Free checklist
Heavy vehicle pre-start checklist for trucks and trailers
A daily pre-start check for heavy vehicles: 19 checks for the truck and 14 for the trailer, in the order a driver walks around them. It follows the NHVR’s guidance on daily checks, and it’s the same checklist the Enroute Driver app uses by default. Print it, or run it on your phone.
Truck (19 checks)
In-cab & driver
- Driver fit for duty — not fatigued or impaired, work diary up to date
- Warning triangles (at least 3) and fire extinguisher present and in date
- No dashboard warning lights (including ABS/EBS); air pressure builds and holds
- Windscreen, wipers, washers and mirrors clear and working
- Horn, seat and seat belt secure and working
Identification & leaks
- Registration plates and compliance plate present, legible and secure
- No visible oil, coolant, fuel or steering fluid leaks underneath
- Engine oil and coolant levels adequate
Lights & reflectors
- Front lights working — head, park, indicator and front clearance
- Rear lights working — tail, brake, indicator and number plate
- Side marker lights, reflectors and lenses present, clean and undamaged
Wheels, tyres & mudguards
- Tyres — tread depth compliant, no cuts, bulges or exposed cord
- Wheel nuts secure (indicators aligned if fitted), no visible hub oil leak
- Mudguards and mud flaps secure and undamaged
Chassis, air & suspension
- Body, doors, steps and bumper bars secure — no loose or damaged panels
- No audible air leaks with the engine off
- Suspension sitting level — air bags inflated, no broken springs
Towing connections
- Turntable greased, jaws locked onto the kingpin, release handle stowed
- Air hoses and electrical cables connected, sealed, not chafing or dragging
Trailer (14 checks)
Identification & coupling
- Registration plates and compliance plate present, legible and secure
- Kingpin / drawbar eye and coupling secure, no excessive wear
- Safety chains and connections secure (where fitted)
Load restraint
- Load correctly restrained and within limits
- Straps, chains, corner protectors and winches undamaged and tensioned
- Curtains tensioned and secured
- Rear doors and locking catches fully closed and locked
Wheels, tyres & suspension
- Tyres — tread depth compliant, correctly inflated, no cuts or bulges
- No stones or debris trapped between dual tyres
- Wheel nuts present and secure, no visible hub oil leak
- Air bags inflated, no broken springs; mudguards and mud flaps secure
Brakes & lights
- Brake lines connected — no air leaks at chambers or hoses with brakes applied
- Tail, brake, indicator, clearance and number plate lights working
- Rear marking plates (VSB12) and reflectors present, clean and undamaged
What a daily check is for
The NHVR describes a daily check as a quick visual inspection a driver does before leaving the yard, depot or rest area, to catch defects that make a heavy vehicle unsafe. It doesn’t replace scheduled servicing or a mechanic’s inspection. It catches what has changed since the truck was last driven.
Your own checks should also follow the manufacturer’s requirements and your operation’s procedures. See the NHVR’s guide, Creating heavy vehicle daily checks.
When an item fails
- 01Don't take the vehicle out until the fault has been assessed.
- 02Record what failed, with a photo and a note, so the workshop knows what it's looking at.
- 03Report it to whoever handles repairs: your workshop, your fleet manager or your maintenance provider.
- 04Keep the record. The check, the fault and the repair belong together on the vehicle's history.
Pre-start checks: common questions
How often should a heavy vehicle pre-start be done?
- Every day the vehicle is used, before it sets off. The NHVR's daily-check guidance, linked above, is the place to start when you set your own procedure.
Is this checklist NHVR approved?
- No. It follows the NHVR's published guidance on daily checks, but the NHVR doesn't approve checklists. Adapt it to your vehicles, the manufacturer's requirements and your own procedures.
Can I do these checks on a phone?
- Yes. The Enroute Driver app has this checklist built in. Drivers tick each item, add photos and notes to anything that fails, and sign it off. A failed check stops the trip from starting until it's sorted. About the Driver app.
Can I change the checklist for my fleet?
- Yes. Print this one and add your own items, or build your own checklists in Enroute's Logistics platform, and the Driver app will use them. Fleet maintenance software.
Take the pre-start off paper.
In the Driver app, a failed check stops the trip and the fault goes to the workshop with photos, so the repair is on the same record as the check that found it.