CSVA Road check June 2013

1. InTheInspector’sSeatInTheInspector’sSeat
ThePointoftheNorthAmericanStandard
LevelIInspectionProcedure
1BRAKES
Checkformissing,non-functioning,loose,contaminatedor
crackedpartsonthebrakesystem;Checkfor“S”cam
flip-over;Bealertforaudibleairleaksaroundbrake
componentsandlines;Checkthattheslackadjustersarethe
samelength(fromcenterof“S”camtocenterofclevispin),
andthattheairchambersoneachaxlearethesamesize.
Checkbrakeadjustment;Ensuretheairsystemmaintainsair
pressurebetween90and100psi;Measurepushrodtravel;
Inspectrequiredbrakesystemwarningdevices,suchasABS
malfunctionlampsandlowairpressurewarningdevices;
Inspecttractorprotectionsystem,includingthebleedback
systemonthetrailer.
2COUPLINGDEVICES
SafetyDevices-FullTrailers/ConverterDolly(s):Checkthe
safetydevices(chains/wirerope)forsufficientnumber,
missingcomponents,improperrepairs,anddevicesthatare
incapableofsecureattachment.OntheLowerFifthWheel
checkforunsecuredmountingtotheframeoranymissing
ordamagedparts;oranyvisiblespacebetweentheupperand
lowerfifthwheelplates.Verifythatthelockingjawsare
aroundtheshankandnottheheadofthekingpinandthat
thereleaseleverisseatedproperlyandthatthesafetylatchis
engaged.ChecktheUpperFifthWheelforanydamagetothe
weightbearingplate(anditssupports)suchascracks,loose
ormissingboltsonthetrailer.OntheSlidingFifthWheel
checkforproperengagementoflockingmechanism(teeth
fullyengagedonrail);alsocheckforwornormissingparts,
ensurethatthepositiondoesnotallowthetractorframerails
tocontactthelandinggearduringturns.Checkfordamaged
ormissingforeandaftstops.
3FUEL&EXHAUSTSYSTEMS
Checkyourfueltanksforthefollowingconditions:Loose
mounting,leaks,orotherconditions;looseormissingcaps;
andsignsofleakingfuelbelowthetanks.Forexhaust
systems,checkthefollowing:Unsecuredmounting;leaks
beneaththecab;exhaustsystemcomponentsincontactwith
electricalwiringorbrakelinesandhoses;andexcessive
carbondepositsaroundseamsandclamps.
4FRAME,VAN&OPEN-TOPTRAILERS
Inspectforcorrosionfatigue,crossmember(s)cracked,loose
ormissing,cracksinframe,missingordefectivebodyparts.
Lookattheconditionofthehoses,checksuspensionofair
hosesofvehiclewithslidingtandems.Ontheframeand
frameassemblycheckforcracks,bends,sagging,loose
fastenersoranydefectthatmayleadtothecollapseofthe
frame;corrosion,fatigue,crossmemberscrackedormissing,
cracksinframe,missingordefectivebodyparts.Inspectall
axle(s).Inspectfornon-manufacturedholes(i.e.rustholes,
holescreatedbyrubbingorfriction,etc.),forbrokensprings
inthespringbrakehousingsectionoftheparkingbrake.For
vansandopen-toptrailerbodies,lookattheupperrailand
checkroofbowsandsidepostsforbuckling,cracks,or
ineffectivefasteners.Onthelowerrail,checkforbreaks
accompaniedbysaggingfloor,rail,orcrossmembers;or
brokenwithlooseormissingfastenersatsidepostadjacent
tothecrack.
5LIGHTING
Inspectallrequiredlampsforpropercolor,operation,
mountingandvisibility.
6SECUREMENTOFCARGO
Makesureyouarecarryingasafeload.Checktailboard
security.Verifyendgatesaresecuredinstakepockets.Check
bothsidesofthetrailertoensurecargoisprotectedfrom
shiftingorfalling.Verifythatreardoorsaresecurelyclosed.
Whereloadisvisible,checkforproperblockingandbracing.
Itmaybenecessarytoexamineinsideoftrailertoassurethat
largeobjectsareproperlysecured.Checkcargosecurement
devicesforpropernumber,sizeandcondition.Checktie
downanchorpointsfordeformationandcracking.
7STEERING
Checkthesteeringlashbyfirstturningthesteeringwheelin
onedirectionuntilthetiresbegintopivot.Then,placea
markonthesteeringwheelatafixedreferencepointand
thenturnthewheelintheoppositedirectionuntilthetires
againstarttomove.Markthesteeringwheelatthesame
fixedreferencepointandmeasurethedistancebetweenthe
twomarks.Theamountofallowablelashvarieswiththe
diameterofthesteeringwheel.
8SUSPENSION
Inspectthesuspensionfor:Indicationsofmisaligned,
shifted,crackedormissingsprings;loosenedshackles;
missingbolts;unsecuredspringhangars;andcrackedor
looseU-bolts.Also,checkanyunsecuredaxlepositioning
partsandforsignsofaxlemisalignment.Onthefrontaxle,
checkforcracks,weldsandobviousmisalignment.
9TIRES,WHEELS,RIMS&HUBS
Checktiresforproperinflation,cutsandbulges,regrooved
tiresonsteeringaxle,treadwearandmajortreadgroove
depth.Inspectsidewallsfordefects,improperrepairs,
exposedfabricorcord,contactwithanypartofthevehicle,
andtiremarkingsexcludingitfromuseonasteeringaxle.
Inspectwheelsandrimsforcracks,unseatedlockingrings,
andbrokenormissinglugs,studsorclamps.Alsocheckfor
rimsthatarecrackedorbent,havelooseofdamagedlugnuts
andelongatedstudholes,havecracksacrossspokesorinthe
webarea,andhaveevidenceofslippageintheclampareas.
Checkthehubsforlubricantleaks,missingcapsorplugs,
misalignmentandpositioning,anddamaged,wornor
missingparts.
InTheInspector’sSeat
Fromacommercialvehiclesafetyinspector’s
perspective,thepointoftheNASinspection
istoensurebothyoursafetyandthoseof
otherstravelingonthehighways.
Thecostsassociatedwithbeingputoutof
serviceareinsignificantwhencomparedto
thecostsofcrasheswithinnocentpeople.
Beproactiveandinspectyourvehicle
thoroughlybeforeyoutakeyournexttrip.
Thekeysareinyourhand.
Ifyouareputoutofservice,itwillcostyou$861onaverage—which
doesnotincludethecostsoffinesorrepairsasaresultoftheinspection.!WWW.CVSA.ORG