CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Texas

What Texas DPS Evaluates and How You Are Scored

Texas requires every CDL applicant to demonstrate a systematic Vehicle Inspection Test. The examiner expects you to show that the vehicle is safe to operate by naming, pointing to/touching, and clearly explaining what you are inspecting and what defects you are checking for. If you do not verbalize and demonstrate each safety-critical item correctly, you will not receive credit. Failure to follow instructions or committing an unsafe act (for example, forgetting to set the parking brake) can result in an automatic failure and test termination. In the modernized exam format, you will typically be asked to inspect one axle, but you should be prepared to perform the same inspection on every axle.

What this means for you on test day

• Your performance is an oral demonstration as much as a visual one: say what you are inspecting, point to it, touch it if safe, and explain acceptable conditions vs. out-of-service defects. 
• Expect the structure to include In-Vehicle or Engine Start, Lights Operations Check, External Inspection, and (if applicable) Combination Vehicle items. 

In our daily operations, we advise drivers to treat this exam script as the foundation for their DVIR habits. Turning the test language into your routine shortens audits and prevents findings, our compliance team has seen that again and again.

The Recommended Order for the pre-trip inspection

A disciplined route helps you avoid omissions and reduce cognitive load. A practical sequence is:

1. In-cab or Engine start (indicators, emergency equipment, wipers, heater/defroster, horns; parking/service brake checks; air or hydraulic brake checks).
2. Lights Operations Check (all external lights).
3. Front of vehicle and Engine area (lenses, levels, leaks, steering components).
4. Steer axle (tires, rims, lugs, suspension, brake lines/hoses/contamination).
5. Side of vehicle (reflectors, battery, fuel/DEF tanks, frame).
6. Combination area (air and electric lines & connectors, apron/kingpin/fifth wheel, platform, locking jaws).
7. Trailer and rear (landing gear, side and rear lights and reflective tape). 

In-Cab & Brake Check

Inside the cab, conduct and narrate:

• Lighting indicators: left and right turn, four-ways, high beam; ABS and DEF/DPF indicators as equipped.
• Emergency equipment: three triangles, properly charged and secured fire extinguisher, and fuses or circuit breaker identification.
• Windshield & monitoring devices: glass free of damage and obstructions; mirrors and cameras clean and adjusted.
• Wipers and washers; heater and defroster; horns.
• Parking brake check, trailer parking brake check (for combinations), and service brake check (vehicle tracks straight at ~5 mph).

Air Brake Check:

1. Air gauge & governor cutoff: build to manufacturer cutoff (≈ 120–140 psi); identify the exact cutoff.
2. Leakage rate: key on, engine off; brakes released (and tractor protection valve released on combinations); apply full foot brake, loss must not exceed 3 psi in 1 minute (single vehicle) or 4 psi in 1 minute (combination).
3. Low-air warning: fan brakes until warning activates before 55 psi (or manufacturer spec).
4. Emergency brake pop-out: valves should pop between 20–45 psi.

Thorough in-cab and brake checks correlate with fewer claims and roadside out-of-service events. Preventive inspection is the first layer of risk control.

Lights and Visibility

Execute the Lights Operations Check methodically: headlights (low and high), turn signals, four-ways, clearance/marker, tail/stop, and any school bus or passenger-specific lights if applicable. Narrate the color, location, condition (clean, secure, not cracked, proper color), and operation. This is a high-yield portion of the test—quick to perform, easy points to bank.

Memory aid used by many training programs: “Leaks, Leans, Lights (3 L’s)”—start at the front, scan for fluids on the ground (leaks), suspension posture (leans), and all lights for condition and operation. This mnemonic reinforces a consistent, top-to-bottom, center-out review.

We recommend you to document bulbs replaced and lens repairs in your maintenance notes; it shortens compliance queries and demonstrates continuous control.

Front and Engine Compartment

At the front/engine:

• Lenses: clear, amber/red where applicable; clean, not cracked.
• Fluid levels & leaks: oil, coolant, power steering; under-vehicle check for drips/puddles.
• Belts/hoses: proper tension, no abrasions, bulges, cuts; clamps secure.
• Steering system: steering box secure, no leaks; pitman arm, drag link, tie rod with castle nuts/cotter pins; no excessive play.
• DEF system (if equipped): level adequate; cap secure; no leaks.

Steer Axle & Foundation Brakes

Focus on:

• Tires: properly inflated, no cuts or bulges, minimum tread depth (steer tires typically 4/32”); even wear.
• Rims: no cracks, no illegal welds.
• Lug nuts: all present, snug, no rust trails/shiny threads.
• Hubs/seals: not leaking; proper fluid level (sight glass) or cap secure.
• Suspension: springs, mounts, U-bolts, airbags/shocks—secure, no damage or leaks.
• Brakes: hoses/lines intact, no leaks; chamber secure; slack adjuster/pushrod with proper travel; drums/rotors without cracks; linings with adequate thickness and not contaminated.

Tire and brake documentation are common roadside focus points. Our guidance at Simplex is to pre-stage gauge checks and snapshot readings in your DVIR app to reduce disputes

Side of Vehicle

Along the side:

• Reflectors and side markers: correct color, clean, not cracked.
• Battery box: secure, no corrosion; cables tight.
• Fuel & DEF tanks: caps secure, no leaks; straps secure.
• Steps and catwalks: solid, free of debris; maintain three points of contact when climbing.
• Frame & crossmembers: straight, no cracks; no unauthorized welds or holes

Fuel cap issues and ladder/step slips are frequent claim origins. Build a habit of touch-verification and voice it to the examiner to earn credit and embed the behavior.

Coupling

For combination vehicles, the coupling system is a centerpiece:

• Air & electrical lines and connectors: not chafed, not leaking; glad-hands with good seals; no audible air leaks; pigtail seated and locked.
• Apron & kingpin: apron flat, no gaps; kingpin straight, not bent or worn.
• Fifth wheel/platform/locking jaws: platform secure; no gap between apron and fifth-wheel plate; locking jaws fully engage the shank of the kingpin; release arm in the locked position.
• Mounting & slide: pins in place; no missing/broken parts; safety latch in place.

Trailer and Rear

Walk the trailer:

• Landing gear: legs and crank secure; fully raised (or down and locked if parked); no damage.
• Side & rear: DOT-approved reflective tape intact; side markers and rear lights operational; doors/hinges/latches in good condition.
• Tandems/axles: springs/airbags, tires, rims, lugs, hubs, and brakes as on the tractor.
• Rear underride guard (ICC bar): present, secure, no cracks. 

Before a long run, we recommend photographing reflective tape and door latch condition; it documents pre-trip conditions if damage is discovered at delivery.

Automatic-Fail Triggers and Safety Protocols

Two categories to avoid at all costs:

1. Instruction errors: not following the examiner’s directions, skipping required steps, or failing to name/point/explain items.
2. Unsafe acts: moving the vehicle with parking brakes unset, failing to secure the vehicle before exiting, or otherwise creating a hazard. Either can cause immediate failure.

Additionally, remember to use wheel chocks where directed, and when entering or exiting, face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact.

Many preventable injuries stem from rushing these basics. Examiners watch them closely because the road will, too.

Resources and Ongoing Support

A robust pre-trip habit pays dividends beyond test day:

• Compliance & Permitting: Consistent inspections simplify DVIR, IFTA/IRP documentation, and audit responses. At Simplex, our specialists in Texas manage the paperwork so drivers can focus on safe operation.
• Freight Planning & Factoring: Reliable equipment and clean roadside records shorten dwell times and support stronger cash flow—our Freight4U division helps align freight choices with maintenance realities.
• Insurance: A rigorous pre-trip reduces surprises. Our insurance practice has observed that strong inspection culture correlates with fewer claims and more favorable renewals over time.

Passing the CDL Pre-Trip Inspection in Texas is about disciplined structure and professional narration: say, point, and explain each safety item while demonstrating correct techniques, especially the four-part Air Brake Check. Internalize the order, use succinct mnemonics, and treat the test script as your everyday safety routine. That approach protects your Texas commercial driver license, your freight, and your business.

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