The method and apparatus to automatically inspect or pre-screen the Equipment of passing CMVs employs the novel application of acquiring, processing and analyzing the temperature data from areas of interest on passing wheels using a computer based imaging system to improve the efficiency of current CMV inspecting and/or pre-screening manual methods that require an inspection system operator. The inspection system includes a triggering device, thermographic camera(s), computer based image acquisition hardware, image processing and analysis software, user interface and operator workspace (herein referred to as the “Inspection System”). The components of the apparatus are not limited to the list above nor are all components required to embody the method for inspection or pre-screening of equipment of passing CMVs. The method is a means of collecting the thermal information of the Equipment as it passes through an Inspection Area and analyzing it to determine or estimate its condition or fitness. The thermal properties of passing Equipment is used to analyze for anomalies and comparison to thermal properties of Equipment in good working condition, or thermal properties of other similar equipment on the same CMV. Test results that lie outside the parameters of either absolute or relative test rules-for-fitness are flagged and pulled out of the flow of traffic for further investigation.