Why Pre-Trip Inspections Matter
Pre-trip inspections are extremely important to keep you and our roads safe. As a truck driver you are required by law to check your tractor and trailer at the start of every trip, and every 24 hours.
A good Pre-Trip inspection allows you to fix any problem before heading out on the road. This inspection allows you to identify safety concerns, save money on repairs, limit downtime, and reduce liability for you and your truck company. All vehicle inspections have to be documented on the driver’s vehicle inspection report. If anything, unsafe is discovered during the pre-trip inspection, it must be fixed immediately. Follow these steps when doing your pre-trip inspection:
- Review the last driver’s DVIR and confirm any repairs needed were done. As the truck driver, you need to go over the last driver’s vehicle inspection report to verify that any pending repairs were done. If the truck didn’t need any repairs, you don’t have to worry about that, but if the defects were not listed by an authorized person, you shouldn’t drive the vehicle until the repairs are made.
- Verify that the truck’s documentation complies with DOT requirements. For this part, you must confirm that you have all the documents needed, from shipping papers to insurance cards, registration, and any additional documents the DOT requires.
- Conduct a general overview of the truck following the pre-trip inspection checklist, which includes:
- Engine compartment: check all the fluids, and confirm there aren’t any leaks. Go over belts, pulleys, AC compressor, alternator, and hoses.
- Front of the tractor: linkage tires, slack adjusters, pushrod, steering box, among other things.
- Driver and fuel area: mirrors, doors, fuel tank, and cap.
- Rear of Tractor and Coupling system: driveshaft, catwalk, frame, locking pins, fifth wheel, mounting bolts, among other aspects to review.
- Side of Trailers: landing gear, release pins tires, slack adjusters, chambers, drums and brake shoes, pushrod, and hoses.
- Trailer Suspension: joints, shock absorbers, airbags, and mounts.
- Lights and Reflectors: lights working properly.
- Engine Start-in cab: safety belt, wipers, mirrors, horn, parking and service brake check, safety emergency equipment, lighting indicators.
Inspection and Out-of-Service Rates
| Year | Total Inspections | Vehicles OOS | Vehicle OOS Rate | Drivers OOS | Driver OOS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 50,151 | 8,093 | 20.9% | 2,500 | 5.0% |
| 2021 | 40,669 | 6,710 | 16.5% | 2,080 | 5.3% |
| 2022 | 59,026 | 12,456 | 21.1% | 3,714 | 6.3% |
| 2023 | 59,429 | 11,270 | 19.0% | 3,256 | 5.5% |
| 2024 | 48,761 | 9,345 | 23.0% | 2,290 | 4.8% |
| 2025 | 56,178 | 10,148 | 18.1% | 3,342 | 5.9% |
Source: Commercial Vehicle and Driver Out-of-Service Rates During CVSA International Roadcheck (2020-2025)
The 2024 vehicle out-of-service rate of 23% was the highest in the five-year period, indicating a concerning trend in vehicle maintenance compliance. However, 2025 saw improvement with the rate dropping to 18.1%.
Top 5 Vehicle OOS Violations
Source: Top 5 Vehicle Out-of-Service Violations in the U.S. (2024 Roadcheck)
- Brake Systems remain the most cited violation category, consistently representing 25-26% of all vehicle OOS violations. In 2024, defective service brakes alone accounted for 3,093 violations in the U.S..
- Tire Violations have shown an increasing trend, rising from 19% in 2020 to 21.4% in 2025. Common tire issues include flat tires, insufficient tread depth, severe cuts exposing cord ply, and improper repairs.
- Lighting Defects typically account for 11-14% of vehicle violations, covering headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, and turn signals.
- Cargo Securement violations generally represent 9-12% of vehicle OOS violations, with a decrease noted in 2024 (9.6%) compared to previous years.
Top Driver Out-of-Service Violations
Driver violations show distinct patterns centered on documentation and licensing:
| Violation Category | 2024 U.S. Results |
|---|---|
| Hours of Service | 845 violations (32.3%) |
| No Commercial Driver’s License | 679 violations (25.9%) |
| No Medical Card | 304 violations (11.6%) |
| False Logs/Records | 283 violations (10.8%) |
| Suspended DL/CDL | 138 violations (5.3%) |
- Hours of Service (HOS) violations have consistently been the number one driver violation category, ranging from 32% to 41% of all driver OOS violations over the five-year period. This includes exceeding driving time limits and failing to maintain proper records.
- Licensing Issues represent a significant safety concern, with operating without a CDL or with a wrong class license accounting for nearly 26% of driver violations in 2024
This is a general overview of the different pieces that form a pre-trip inspection. Although it’s extra work, you don’t want to overlook this crucial part of your trucking journey. You want to ensure you have a safe truck to drive before you hit the road.
Pre-trip inspection priorities should focus heavily on brake systems and tires, which together consistently represent nearly half of all vehicle out-of-service violations. Fleet managers implementing thorough daily vehicle inspection routines can significantly reduce out-of-service incidents.
We hope this helps you prepare for your next pre-trip inspection!
FAQs
Why is a thorough pre-trip inspection essential for commercial truck drivers?
A thorough pre-trip inspection is essential because it is the first line of defense against mechanical failures and safety incidents on the road. In the United States, federal regulations require commercial drivers to inspect their vehicles and be satisfied that they are in safe operating condition before driving, and to review any previous inspection reports to confirm that noted defects have been corrected. This daily routine is designed to catch problems—such as worn brakes, damaged tires, steering issues, lighting defects, or fluid leaks—before they lead to breakdowns, crashes, or violations during roadside inspections. Beyond safety, a solid pre-trip process is also a core compliance obligation and a key part of driver training and licensing. Pre-trip inspections are incorporated into CDL skills tests and are specifically intended to verify that drivers understand how to assess the condition of their vehicles. From an operational standpoint, identifying defects in the yard rather than on the highway reduces unplanned downtime, protects cargo, and helps carriers control maintenance and insurance costs. In short, a disciplined pre-trip inspection supports regulatory compliance, protects the driver and other road users, and contributes directly to the reliability and profitability of trucking operations.
What key components should drivers focus on during a pre-trip inspection of a commercial truck?
During a pre-trip inspection, drivers should focus on the systems and components that are most critical to safe operation and that are highlighted in regulatory guidance and industry checklists. This typically includes the brake system (service and parking brakes, air lines, chambers, and slack adjusters), steering mechanism, tires and wheels, lights and reflectors, windshield wipers, mirrors, coupling devices, and required emergency equipment such as triangles, fire extinguishers, and spare fuses. Drivers should also look for obvious fluid leaks under the vehicle, inspect the engine compartment for loose or damaged hoses and belts, confirm that fuel tanks and battery boxes are secure, and verify that the trailer or load is properly secured and free from visible damage. Equally important is the in-cab portion of the inspection, where drivers verify that gauges, warning lights, horn, heater/defroster, and other controls function correctly, and that required documentation is present. Many fleets and training programs organize these checks into a consistent sequence—for example, an overall walk-around, engine and under-hood checks, in-cab inspection, brake tests, and a final confirmation of lights and signals—so that nothing is overlooked. By systematically working through these core areas before every trip, drivers can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of violations during inspections, and significantly lower the risk of equipment-related crashes on the road.