Vehicle inspection
Inspections catch problems before they cause a breakdown or a crash, and inspectors can put an unsafe vehicle out of service. You'll inspect before every trip, check things during the trip, and report problems at the end of the day.
Most drivers follow the seven-step method. It starts with a vehicle overview: walk up and look for damage, fluid leaks, leaning and anything in the way. Then check the engine compartment, start the engine and check the gauges and controls inside the cab, turn off the engine and check the lights, do a full walk-around, check the signal lights, and finish with a brake check.
Know the out-of-service limits. Steering tires need at least 4/32 inch of tread and other tires 2/32 inch. Steering wheel play over 10 degrees (about 2 inches on a 20-inch wheel) is too much. A leaf spring missing a quarter or more of its leaves is out of service. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle, and recapped tires aren't allowed on the front wheels of a bus.
Watch for small clues. Rust trails around lug nuts can mean the nuts are loose. Exhaust leaks can let carbon monoxide into the cab. Cuts that show the tire's cord, bulges, and leaks all make a tire unsafe.
