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Vehicle inspection checklist
Pre-trip and post-trip checks each day a work vehicle is used, and its annual inspection.
Pre-trip
| Task | Required | Photo required |
|---|---|---|
| Before starting | ||
| Review the last driver vehicle inspection report; confirm any listed defect is certified repaired, and sign | Required | No photo required |
| Cab | ||
| Parking brake holds | Required | No photo required |
| Service brakes are firm and respond; not soft or slow | Required | No photo required |
| Steering has no excess play and is not hard to turn | Required | No photo required |
| Engine starts properly; warning lights and gauges normal after start | Required | No photo required |
| Horn works | Required | No photo required |
| Windshield clear, no broken glass; wipers and washers work | Required | No photo required |
| Mirrors present, unbroken and adjusted | Required | No photo required |
| Heater and defroster work | Not required | No photo required |
| Seat belts present and working | Required | No photo required |
| Lights | ||
| Headlights (high and low), tail, brake, turn signals and four-way flashers work | Required | No photo required |
| Clearance and marker lights and reflectors present, clean and working | Required | No photo required |
| Backup lights and backup alarm work | Not required | No photo required |
| Tires and wheels | ||
| Tires properly inflated, with no visible damage or worn tread | Required | No photo required |
| Wheels and rims undamaged; lug nuts present and tight | Required | No photo required |
| Under hood | ||
| Oil, coolant, brake, power steering, transmission and washer fluid levels | Not required | No photo required |
| Belts, hoses, wires and battery in good condition | Not required | No photo required |
| Under vehicle | ||
| No fluid leaks under the vehicle | Not required | No photo required |
| Body and cargo | ||
| Cargo, tools and ladders secured from shifting or falling; doors latch | Required | No photo required |
| Walk around for exterior body damage | Not required | Photo required |
| Emergency equipment | ||
| Fire extinguisher charged, mounted and accessible | Required | No photo required |
| Reflective warning triangles on board | Required | No photo required |
| First aid kit stocked and in date | Not required | No photo required |
| Spare tire and jack present | Not required | No photo required |
| Documents | ||
| Registration and insurance on board | Not required | No photo required |
| Trailer (if towing) | ||
| Hitch, coupling, safety chains and locking devices secure | Required | No photo required |
| Trailer brake connections, hoses and lights connected and working | Required | No photo required |
Post-trip
| Task | Required | Photo required |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Record in writing, per vehicle, any defect found or reported that affects safe operation | Required | No photo required |
| Driver signs the report | Required | No photo required |
| Repair | ||
| Repair any defect affecting safety before the next dispatch, or certify in writing that it needs no repair | Required | No photo required |
Annually
| Task | Required | Photo required |
|---|---|---|
| Brake system | ||
| Inspect service and parking brakes, lines, hoses and components | Required | No photo required |
| Coupling devices | ||
| Inspect fifth wheel, hitch and safety chains | Required | No photo required |
| Exhaust system | ||
| Check for leaks and secure mounting | Required | No photo required |
| Fuel system | ||
| Check for leaks; tank and cap secure | Required | No photo required |
| Lighting devices | ||
| Inspect all lamps and reflectors | Required | No photo required |
| Safe loading | ||
| Inspect load securement points | Required | No photo required |
| Steering mechanism | ||
| Inspect steering system | Required | No photo required |
| Suspension | ||
| Inspect springs, axles and attaching parts | Required | No photo required |
| Frame | ||
| Inspect frame and frame assemblies | Required | No photo required |
| Tires | ||
| Inspect tread, sidewalls and inflation | Required | No photo required |
| Wheels and rims | ||
| Inspect wheels, rims, lugs and studs | Required | No photo required |
| Windshield and wipers | ||
| Inspect glazing and wiper operation | Required | No photo required |
| Rear impact guard | ||
| Inspect guard, where fitted | Required | No photo required |
| Record | ||
| Place the inspection report or decal on the vehicle; keep the result in the vehicle file | Required | Photo required |
Checks for a work vehicle: a pre-trip check each day the vehicle is used, a post-trip check that records each defect and its repair, and an annual inspection by a mechanic.
Where the vehicle maker’s manual sets service intervals, or state or local motor-carrier rules apply to the fleet, they govern instead.
Sources
Import it into FixAhead
Upload this file in FixAhead's maintenance procedure import, as a signed-in owner or manager. Each frequency loads as its own procedure, with its sections, tasks, and each task's Required and Photo required marks. If your account already has a procedure with the same name, this one is skipped and the existing one stays as it is.
Maintenance procedures are on the Pro plan, as pricing shows.