When it comes to hauling goods across the country, as soon as the truck is loaded up you’re ready to hit the road and get moving so you can drop everything off as soon as possible. Before you hit the road, though, you need to do a pre-trip inspection to make sure the truck you are driving is safe and well maintained to make the trip. An inspection can seem like a waste of time, especially if you’re regularly driving your truck but it is important to make sure you do one before each trip and here’s why.

Check wear and tear

You may be on the road a lot with your truck, do you think you’d know if anything was breaking on it. However because you’re regularly on the road there is a lot of wear and tear on specific components. As you’re driving you may not notice any changes or weird noises, but once you’ve stopped and the truck has been sitting for a while then the truck but show an issue.

Stay safe

All of the requirements on the pre-trip inspection list were added for the safety of the driver and others on the road. When the inspection covers brakes, emergency kits, seatbelts and reflectors this is because malfunctions to any of these components could cause serious injuries to anyone involved. As you’re operating a vehicle that weighs tons, a small malfunction could mean a large accident involving so many others on the road. Agencies want you to arrive safely at your destination.

Avoid fines

Often times there are surprise roadside stops where inspectors will look over your vehicle. They have a predetermined checklist of components and systems they need to look over on your vehicle. If there are any issues with major areas of the truck like brakes or if your paperwork isn’t in order then you, your company or both, could face major fines and possibly even be pulled off the road until the issue is fixed.

Save time

By doing the pre-trip inspection (and fixing any issues you find) you can ensure you have everything in order and any roadside inspection will be so much easier. You can also save the potential of breaking down on the side of the road by fixing any issues you find immediately. This will save you time and make sure you can deliver the haul on time, as promised.

A pre-trip inspection, while time consuming, is meant to ensure all trips you make are safe and the truck you’re driving is going to make the trip since you aren’t just going across the city. Completing the inspection before you hit the road is helpful to make sure you have everything you need, including paperwork and licenses, and that your truck is well maintained. Taking the hour to do this could save you hours of being broken down or huge fines placed by a roadside inspector.