How important is pre-trip inspection for an owner operator?

The pre-trip inspection can save your life, and that’s how important it is. Other than being a DOT requirement it is not just something that goes into your logbook. As an owner operator, the pre-trip inspection will also save you a lot of time spent in the repair shop and remember, time is money. Your pay depends on how good you take care of your truck.

Drivers who don’t do the pre-trip inspection can go through a new set of tires after two months. And those who perform their pre-trip inspection will have tires worn only by one point in the same two months. That’s a huge difference and the small amount of time spent doing this inspection saves a lot of time, money, and stress in the end. In extreme cases, the pre-trip can save your life. What if you found your brake lines leaking during the pre-trip inspection? What if you had not caught this before you started driving?

There is not a specific set time on how long a pre-trip inspection should take, it depends on each individual driver to assess that. If you check everything you should be checking, a full inspection should take you approximately 30 to 50 minutes. The key to a good inspection is to take your time while working your way systematically through each section of your vehicle and performing each check fully.

Before driving the truck, the trucker must be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition. Then he must review the last driver’s inspection report and sign it, certifying that any required repairs have been performed.

Federal and state laws require inspection by the driver, and if you fail to do a pre-trip inspection, a DOT inspector can place your vehicle out of service. So why risk your life, or the life of another in an unsafe vehicle?

At Status Trucks, we care about the safety of our owner operators.  Protect your life and the life of others sharing the road by performing a thorough vehicle inspection.