A fleet manager in Boise told me my pre-trip inspections were theater
I used to just walk around the rig and hit the lights, 20 minutes max, until a fleet manager pointed out I was checking the tire tread with my eyes instead of a depth gauge. He showed me a steer tire that looked fine but was worn on the inside edge, and that catch saved a blowout on I-84. Anyone else get called out on a routine check that turned out to be half useless?
Used to think walkarounds were just about catching obvious stuff like cracked glass or loose mud flaps, but that story about the inside tread really hit home. Now I run my fingers along the tire edges and feel for that uneven wear every single morning, especially on the steers. It costs me an extra two minutes but beats paying for a blowout and a roadside repair bill.