PRE-PURCHASE SEMI-TRUCK INSPECTIONS – SEMI TRUCKS, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, HD EQUIPMENT – IL, IN, MO, TN

Not all pre-purchase truck inspections are equal. You need someone with years of experience repairing and inspecting rigs for a living. I am your guy. I broke my teeth on military trucks, tanks, and construction equipment. Since then, I have worked in a couple of fleets, and a couple of retail shops, and I have inspected countless semi-trucks, dump trucks and box trucks, and construction equipment. You need someone who knows how the air brake system works, who knows how to test it, and also who knows the spots to check for chaffing, leaks, and corrosion. I am that guy too! I have over 20 years of repair and pre-purchase truck inspection services, and experience on rigs and equipment of all shapes and sizes. Here is a basic list of what I will be checking for you, but it is not all-inclusive.

My semi-truck, semi-trailer, and commercial vehicle inspections are much more than just walking around and kicking the tires and doing a DOT inspection. I’m looking for items that are going to affect your repair budgets down the road.  Cracked frames, wearing airbags, slack adjuster bushing play, engine internals (via oil samples), clutch life, driveline u-joint, carrier bearing play and so much more.  I am also fully equipped to run a regen, test the truck’s computers and get you the answers you are looking for.  My semi-truck pre-purchase inspections are flexible so if there is something you want specifically I am happy to add that to the semi-truck inspection checklist. Chances are, it is already on my list!

I’ve worked in several commercial fleets from mass transit to commodity freight doing semi-truck inspections.  I’ve inspected, troubleshoot, and repaired all the main manufacturers and loved every minute of it. I’ve performed semi-truck pre-purchase inspections on Freightliners, Peterbilts, Volvo, Mack, Kenworth, you name it.   I’ve found some of the strangest things broken during pre-purchase semi-truck inspections so I am always on the lookout, found ways to fix them on the side of the road, and get trucks moving again.

I cut my teeth on semi-trucks and commercial vehicles while serving in the United States Army.  I served six years as a heavy equipment mechanic. Mainly I did major component rebuilds but our level of shop performed all maintenance and repair from PMs to full-on rebuilds. I was tasked to inspect and estimate every single deuce and a half 2 1.2 ton truck on Ft. Riley back in 2002. I easily wrote well over 1500 inspections and estimates just in a few months’ time.

I wore the 1st Cavalry Patch while serving with the 115th Forward Support Battalion and then the Big Red One Patch while serving with the 101st Forward Support Battalion.  I deployed three times in six years. First to Bosnia in 1998, then to Kuwait in August of 2001, and then my last tour while being attached to the 1st Marines for maintenance as we marched into Bagdad, Iraq.   I troubleshoot, diagnosed, rebuild, and repair HD trucks and equipment in some of the least desirable conditions a mechanic would ever want to work in. Snow, rain, sand, mud, freezing temperatures, and the complete opposites.  This taught me a lot, challenged me, and helped me learn and think quickly.

I am more than happy to apply my 20+ years of experience and knowledge to your semi-truck pre-purchase inspection that way you know exactly what you are investing in!

• My pre-purchase truck inspections start off with the truck running and warming up to operating temperature. I normally keep the truck running through the entire inspection of the body and interior. You can tell a lot from a truck by how the exterior and interior were maintained.
• I then move on to the frame of the truck looking for heavy rust, flaking paint, bent rails, improperly drilled rails, repair sections, or welds. The most common problem I see is a bent rear member from trailers being dropped on from a failed 5th wheel kingpin.
• While checking the frame, I also inspect the suspension, suspension spring hangers, brakes, brake chambers, and driveline components. I also pay close attention to leaks and damp points from seals and gaskets.
• Once the engine has warmed up, I shut it down and check the belts, hoses, seals, and gaskets of the entire engine. I also remove the air filter and inspect the plenum for oil residue which provides a health check of the turbo seals.
• I take anywhere from 100-to 300 photos and HD video of the truck in action for you including hydraulics working, PTO engaging and any other equipment being tested. I also provide a video of the engine running at idle and through the RPM ranges so you can hear how it runs during the semi-truck pre-purchase inspection.
• I then connect my diagnostic scan tool to the truck and run an OEM level diagnostic scan of the ECU, BCM, TCM, and ABS system to ensure they are performing as designed. If there are codes present, I record those codes and provide that to you in the report, as well as the full diagnostic scan.
• I then start the truck up again and take it for a full test drive. Sometimes the diagnostic codes will clear out after driving such as ABS and transmission codes and even some engine codes will clear out. Many of these codes show up due to low battery voltage and being jump-started repetitively. I then run another diagnostic scan on the truck when I return from the test drive and compare the results.
• I strongly recommend oil and coolant sampling analysis being done. I do that on the engine, engine coolant, transmission, drive axles, and even the hydraulic system so you can know what the internal wear and tear are on these components. Each of my semi-truck pre-purchase inspections AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDES an engine oil and coolant sample analysis so you get a look inside the engine.

All of my pre-purchase truck inspections are performed personally. I DO NOT utilize contractors or buddies to do inspections for me. I know that sometimes makes scheduling tough, but you will get the best quality, most in-depth, and most thorough inspection on the market.

I deliver all my pre-purchase semi-truck inspections results through Dropbox via a private link only you receive. There is no need for an account or messy login. I also offer phone consultations before and after the inspection process. I can even provide a consult through Zoom Video Conference after the inspection is ready for viewing.

If you would like to view a sample of a past semi-truck, box truck, dump truck, or HD equipment pre-purchase inspection I have performed, just send me a message through my contact form to request one. I am happy to oblige.