Truck Drivers: Why You Should Perform Pre-Trip Inspections

Pre-Trip Inspections are often misconceived as being someone else's job, especially in a union environment. A lot of drivers believe they are there to drive, and inspecting trucks is part of maintenance's job. The fact of the matter is, according to DOT regulation's, a driver is responsible to complete a vehicle inspection regardless of whom else has done it and regardless of what your union contract says. Ref 392.7
No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that the following parts and accessories are in good working order, nor shall any driver fail to use or make use of such parts and accessories when and as needed:
Service brakes, including trailer brake connections.
Parking (hand) brake.
Steering mechanism.
Lighting devices and reflectors.
Tires.
Horn.
Windshield wiper or wipers.
Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.
Coupling devices.
[33 FR 19732, Dec. 25, 1968, as amended at 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995; 66 FR 49874, Oct. 1, 2001]

These are just some of the equipment items to be checked. The Driver must also ensure the following items are in the truck, to name a few. Vehicle Registration, Insurance Card, all other permit related paperwork, Spare fuses, Fire Extinguisher properly charged and inspected, Emergency Reflectors/Flares.

In a nutshell, DOT is not concerned with the fact that someone else took them out of your truck or that it is an office person who is responsibility to keep paperwork up to date, it is your responsibility to not leave on a trip whether it be for five hours or five weeks, without the proper items in your truck and your truck is in proper mechanical order.
A Driver must also have the post trip inspection from the previous trip, regardless of who drove it, so that he/she may confirm and sign off that any and all write-ups have or have not been repaired.