Cdl B School Bus Pretrip inspection Questions And Answers [UPDATED 2026]
Front of Bus ✔️-Bus is level, Not leaning
-Listen for air leaks
-Mirrors are secure and in good shape (touch both)
-Windshield is not cracked, has no illegal stickers and is in good shape (touch both panels)
-Wipers and Blades are not weather cracked and have proper tension (touch both)
-Lights are secure, properly mounted and not cracked
-Clearance and parking lights are amber, are securely mounted, not damaged or broken
Front Axle - Front Wheel ✔️-Tread is evenly worn with a minimum depth of 4/32" and are not retreaded
-No cuts or abrasions to the inside, outside or sidewalls of tire
-Valve caps and stems are not missing, broken or damaged
-Tires are properly inflated, use tire gauge to test
-Rims inside and outside are not dented or damaged and there are no illegal welding repairs or rust trails that would indicate a loose rim
-Lug nuts are all present, tightly fastened and do not have any rust trails and there are no distortions of the bolt holes
-Hub seal does not have any leaks and oil level is adequate
-Mud flaps are securely mounted and not damaged or broken
-Air bags are inflated
Steering Parts ✔️If I could see the steering parts, I would check the following:
-Steering box is securely mounted, not damaged or broken, not leaking nor missing any nuts or bolts
-Power steering is not leaking, no damage to hoses
-Check steering linkage to make sure connecting links, arms and rods from the steering box to the wheel are not worn or cracked
-Joints and sockets are not worn or loose
-Steering parts have no loose or missing bolts and cotter pins
Front Suspension ✔️If I could see the front suspension, I would check the following:
-Bus is not equipped with springs
-Bushings are not damaged or missing
-Air Ride Suspension is securely mounted, not damaged or broken and does not have air leaks
-Shocks are securely mounted, not damaged or broken and not leaking
-Air Bag Mounts are in place and not damaged
-Torsion bars are mounted securely and not damaged
-U Bolts are not missing or damaged
Front Brakes ✔️If I could see the front brakes, I would check the following:
-Brake hoses are not cracked, frayed or leaking
-Brake chambers are securely mounted, not broken, damaged or leaking. No loose or missing clamps.
, -Brake rotors are not cracked or dented, do not have any holes and there are no loose or missing bolts
-Brake pads are not worn too thin
-Rotors and pads do not have any contaminants like oil or grease
-Slack adjuster and pushrod are securely mounted, not broken or damaged and do not have any loose or missing parts. With brakes released,
when pulled there is no more than 1" of movement
Rear Axle - Rear Wheels ✔️*Check both tires*
-Tread is evenly worn with a minimum depth of 2/32"
-No cuts or abrasions on the inside, outside or sidewalls
-Valve caps and stems are not missing, broken or damaged
-Tires are properly inflated, use a tire gauge to check
-Rims inside and outside are not dented or damaged and there are no illegal welding repairs or rust trails that would indicate a loose rim
-Lug nuts are all present, tightly fastened and do not have any rust trails or distortion of the bolt holes
-Axle seal does not have any leaks and the oil level is adequate
-Spacers between the wheels are not rusted or damaged, the wheels are not touching and there are no foreign objects between them
-Mud flaps are securely mounted and not damaged or broken
-Air bags are inflated
Rear Suspension ✔️If I could see the rear suspension, I would check the following:
-Bus is not equipped with springs
-Bushings are not damaged or missing
-Air Ride Suspension is securely mounted, not damaged or broken and does not have air leaks
-Shocks are securely mounted, not damaged or broken and not leaking
-Air Bag Mounts are in place and not damaged
-Torsion bars are not damaged and are mounted securely
-U Bolts are not missing or damaged
Rear Brakes ✔️If I could see the rear brakes, I would check the following:
-Brake hoses are not cracked, frayed or leaking
-Brake chambers are securely mounted, not damaged, broken or leaking, with no loose or missing clamps
-Brake rotors are not cracked or dented, do not have any holes and there are no loose or missing bolts
-Brake pads are not worn too thin
-Rotors and pads do not have any contaminants like oil or grease
-Slack adjuster and pushrod are securely mounted, not broken or damaged and do not have any loose or missing parts. With brakes released,
when pulled there is no more than 1" of movement
Right Side of Bus ✔️-Clearance lights, turn signal lights and reflectors are securely mounted, not cracked or broken
-Fuel tank is secure and not leaking
-Fuel cap is not missing and is tightly fastened and not leaking
Under the Bus ✔️If I could see under the bus, I would check the following:
Front of Bus ✔️-Bus is level, Not leaning
-Listen for air leaks
-Mirrors are secure and in good shape (touch both)
-Windshield is not cracked, has no illegal stickers and is in good shape (touch both panels)
-Wipers and Blades are not weather cracked and have proper tension (touch both)
-Lights are secure, properly mounted and not cracked
-Clearance and parking lights are amber, are securely mounted, not damaged or broken
Front Axle - Front Wheel ✔️-Tread is evenly worn with a minimum depth of 4/32" and are not retreaded
-No cuts or abrasions to the inside, outside or sidewalls of tire
-Valve caps and stems are not missing, broken or damaged
-Tires are properly inflated, use tire gauge to test
-Rims inside and outside are not dented or damaged and there are no illegal welding repairs or rust trails that would indicate a loose rim
-Lug nuts are all present, tightly fastened and do not have any rust trails and there are no distortions of the bolt holes
-Hub seal does not have any leaks and oil level is adequate
-Mud flaps are securely mounted and not damaged or broken
-Air bags are inflated
Steering Parts ✔️If I could see the steering parts, I would check the following:
-Steering box is securely mounted, not damaged or broken, not leaking nor missing any nuts or bolts
-Power steering is not leaking, no damage to hoses
-Check steering linkage to make sure connecting links, arms and rods from the steering box to the wheel are not worn or cracked
-Joints and sockets are not worn or loose
-Steering parts have no loose or missing bolts and cotter pins
Front Suspension ✔️If I could see the front suspension, I would check the following:
-Bus is not equipped with springs
-Bushings are not damaged or missing
-Air Ride Suspension is securely mounted, not damaged or broken and does not have air leaks
-Shocks are securely mounted, not damaged or broken and not leaking
-Air Bag Mounts are in place and not damaged
-Torsion bars are mounted securely and not damaged
-U Bolts are not missing or damaged
Front Brakes ✔️If I could see the front brakes, I would check the following:
-Brake hoses are not cracked, frayed or leaking
-Brake chambers are securely mounted, not broken, damaged or leaking. No loose or missing clamps.
, -Brake rotors are not cracked or dented, do not have any holes and there are no loose or missing bolts
-Brake pads are not worn too thin
-Rotors and pads do not have any contaminants like oil or grease
-Slack adjuster and pushrod are securely mounted, not broken or damaged and do not have any loose or missing parts. With brakes released,
when pulled there is no more than 1" of movement
Rear Axle - Rear Wheels ✔️*Check both tires*
-Tread is evenly worn with a minimum depth of 2/32"
-No cuts or abrasions on the inside, outside or sidewalls
-Valve caps and stems are not missing, broken or damaged
-Tires are properly inflated, use a tire gauge to check
-Rims inside and outside are not dented or damaged and there are no illegal welding repairs or rust trails that would indicate a loose rim
-Lug nuts are all present, tightly fastened and do not have any rust trails or distortion of the bolt holes
-Axle seal does not have any leaks and the oil level is adequate
-Spacers between the wheels are not rusted or damaged, the wheels are not touching and there are no foreign objects between them
-Mud flaps are securely mounted and not damaged or broken
-Air bags are inflated
Rear Suspension ✔️If I could see the rear suspension, I would check the following:
-Bus is not equipped with springs
-Bushings are not damaged or missing
-Air Ride Suspension is securely mounted, not damaged or broken and does not have air leaks
-Shocks are securely mounted, not damaged or broken and not leaking
-Air Bag Mounts are in place and not damaged
-Torsion bars are not damaged and are mounted securely
-U Bolts are not missing or damaged
Rear Brakes ✔️If I could see the rear brakes, I would check the following:
-Brake hoses are not cracked, frayed or leaking
-Brake chambers are securely mounted, not damaged, broken or leaking, with no loose or missing clamps
-Brake rotors are not cracked or dented, do not have any holes and there are no loose or missing bolts
-Brake pads are not worn too thin
-Rotors and pads do not have any contaminants like oil or grease
-Slack adjuster and pushrod are securely mounted, not broken or damaged and do not have any loose or missing parts. With brakes released,
when pulled there is no more than 1" of movement
Right Side of Bus ✔️-Clearance lights, turn signal lights and reflectors are securely mounted, not cracked or broken
-Fuel tank is secure and not leaking
-Fuel cap is not missing and is tightly fastened and not leaking
Under the Bus ✔️If I could see under the bus, I would check the following:
