pretrip

Pretrip, or pretrip inspection, is a safety and readiness practice conducted before operating a vehicle, vessel, or equipment. The practice involves a systematic check of critical systems to detect defects, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce the risk of in-service failures. Although most common in trucking and aviation, pretrip checks are also applied in maritime and rail operations, and increasingly in personal or workplace equipment checks. Modern practice often uses standardized checklists, sometimes supplemented by digital tools.

In commercial trucking, pretrip inspections are required by regulation before each trip. Drivers perform a walk-around to verify brakes, tires, lights, horn, mirrors, windshield, wipers, steering, suspension, steering linkage, cargo securement, fuel and fluids, emergency equipment, and documentation. Defects identified must be repaired before operation or the vehicle is taken out of service. The inspection promotes safety, regulatory compliance, and maintenance planning.

In aviation, a preflight or pretrip inspection is conducted by the pilot and ground crew to ensure airworthiness. Checks include exterior inspection of the airframe, control surfaces, landing gear, tires, fuel quantity and quality, oil and hydraulics, flight controls, and interior instruments and emergency equipment. Adherence to manufacturer checklists and regulatory requirements is mandatory.

In maritime and rail contexts, pretrip checks cover lifesaving appliances, firefighting gear, navigation and communication equipment, and mechanical readiness of locomotives or ships. The emphasis is on safety readiness and compliance with international and national standards.

Training emphasizes standardization, with operators taught to perform consistent inspections and document results. See also: preflight, checklist, vehicle safety inspection.