In the private sector, any driver who operates a vehicle weighing 26,000 pounds or more is required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and Federal Motor Carrier regulations stipulate that a pre-trip and post-trip inspection needs to be performed on the vehicle that the driver is going to use for the day.

The reason for this is to ensure that the vehicle is in safe condition and identify problems that could cause a breakdown or, even worse, an accident. The driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in good condition or he or she can refuse to drive it.

You might be thinking, “What does this have to do with fire apparatus?” While in most states, operators of fire apparatus need not have a CDL, they are still responsible for ensuring that the vehicle they are driving is in good mechanical shape and safe to drive.

The driver has a very important responsibility — to drive in a safe manner to and from the emergency scene and ensure the vehicle is operating properly.

One way to ensure that the vehicle is in a safe operating condition is to institute a pre-trip or maintenance log sheet. This is easiest to enforce in paid departments. The driver of the vehicle for the shift would institute it at the beginning of each tour of duty. For volunteer departments, it can be performed on a weekly basis before a company or department drill by one of the company officers.

This might just sound like more tedious paperwork, but in reality it is a simple task to perform. A simple checklist with a list of items to be inspected can be created quickly and easily.

Here are the standard items that need to be inspected: warning lights, siren, air, horns, tires (condition and tire pressure), steering, brakes, mirrors, oil, water, brake fluid and transmission fluid. You can add tools and other equipment to the list to make sure they are also in proper working order.

Leave room for comments at the end. No, I don’t mean comments like, “we should have bought another manufacturer’s apparatus.” Rather, they should center on any deficiencies found during the inspection. Such deficiencies should not only be reported to a superior officer, but the vehicle should be taken out of service if it is warranted.

This also goes for the condition of the apparatus when you return from an alarm. If there is something wrong with the rig, don’t just park it and go home. Take the initiative and let the officer or chief know there is something wrong. Don’t make it the next guy’s problem.

We are killing way too many firefighters responding and returning from alarms. Let’s not make poor maintenance of the apparatus the cause. Remember — the life you save may be your own.