AIR BRAKE PRE-TRIP Manual 2022
New London 1/11/2022
Julissa Barreto / Cristian De la cruz
DUE TO COVID REGULATIONS, THE DAY OF THE EXAM
• You must always wear the n-95 mask
• Wear gloves
• You need to disinfect the driver seat using disinfecting wipes
• The steering wheel
• the inspector's seat in front of him,
• Then put the wipes in the trash
ALL THIS MUST BE IN FRONT OF THE
INSPECTOR
GO TO THE FRONT
Go to the front of the bus,
Check if that is not leaning left or right, no visible damage and no leaks under the bus then open the hood
OPEN THE HOOD AND GO TO THE DRIVER SIDE
Check the inspection sticker is visible and up to date
Check the WIPER BLADE is secure
Wires and houses not leaking or damage
Oil and Transmission dipstick secure
Power Steering fluid above the minimum steering shaft (bar), power steering box no damage
pitman arm, drag link not broken or missing
leaf springs, brackets and U bolt at the center not broken or missing shock absorber is not damaged or leaking
Air chamber, hoses and ABS sensor not broken, missing or damage
Slack adjuster pin is in, can`t pull more than 1 inch to play
THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR COMPRESSOR ARE GEAR DRIVING
TIRES DRIVER SIDE
Inner wall of the tire has no cracks or bubbles
Rim is in one piece, no weld
Tread depth no less than 4/32 seconds no retreads Tire wall no cracks or bubbles
Rim is in one piece, no welds, no dents
Lug Nuts secure, no rust or shinny (touch all Lug Nuts)
Hub Nut is secure no leaks
Valve Steam secure (I will check the air pressure of all 6 tires with a pressure Gauge)
PASSENGER SIDE
Wiper Blade secure
Coolant is above the minimum
Alternator is secure and in place
Serpentine Belt is secure and no more the ¾ inch play.
Alternator and water pump are belt driving, run the water, heat and the Electricity
leaf springs, brackets, and U bolt at the center not broken or missing
shock absorber is not damage or leaking
Air chamber, hoses and ABS sensor not broken missing or damaged
Slack adjuster pin is in, can`t pull more than 1 inch play
Windshield washer fluid above the Minimum
TIRE RIGTH SIDE
Inner wall of the tire has no cracks or bubbles
Rim is in one piece, no weld
Tread depth no less than 4/32 seconds no retreads
Tire wall no cracks or bubbles
Rim is in one piece, no welds, no dents
Lug Nuts secure, no rust or shinny (touch all Lug Nuts)
Hub Nut is secure no leaks
*******Close the Hood and Latch it*******
Enter the Bus and grab wheel chocks and place chocks on rear outer wheel on passenger side
Service door opens and closes freely, kick out windows and gasket are good no dry rot
Stairs free of debris and secure
Handrail is secure
Put the key and turned left
Secure the door and close the door
Check 3 reflective triangles secure
First aid and body fluid kit secure
Fire extinguisher secure, needle in green fully charge and pin is in
Garbage Can, Radio, secure
Windshield glass and seals intact no defect or glazing
DVIR BOOK
Checks current day and last 3 days (3 1/2 Days Total)
Look for any reported defects, if there are, check for the mechanic signature
Check that registration is up to date and the last 6 digits match the VIN NUMBER
Check for 3 spare fuses and the accident kit
Touch everything: Camera, student mirror, fans, theft mate and say secure
DRIVER SEAT, seat down and say
Seat and Mirror adjusted for me
Seat belts is secure and latched properly (put on)
Driver windows open and close freely Open driver window
Move the key to the run position and check for ABS warning lights and wait for your needles to settle down
AIR BRAKE TEST
check and be sure you have a full air tank (130 PSI) otherwise reset governor
*Air tank will fill when your tank is lower the 100 PSI (recommend leave your bus between 90-100 PIS and fill the tank)
AFTER HAS A FULL AIR TANK, KEY TO THE RIGHT
1- Wait for needle settle down, ABS lights off
2- Press service brake and Release parking brake
3- After Initial loss left foot firmly on service brake for 1 minute, look at time, watch your PSI gauge and listen through the window for air loss
4- Make sure you did not lose more the 3 PSI in 1 Minute
LOWER AIR WARNING
5- Pump the service brake waiting for WARNING ALARM and lights in your panel between 60 and 75 PSI, look at the gauge and say when the alarm turns on, stop pumping and said Warning Alarm came by _______ PSI
SPRING BRAKE
6- Keep pumping the service Brake till the brake engages between 20-40 PSI, say when happen
7- Spring brake engage by _______PSI (around 20-40)
8- Start the bus and refill the air tanks (High Idling)
9- Warning alarm when off by _______ PSI (around 70-75)
Check all your Gauges while you waiting
• Water no more then 210
• Oil between 20 and 80
• Voltmeter between 12-15
• Diesel more the half a tank
• DEF more than 2 green bars
• RPM showing _______
• MPH I will check when I’m driving
• waiting for the valve relief around 120-130 PSI say when happen
WHEN THE VALVE RELIEF, TURN OFF THE BUS, TAKE THE KEY, AND GO OUT AND GET THE CHOCKS.
place them under the seat behind the driver Seat
NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH TEST
Sit and put the seatbelt on, put the key in run position and wait for the light and ABS light settle down, Pressing the service brake shift from NEUTRAL TO DRIVE and try to start the bus, then say the bus did not start, shift back to neutral, and said Neutral Safety Switch working (foot on service brake firm)
PARKING BRAKE TEST
Put key in run position to the right wait for light to settle and start the bus.
1) Foot firm on service brake
2) Shift to lower Gear (L)
3) Accelerate to 1100 RPM for 5 seconds
4) Put foot on service brake and spoke
5) BUS DIDN’T MOVE, PARKING BRAKE IS WORKING
SERVICE BRAKE TEST
• Bus is on for the Parking Brake Test and Transmission is in lower gear, check all zone
• Release parking brake
• Pull forward 6 to 8 feet at 5 MPH and gently but firmly apply service brake
• Check the bus stop properly, not pulling to the left or right
• Steering wheel no more the 2-inch play
TRANSMISSION TEST
• Steel foot on brake shift from lower gear to Reverse one by one
• Listen for any unusual noise
• in reverse listen for baking alarm and say it is working (Driver window must be open)
• Beep twice and say the Horn works
Check your zone and start baking up when you get to your staring point stop
Secure your bus (transmission in neutral, parking brake on and turn off the bus
THIS IS CONCLUDE MY AIR BRAKE TEST
PANEL SWITCHES
Turn them on and off and say THEY ARE WORKING
• Light Interior 6 and driver dome all working
• Heater (Low, Hi, Off), Fans (low/ hi, off), Heater pump
• Defrost mirror check with weather
• Master Switch on, and Amber check Elmo and crossover mirror (leave them activated)
• Directional left and right check panel and crossover mirror
• Hazards (leave them activated)
• Wiper and washer
• High and low beam, check dash and crossover
See the picture
INTERRIOR
• Ceiling Panel nothing hanging
• Aisle is free of debris
• Mat and Metal strip are secure
The Emergency exits Cleary labeled, 4 windows, 2 roof hatch and emergency door
I’m going to check they open freely and buzzer sound
Check 5 windows stop are in place
I am going to check seat bottoms making sure they are secure
• Touch Camera, Head Bumper, kick out windows and them and say it is Secure
• Emergency Door open and check Amber and Hazard say is working
OPEN ALL EMERGENCY EXIT UNLESS THE INSPECTOR TELLS YOU OTHERWISE
When back form checking the interior sit DOWN put the left directional check on dash, check ELMO and open the door
Let the inspector know, you going to out to check the exterior
EXTERIOR BUS
• Check the step light is on
• DEF tap is secure
• Hood latch secure (Both side)
• Mud flap (both side) secure
• Mechanical Step Secure (Both side)
• Clearance light secure
• Right crossover mirror secure (both)
• Crossing gate secure
• Antenna looks secure
• 3 clearance light on look secure
• SOS light on Looks secure
• School Bus Name is in tack around reflection tape
• License plate, bumper secure
• High Beans on
• No fresh leaks under the bus
• Left directional working
• Battery door open label, no corrosion, secure
• Stop sign light working, wire secure
LEFT SIDE BUS
Step few feet away and check for visible damage
• Clearance light on, proper color (amber and red)
• Emergency windows Cleary marked with reflective tape
• Reflectors secure no damage
• School name
• Company phone number
• Bus ID
• DOT number
UNDER THE BUS
§ Air Tanks secure, not leaking
§ Transmission, Drive Shat and Differential all secure no damage or leaking
§ Frame appears intact, nothing hanging or broke
§ Leaf Spring and Bracket are secure, no damage
§ Nothing between Dual Tires
LEAF REAR DUAL
§ Leaf Spring, Bracket and U bolt at the center not broken or missing
§ Tread Depth No less than 2/32
§ Tire wall no crack or bubble
§ Rim in one piece, no welds no dents
§ Lug nuts secure, no rush or shinny
§ Hub Nuts secure no leaks
§ Valve steam secure
§ Mud Flap secure
BACK OF THE BUS
§ 3 Clearance light on and cover looks secure
§ SOS Light on and visible
§ Emergency door clearly label with reflective tape
§ Left directional working and cover secure
§ Taillight on and cover secure
§ License plate secure light on
§ 2 reflectors secure
§ Open the emergency door, open freely and lock
§ No Gasket dry rot or damage and secure
§ Buzzer sound
§ Rear heater no leaks or debris
§ No metal sharps, and close the door
§ Bumper secure
§ Tail pipe secure, no more the 2 inches from bumper
§ Under the bus check differential, no leaking or damage
§ Fuel tank not broken, damage or leaking
**** tell the inspector to help you check the reverse and brake light then go inside the bus, sit down put the seat belt, close the service door, and start the bus, shift to reverse with foot firm on brake (DO NOT MOVE YOUR BUS) after 10-15 seconds, shift back to neutral and shutdown your bus and put the right directional, low beam and go back
****** ask the inspector is the light is working
§ Check the right directional working when you get to the back
RIGTH SIDE BUS
Step few feet away and check for visible damage
• Clearance light on, proper color (amber and red)
• Emergency windows Cleary marked with reflective tape
• Reflectors secure no damage
• School name
• Company phone number
• Bus ID
• DOT number
• Bus Capacity (only in passenger site)
• Fuel doors open freely and label, cap is secure
• FUEL TIPE
RIGTH REAR DUAL
§ Leaf Spring, Bracket and U bolt at the center no broken or missing
§ Tread Depth No less than 2/32
§ Tire wall no crack or bubble
§ Rim in one piece, no welds no dents
§ Lug nuts secure, no rust or shinny
§ Hub Nuts secure no leaks
§ Valve steam secure
§ Mud Flap secure
UNDER THE BUS
§ Exhaust system (muffler) nothing hanging or leaking
§ Check Between dual
Go to the front of the bus
§ Check low beams
§ Right directional
***At the end of my day, I’m going to do my child check, hang my sign, do my posttrip, fill a DVIR book or use the Zonar, take the key and bring it to the office***
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRE-TRIP
At 100 feet before the student stop:
Student Unload
• Activate your Amber, Check ELMO is working
• Check traffic slowing with you
• Check students are seated looking in the student mirror
• Stop 10 feet away from the stop
• Active your SOS (red light), Check ELMO is working
• Secure your Bus, parking brake, shift to neutral
• Foot on brake firmly, hand on horn
• Check traffic is stopped all around and Students seated
• when the students approach let them know to step away 10 feet from the Bus in a safety zone and wait for you to nod
• Open the door and count students getting off, 1,2,3,4….
• Check Traffic still stopped, ELMO working, danger zone
• When it is secure nod students to cross, and count them 1,2,3,4 in the middle and 1-2-3-4… in the safety zone
• Check for returning students, check for traffic still stopped, check ELMO
• Unsecure your bus, put in drive and release the Parking Brake
• Check Students are seated and check again for returning students
• Close the door and put the left directional on
• Start 5 second Crawl starting with the right Crossover (right to Left) 1 -2-34-5 Looking for: Late comers, See big picture
• Check left West Coast mirror when it is safe pull into traffic.
**Look for the BIG picture, before your move your bus, precaution is always welcome****Always Checking for returning students it can save a life**
Student Load
100 feet before the student pick up:
• Activate your Amber, Check ELMO is working
• Check traffic slowing with you
• Counts the students when you approach 1,2,3,4
• Stop 10 feet away from the students
• Run your reds (SOS)
• Secure your bus (parking brake, shift to neutral)
• Foot on service brake, hand on the horn
• Check traffic is stopping all around
• check Elmo, danger zone, check traffic again
• When it is secure nod student to cross, and count them as they cross (Foot on service brake, hand on the horn)
• 1,2,3,4 in the middle of the bus
• when pass right crossover Mirror
• Open the door and count them as the ge t in 1,2,3,4
• When the last student passes your shoulder
• Check for late comers, check Traffic still stopped, Check ELMO is working
• Check students are seated
• Unsecure your Bus, shift to Drive, release parking brake and be ready to drive
• Check for late comers one more time, Close the door
• Put left directional and start 5 second Crawl starting with the right Crossover (right to Left) 1-2-3-4-5 Looking for: Late comers, See big picture
• Check left West Coast mirror when it is safe to pull into traffic
**Look for the BIG picture, before your move your bus, precaution is always welcome***Always Check for late comers it can save a life**
Railroad Crossing
100 feet before railroad crossing
• Activate your hazards
• Deactivate your master switch (You will open the door)
• Turn off noise equipment, Radio, fans, etc.
• Request silence
Stop between 15-50 feet before the first track
• Secure your Bus (parking brake and neutral)
• Foot firmly on brake
• Open driver window Look and listen to the left
• open the door and look and listen to the right
The looking at from checks for:
• Bells off, gates up, no whistle, no light, tracks
• Check for safety gap (2 bus length)
• Shift to lower gear, release parking brake
• Look and listen to the left
• look and listen to the right
• Check for Bells, gates, whistle, light
• Check if you still have a safely gap (2 bus length)
• Close the door
• Check no traffic is passing you by and go with no hesitation
• 15 feet After your bus passes the last track
• Shift to drive
• Activate Master Switch (Need to be activated)
• Turn off hazard
Never ignore active warnings at crossings. Trains will arrive at a crossing faster than you anticipate, if you get distracted, start over***