A daily vehicle check, also called a heavy-vehicle pre-start, is the walkaround and written record that confirms a truck or commercial vehicle is roadworthy before it leaves the yard. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) describes it as a quick visual inspection done before the vehicle leaves the depot, yard or rest area, and it is how a driver and operator meet their roadworthiness duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
Overseas operators and imported paperwork often call this a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR), the term used under United States FMCSA rules. If you are searching for a DVIR, the daily check below is the Australian equivalent. The walkaround is the same; only the regulator and the record-keeping differ.
Before you start
Gather your daily vehicle inspection form, a pen or mobile device, a torch and a tyre tread depth gauge. If you are taking over from another driver, find the previous check to confirm any reported defects were repaired. Park on level ground with the engine off and the park brake set. Work through the vehicle in the same order every shift so nothing is skipped.
Step by step: the daily vehicle check
1. Approach and walkaround
Start at the driver's door and walk around the vehicle in one direction. Look for fresh fluid on the ground, obvious damage, loose or missing panels, load restraint issues and anything that has changed since the last shift.
2. Exterior checks
Work through the external items the NHVR expects a driver to cover:
- Lights and reflectors: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, clearance lights and reflectors all clean and working
- Tyres: at least 1.5 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre around its full circumference (the Australian minimum), correct inflation, and no cuts, bulges or exposed cords
- Wheels: no cracks, no missing or loose wheel nuts, and rust streaks or shifted indicator marks investigated
- Mirrors: clean, secure and correctly adjusted
- Body and coupling: mud flaps present, and the fifth wheel or coupling secure with the safety devices engaged
3. Under-bonnet and engine bay checks
Open the bonnet or tilt the cab and check engine oil, coolant (never open a hot radiator cap), power steering fluid and washer fluid. Look over drive belts for cracks or fraying, hoses for perishing or leaks, and battery terminals for corrosion or looseness.
4. Cab and interior checks
Fasten the seatbelt, start the engine and check the gauges and warning lights. Test the wipers, washers, demister and horn, and confirm the windscreen is free of cracks in the driver's line of sight. Check that the fire extinguisher is charged and in date and that any required warning triangles are present. For the detailed cabin procedure, see our pre-trip inspection guide.
5. Brakes and air system
Press the service brake firmly and confirm a solid pedal with no drift, then test the park brake. For air-braked vehicles, run the engine to build the system to governor cut-out, confirm the low-air warning device operates as designed, and check that the system holds pressure. Air loss must stay within the leak-down limits set by the vehicle manufacturer and the NHVR National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM); anything outside those limits grounds the vehicle.
6. Complete, sign and record the check
Record every item on your inspection form, noting all defects regardless of severity. Sign and date the record. If a defect affects safe operation, the vehicle must not move until the repair is done and signed off. Keep the completed checks so the operator can show a consistent history if a roadside inspection or investigation occurs.
Common defects and required actions
| Defect | Required action |
|---|---|
| Brake deficiency (pad, shoe or air system) | Do not drive, report for immediate repair |
| Tyre below 1.5 mm tread or with exposed cords | Replace before driving |
| Inoperative headlight or brake light | Replace globe before departure |
| Cracked windscreen in the driver's line of sight | Repair or replace if it impairs vision |
| Air loss beyond the leak-down limit | Do not drive, locate and repair |
| Fluid leak (oil, coolant or fuel) | Identify the source, repair if actively leaking |
| Excessive steering play | Do not drive, refer to a qualified mechanic |
| Broken or missing mirror | Replace before driving |
Daily check, pre-start and DVIR compared
| Aspect | Australian daily check / pre-start | US DVIR |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Walkaround and written record before the vehicle moves | Formal written report of vehicle condition |
| Legal basis | Roadworthiness duty under the HVNL, benchmarks in the NHVIM | FMCSA 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13 |
| Who completes it | The driver, before each shift | The commercial driver, each day worked |
| Who else is accountable | Operators, schedulers and loaders under Chain of Responsibility | The carrier |
| Record retention | Keep as evidence of the roadworthiness system | Carrier retains for at least 3 months |
The two describe the same physical inspection. If your fleet runs only in Australia, work to the daily check and the NHVIM; the DVIR label matters only when you operate under, or report to, US rules.
Regulatory requirements
In Australia, a heavy vehicle must be kept in a roadworthy condition at all times. The daily check is the practical way a driver meets that obligation, and the NHVR National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual sets the technical benchmarks inspectors apply, including minimum tyre tread, brake performance and air-system leak rates. Under Chain of Responsibility, the duty is not the driver's alone: operators, schedulers, loaders and others in the supply chain share the primary safety duty under the HVNL, so a documented daily-check system protects the whole business, not just the person behind the wheel.
Failing to run and record daily checks can lead to roadside defect notices, infringement notices and, in serious cases, prosecution for breaching the primary safety duty. For operators that also run under US rules, the equivalent DVIR obligations sit in FMCSA 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13, which require a written end-of-day report and sign-off that defects were repaired before the next trip.
