Vehicle & Fleet
Heavy Vehicle Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
Pre-trip safety inspection checklist for heavy vehicles (trucks, semi-trailers, tipper trucks, concrete agitators). Assists operators in meeting Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
38 checklist items
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Checklist Items
| Item | Pass / Yes | Fail / No |
|---|---|---|
| Date | ___________________________ | |
| Vehicle Registration | ___________________________ | |
| Vehicle Type / Configuration | ___________________________ | |
| Odometer / Hubodometer Reading (km) | ___________________________ | |
| Driver Name and Licence Number | ___________________________ | |
| ENGINE & FLUIDS | ||
| Engine oil level adequate | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Coolant level adequate | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Power steering fluid adequate | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Windscreen washer fluid adequate | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Fuel level adequate | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| No visible leaks under vehicle | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| TYRES & WHEELS | ||
| All tyre pressures correct per placard | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| All tyre tread depths above minimum 1.5 mm | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| No tyres have cuts, bulges or damage | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Wheel nuts tight — no missing nuts, no rust streaks | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Dual tyres not touching (no cross-ply/radial mixing) | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| BRAKES | ||
| Air brake system builds pressure correctly | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Park brake holds vehicle stationary | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| No unusual brake noise during low-speed test | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Brake adjustment indicators within limits (S-cam brakes) | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| LIGHTS & SIGNALS | ||
| All headlights, tail lights and brake lights operational | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| All indicators operational front and rear | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Reversing lights and reversing alarm operational | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Marker lights and clearance lights operational | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Hazard lights operational | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| SAFETY EQUIPMENT | ||
| Seatbelt serviceable | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Fire extinguisher present and within service date | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| Warning triangles / flares present | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| First aid kit present and stocked | Pass ☐ | Fail ☐ |
| LOAD / TRAILER (if applicable) | ||
| Trailer coupling secure (fifth wheel or drawbar) | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| Safety chains connected correctly | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| Trailer brake line and electrical connections secure | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| Load secured per load restraint guide | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| Load does not exceed vehicle GVM/GCM ratings | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| DRIVER | ||
| Work diary / EWD records completed (if required) | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| Driver is fit and not fatigued | Yes ☐ | No ☐ |
| Defects noted (describe) | ___________________________ | |
| Driver Signature | ___________________________ | |