Interested to know what others are doing with pre start checks on vehicles Heavy and light, when not mandated by the vehicle type i.e log book. What methods are you using digital? Paper? How often do the checks get done? do they get done? is there a standard to state the frequency? Thankyou
Umm I will put my hand up for doing no checks on light work vehicles before taking one out of the car pool only to be pulled over and ticketed because rear brake light was not working.
With our pool vehicle they do a check before leaving - which is still paper.
With our fleet they do a check weekly which is completed via google. When there are a change in driver they need to do a check before taking the vehicle. Or fleet do not change hand regularly.
We don't have truck on light including a ute and a van.
I do not recall a standard stating you need a checklist, it is about risk management and how you are notified to address issues asap.
Our pool vehicles is an ongoing problem getting them checked by drivers.
The fleet vehicles are easier to track checks and enforce.
It depends on the vehicle.
Light vehicles: just a daily basic visual check is fine with a monthly check that includes tyre pressures, fluids, etc.
Heavy vehicles: these should be checked once a day using a system which is either paper or digital.
There are apps you can use on a smartphone, e.g. WhipAround (https://whiparound.com/) - search online for one that suits you. However, an app by itself doesn't teach drivers what they are looking at, so it's best if heavy vehicle drivers have some kind of training in doing a pre-start check so that they use the app properly. At TR, we ran the truck driver competition a few weeks ago where a driver's ability to do a pre-start was judged. To be honest, almost all the class 5 drivers were good, but the class 2 drivers were universally bad with all of them missing significant numbers of defects.
This online course is a cheap way of learning for class 2-5 heavy vehicles: https://www.drivingtests.co.nz/course/pre-trip-inspection/
We have a paper-based check for our yard crew, but they know what they are doing.
For forklifts and other plant, they need a check every day they are used and it's fairly specific. If you have a trailer, that should be checked along with the towing vehicle.
Utes - once a fortnight
Heavy vehicles. plant and equipment - pre-start before using for task
If high volume - QuipCheck
If low volume - create or use a template on IAuditor
Hi team
We have a fleet of 120 light vehicles (leased and swapped out 3 yearly), daily walkaround and monthly formalised checklist completed via APP or PC into our safety database. Provide defensive and 4WD driver training which covers training on vehicle inspections as well.
For mobile plant we have both paper based and APP based inspections- daily for loaders, forklifts.
Trailer inspections before use - paper based.
Pool vehicles are inspected monthly by someone based at the site they are based at.
Inspection frequency is based on risks.
Take a look at the procedure used by the NZ Army (and probably the other two services also). In accepted military notation the required pre-start-up check is referred to as the "First Parade". Extra checks are called "Halt Parade". Each vehicle has a check list for ticking off and a document for initialling to show compliance.
If you have an assigned vehicle, a monthly check is required - using the ERoad inspect app. Our pool vehicles are checked daily using the ERoad inspect app.
The attached was developed for a company with a large fleet, some assigned to department, most pool vehicles. Previous tick-list type tools were known to be ticked while sitting in the seat. The idea of this was to have it sit on the dash as a visual reminder of what the driver is expected to be able to confirm / do.
It kind of worked, however unless the individual has high self-discipline to adhere to the practice, it takes a pretty expansive structure to ensure its high compliance to a standard (NZDF with their First and Halt Parade do very well due to high discipline and embedded structure). As vehicle reliability has increased only the small proportion of drivers actually do any daily or weekly check (previously to was only checking the oil when you filled it up). Very hard to change an expectation and behavior in only half of a person's life.