INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Below is a list of what we’ll be inspecting. Please ensure all items on this list are in compliance prior to your appointment. If your units are out of compliance, a re-inspection a a later date will be required.
MOST COMMON FAILS
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Brakes
- Brake lining thickness below the required minimum brake lining thickness as stated in FMCSA 49 CFR § 393.47(d)(1)and(2)
- Cracked drums
- Brake stroke out of adjustment
Lights
It doesn’t matter if it’s factory installed, or added on later. If a light is installed, it must be functional. This includes all auxiliary lighting, additional accessory lighting, decorative clearance lights, fog lights, light bars, etc.
- Clearance lights
- License plate lights
Tires
- Steer tires with less than 4/32 tread depth and drive or trailer tires with less than 2/32 tread depth
Glass
- Cracked windshields
- Broken mirrors
- Washer fluid
ITEMS INSPECTED
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Brake System
- Service brakes
- Parking brake
- Brake drums & rotors (cracks and wear depth)
- Brake lining thickness (all wheels)
- Brake chamber stroke measurement
- Brake hoses (dry rotting, fluid leakage)
- Air brake tubing (chafes, burns, leaks, cracking)
- Low pressure warning indicator/alarm
- Tractor protection valve
- Air compressor
- Electric brakes
- Hydraulic brakes
- Vacuum systems
- Visual condition of air brake cylinders (rust, dents, damage)
- Air brake cylinder securement and attachement
Coupling Devices
- Fifth wheel (attachment, hardware, visual damage, grease, release lever)
- Pintle hooks
- Drawbar/Towbar eye
- Drawbar/Towbar tongue
- Safety devices
- Saddle mounts
Exhaust System
- Exhaust leaks forward of or directly below the driver or sleeper compartment
- Bus exhaust systems leaking or discharging in violation of bus standards
- Exhaust system incorrectly mounted, likely to burn, char, or damage electrical wiring, fuel supply, or any combustible part of the motor vehicle
Lighting Devices
- Main head lights low beams
- Main head lights high beams
- Fog lights
- Front/Rear/Side/Roof clearance lights
- Front/Rear turn signals and corner indicators
- Front/Rear parking/running lamps
- Rear brake lights
- Reverse lights
- License plate lighting
- Cargo and rear tractor lighting
Safe Loading
- Part(s) of vehicle or condition of loading such that the spare tire, any part of the load or dunnage can fall into the roadway
- Protection devices from shifting cargo
- Container securement devices on intermodal equipment
Steering Mechanism
- Steering wheel free play
- Steering column/shaft into steering box or rack
- Front axle beam and all steering components
- Steering gear box conditon and securement
- Pitman arm
- Power steering
- Ball and socket joints
- Tie rods and drag links
- Nuts/Pins/Clips
- Steering linkage
Suspension
- U-Bolts
- Spring hangers
- Any other axle positioning part(s) cracked, broken, loose or missing resulting in shifting of an axle from it’s normal position
- Coil/Leaf/Air spring assemblies (cracks, breaks, chafes, leaks, or any other serious damage)
- Torque, radius or tracking components
Frame
- Frame rails (extreme rust, damaged mounts, cracks, illegal repairs)
- Tire and wheel clearance
- Adjustable axle assemblies and sliding subframes
Tires
- Steer tread depth (minimum 4/32 of an inch on all major tread grooves)
- All other tires tread depth (minimum 2/32 of an inch on all major tread grooves)
- Visual tire condition (damage, cuts, chafes, bubbles, separating tread)
Wheels and Rims
- Locks or side ring attachment
- Visual wheel and rim condition (cracks, breaks, bends, dents, extreme rust)
- Fasteners (all nuts are installed and tight)
- Welds (visual weld condition (rust, cracks, failures)
Windshield, Glass and Mirrors
- Cracks (no cracks within the windshield wiping path, no cracks more than 11″ outside of the windshield wiping path)
- Chips (no chips larger than 3/4″ or chips less than 3/4″ within 3″ of another chip.
- Glazing and discoloration from worn windshield wipers
- Side and rear windows must be damage free and tinted no more than 30%
- Mirrors must be unbroken, crack free and operable.
- Windshield washers must be operarable and contain washing fluid
- Windshield wipers (all power units must have functional and “effective” wipers/blades)
Trouble Indicators
- The dash shall have no warning or emergency lights illuminated
- No check engine lights
- No ABS lights