Try not to overdo the item or what you are checking it for. You only get 30 minutes to check everything on the vehicle.

Overviews give you a chance to catch major problems early.

All lights will need checked at the front, back and sides of the vehicle. They will need checked for covers, cleanliness, secureness, and that they work.

Mentioning the windshield and checking it for cracks, chips, and cleanliness is not enough. You will have to check the seals and for leaks to get it marked as checked.

The hood will always need checked, mainly for damage, but don't forget the hinges, catches, and springs or you might not get credit.

Don't forget you can have mirrors on the hood, and on the doors of the cab. While outside check for mounts, cracks, and cleanliness. You should also check them again when inside the vehicle to make sure they are properly adjusted.

It is best to check all your fluids during a pre-trip inspection, but the fluids you have to say are oil, coolant, power steering, and checking for moisture and leaks.

It is best to check all your belt and gear driven components, but the power steering, alternator, air compressor, and water pump are all that appear on the CDL pre-trip.

All fluids should be at the proper level, clean, free of debris, with no leaks. You can also add proper color to this list. Some coolants are red, green and orange. Red or clear for most power steering. Oil can be difficult, it should be tan in color, but normally after use of the vehicle it gets black.

The steering linkage consists of upper steering linkage, universal joints, power steering pump, pitman arm, drag link, tie rod ends, tie rod. They will all need checked separately.

Along with the castle nuts, cotter pins, and excessive play you can check for illegal welds and cracks.

Oil pressure is checked on the inside of the cab using the oil pressure gauge.

The safety belt secures the driver in the cab.

These are all components of the suspension system and will need checked independently in your pre-trip exam.

Make sure the lines are connected and secure, no frays, cracks, tears, and no leaks to get hoses marked off. The trick is you need to say horses for the air compressor, power steering, water pump independently to get credit.

Check each belt individually. There can be belts for a few different components under the hood. The excessive play of more than 3/4 of an inch.

As with all hoses, make sure the connections are tight and secure. That there are no frays, cracks, or damage to the lines with no leaks. With an airline leaks can be found by suspicious clean spots on the hose.

Also called brake chambers, they are found on most commercial vehicles, and filled with air to apply the brakes.

Also called brake chambers, they need to be mounted tight and secure, not excessively damaged, and not leaking.

There should be no more than 1 inch of play in any slack adjuster on the vehicle, with the brakes off.