may or may not be a hard-a$$. I, and many a trucking recruit that came before and after me, scrutinized this list and taking turns quizzing and being quizzed with "study buddies" until it was burned into our retinas and we saw it in our sleep.

I probably spent just as much, if not more time learning pre-trip out of class as I did in-class, because it was so critical to the job and to safety that it literally was a pass/fail. You missed one item or got one step out of sequence, you generally failed your DOT exam right there.

 

[Booyah45828]

The pre-trip isn't hard. It just appears that way because you have to memorize a long list of checks that you should do before the vehicle moves. The big thing with pre-trips is making it a habit of doing them. Once you get in the rhythm of it, the actual inspection is quick and easy. Eventually you'll get to know the quirks and peculiarities of your bus, and can spot things that are wrong with just a quick glance.

 

[Doodlebee]

Sooo...did something happen to this original post? Because I'm seeing nothing but gibberish. No list, just a bunch of letters randomly mashed together. (I've checked in multiple browser and platforms, thinking maybe it was what I was viewing it in, but everything I'm looking at it in is nonsensical.)

 

[o1marc]

Technical glitch in the OP. Mods notified.

 

[peakbus]

Technical glitch in the OP. Mods notified.

Hope they can get it back that was fantastic info from the big Cheese