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Free grader pre-start checklist
Free grader pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Covers cab, ROPS, blade, moldboard, circle, turntable, engine, tyres, brakes and hydraulics. Download free.
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35 checks · 7 sections · Sign-off
35 checks
The fields in the printable form, in a view that fits your screen.
- Make / model
- Serial / plant #
- Fleet / asset #
- Hour meter
- Blade type / width
- Site / project
- Operator name
- Date
- Competency / ticket #
- Shift
A - Cab & ROPS
B - Blade & Moldboard
C - Circle & Turntable
D - Engine & Fluids
E - Tyres & Brakes
F - Steering & Hydraulics
G - Lights & Safety Devices
Defects & Action Required
- Item #
- Defect Description
- Action Taken / Reported to
- Rectified by / Date
Declaration
I declare that I have completed this pre-start inspection of the above motor grader. I have reported all defects and will not operate the grader if any defect affects safe operation. I confirm I hold the required competencies to operate this plant.
Operator Sign-off
Signature · Print name · Date & time
Supervisor Acknowledgement
Signature · Print name · Date
The MapTrack grader pre-start checklist contains 35 checks across 7 sections.
General guidance only. Check the form against your equipment manual, site procedures and local requirements before using it.
Short answer
A grader pre-start checklist records the operator's check of a motor grader before each shift: cab and ROPS, fluids, blade, moldboard, circle and turntable, tyres, brakes, steering, hydraulics, lights and alarms. A daily pre-start is site and manufacturer practice, not a set legal interval. Regulation 213 of the model WHS Regulations requires competent-person maintenance and inspection following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Checked against Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) on by the MapTrack templates team. How we check templates
Key takeaways
- The MapTrack grader pre-start checklist contains 35 checks across 7 sections. Sections covered: A - Cab & ROPS, B - Blade & Moldboard, C - Circle & Turntable, D - Engine & Fluids, E - Tyres & Brakes, F - Steering & Hydraulics, G - Lights & Safety Devices.
- Regulation 213 sets no daily check: inspection follows the manufacturer's or a competent person's recommendations, and is annual only if neither is practicable.
- Each operator does their own pre-start before taking control; a failed brake, steering or ROPS item keeps the grader parked until repaired.
- Schedule 3 lists no high risk work licence class for motor graders; operators need training and demonstrated competency on the machine.
- Service intervals such as 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 hours come from the manufacturer's maintenance manual, not from a regulation.
What is a grader pre-start checklist?
A grader pre-start check is a documented inspection completed by the operator before the motor grader is started or moved at the beginning of each shift. It systematically checks the mechanical condition, fluid levels, structural integrity, and safety systems of the grader to confirm it is fit for operation. Pre-start inspections help meet the plant inspection duty in the Australian Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations (regulation 213), and most site safety management plans prohibit the operation of plant without a completed daily pre-start. Motor graders are complex machines with unique inspection requirements around the circle, moldboard, blade, tandem drive bogies and articulated steering. This checklist addresses all of those specific systems alongside the standard engine, brake, and cab checks. AS 4024 (Safety of machinery) provides additional guidance on guarding and safety systems, and ISO 6165 (Earth-moving machinery) is a vocabulary standard that identifies the basic types of earth-moving machinery. A documented daily pre-start is the standard evidence of compliance for audits, insurance and incident investigations. Under the WHS Act 2011 (Section 19), the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) holds a primary duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that plant used for work is safe. The WHS Regulations 2011 (Chapter 5, Plant and Structures) require that graders are maintained, inspected and, where necessary, tested by a competent person in line with the manufacturer recommendations (regulation 213). Motor graders present equipment-specific risks including blade strike and entanglement in the circle mechanism, loss of steering control on grades, and rollover due to uneven ground or excessive speed during side-slope grading. Failure to identify and address these hazards through a documented pre-start inspection can result in regulatory enforcement action and personal liability for officers under WHS due diligence provisions.
Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.
Checking graders before every shift? Our guide compares the main pre-start inspection software options.
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Benefits of using this grader pre-start checklist
- Identify faults before operation: catch blade cracks, circle gear damage, or hydraulic leaks early before they cause breakdowns or injuries.
- WHS compliance: demonstrate duty of care and meet work health and safety obligations under Australian legislation.
- Reduced downtime: prevent costly breakdowns and unplanned maintenance by catching issues at the start of shift.
- Insurance and warranty protection: documented pre-starts support insurance claims and manufacturer warranty requirements.
- Operator accountability: signed records confirm who inspected and operated the grader each shift.
- Maintenance planning: trend data from pre-starts helps schedule servicing before failures occur, particularly for circle ring gears, cutting edges, and tandem drive chains.
What to include in a grader pre-start checklist
- Cab & ROPS: ROPS/FOPS structure condition, seatbelt and operator restraint, mirrors, horn, backup alarm, gauges and instruments, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.
- Blade & Moldboard: cutting edge condition and wear, end bits and blade bolts, moldboard surface (cracks, warps), blade tip clearance, scarifier/ripper tines and pins.
- Circle & Turntable: ring gear teeth condition, circle drive motor and gearbox, drawbar and ball stud, turntable bearing clearance, circle rotation through full range.
- Engine & Fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel level, DEF/AdBlue where applicable, air filter restriction indicator, battery terminals, belts, hoses, and leaks.
- Tyres & Brakes: tyre pressure and condition (cuts, bulges), wheel nuts, parking brake function, service brake response, tandem drive chain condition.
- Steering & Hydraulics: front axle lean and steering response, articulation joint condition, hydraulic cylinders for leaks, hose condition, hydraulic system pressure.
- Lights & Safety Devices: headlights, work lights, rotating beacon, indicators, reverse alarm, emergency stop, walk-around for fluid leaks or ground hazards.
How to use this grader pre-start checklist
Walk-around inspection
before starting, walk around the grader checking for fluid leaks under the machine, tyre condition, blade and moldboard damage, and any objects beneath or near the machine.
Check fluid levels
with engine off, check engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, and fuel. Top up if needed and record levels on the form.
Inspect blade and circle
check cutting edge wear, blade bolts, end bits, ring gear teeth for damage or excessive wear, and circle bearing play.
Inspect cab and controls
check ROPS/FOPS integrity, fasten seatbelt, set mirrors, and test horn before starting.
Start engine and check instruments
observe warning lights clear at startup, confirm oil pressure and temperature gauges read normal, and test backup alarm.
Test brakes and steering
at slow speed in a safe area, test parking and service brakes. Check front axle lean, articulation, and confirm steering operates without unexpected play or noise.
Test blade controls
cycle the blade through its full range (raise, lower, side-shift, rotate) to confirm hydraulic response and no abnormal sounds.
Complete the form
mark P (pass), F (fail), or N/A for every item. Record notes for any fail. Sign and retain the form. Do not operate if any fail item has not been rectified or escalated to the supervisor.
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How often should you complete this checklist?
A grader pre-start check must be completed before first use at the start of each shift or each working day. If the grader is used by multiple operators across shifts, each operator should complete their own inspection before taking control. In addition to daily checks, follow the manufacturer's scheduled maintenance intervals (typically at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 hours). Cutting edges and end bits should also be visually checked mid-shift during heavy grading operations, as wear rates can be rapid on hard-surface work. Circle ring gear lubrication and tandem drive chain tension checks should be completed at the intervals specified in your machine's operator and maintenance manual.
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Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about the form, record keeping and using MapTrack.
A grader pre-start should cover: cab and ROPS/FOPS integrity, seatbelt, horn and backup alarm, engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil and fuel levels, blade and moldboard condition (cutting edge, end bits, cracks), circle and turntable (ring gear teeth, rotation, bearing play), tyres (pressure, cuts, studs), brakes (service and parking), steering (front axle lean, articulation), hydraulic cylinders and hoses for leaks, lights including beacon, and a general walk-around for fluid leaks or ground hazards.
Link to this answerA pre-start check should be completed at the start of every shift or before first use each day. If multiple operators use the same grader across shifts, each operator completes their own inspection. Your site safety management plan or principal contractor may specify additional requirements. Always follow the most stringent requirement.
Link to this answerIn Australia, operators of motor graders must hold the relevant competency, typically a Statement of Attainment for units such as the civil construction grader operations unit (check training.gov.au for the current code). No formal high-risk work licence (HRWL) is required for graders specifically, but site induction and demonstrated competency are always required. Check state/territory WHS regulations and your organisation's requirements before operation.
Link to this answerYes. Download and use the template for free. Enter your email on this page and it downloads as a ready-to-print PDF. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital pre-starts linked to each grader with automatic fault alerts, MapTrack can help.
Link to this answerYes. This grader pre-start checklist is completely free to download and use. Enter your email on this page and it downloads straight away as a ready-to-print PDF, with no MapTrack account needed. It is designed for immediate use on site.
Link to this answerApplicable regulatory standards
This form is a starting point. Check the current requirements that apply to your equipment, work and location. The form alone does not establish compliance.
| Standard | Edition | Clauses this template relies on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Work Health and Safety RegulationsMaintenance and inspection following the manufacturer or a competent person, annual only if neither is practicable; Schedule 3 lists licence classes. | Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) |
| Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee) |
| Model Work Health and Safety Act (Model Work Health and Safety Bill)The PCBU's duty to provide safe plant so far as is reasonably practicable. | Model WHS Bill as at 5 December 2025 (includes the Model WHS Legislation Amendment (Incident Notification) 2025) |
| Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee) |
| Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplaceModel Code guidance on how and when plant should be inspected. | November 2024 version (reviewed May 2018; amended 2021, 2023 and 2024) |
| Safe Work Australia |
| Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)Victoria's plant rules, which apply there instead of the model WHS Regulations. | Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic), version 018 (in force from 20 October 2026) |
| Victorian Government (Victorian Legislation) |
| Earth-moving machinery - Safety, Part 8: Requirements for graders (ISO 20474-8:2017, MOD)Machine safety requirements for graders (a modified adoption of ISO 20474-8); a design standard, not an inspection one. | AS 20474.8:2025 | Whole instrument | Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher |
Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
Edition: Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011)
Maintenance and inspection following the manufacturer or a competent person, annual only if neither is practicable; Schedule 3 lists licence classes.
- reg 213: Plant must be maintained, inspected and, if necessary, tested by a competent person, following manufacturer or competent person recommendations; annual inspection applies only if neither is practicable.
- Schedule 3: High risk work licence classes, including scaffolding, rigging, cranes, hoists, forklift trucks and boom-type EWPs.
Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee)
Model Work Health and Safety Act (Model Work Health and Safety Bill)
Edition: Model WHS Bill as at 5 December 2025 (includes the Model WHS Legislation Amendment (Incident Notification) 2025)
The PCBU's duty to provide safe plant so far as is reasonably practicable.
- s 19: Primary duty of care: a PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others, including safe plant, systems, training and supervision.
Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee)
Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace
Edition: November 2024 version (reviewed May 2018; amended 2021, 2023 and 2024)
Model Code guidance on how and when plant should be inspected.
- Section 3.5: Inspecting plant: how and when plant should be inspected by a competent person, reflecting reg 213.
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)
Edition: Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic), version 018 (in force from 20 October 2026)
Victoria's plant rules, which apply there instead of the model WHS Regulations.
- Part 3.5: Plant: duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers and employers who use plant, plus registration of designs.
- reg 105: Requires plant to be inspected as needed to monitor risks, and steps to be taken to prevent unauthorised alteration of, or interference with, the plant.
Earth-moving machinery - Safety, Part 8: Requirements for graders (ISO 20474-8:2017, MOD)
Edition: AS 20474.8:2025
Machine safety requirements for graders (a modified adoption of ISO 20474-8); a design standard, not an inspection one.
Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher
Each source was read at its publisher and the page checked on 26 October 2026. The publisher's current text is the authority.
- Model WHS Regulations (Safe Work Australia)
- ISO 6165:2022, Earth-moving machinery types and vocabulary (ISO catalogue)
- AS 4024 series, Safety of machinery (Standards Australia listing)
MapTrack publishes this template. The linked authorities publish their own guidance; they haven't endorsed this form.
The numbers behind this grader pre-start checklist
The pages below gather the figures behind this kind of check. Each figure on them carries its source and date, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without chasing the original report.
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The MapTrack grader pre-start checklist contains 35 checks across 7 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Grader pre-start checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-pre-start-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Grader pre-start checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-pre-start-checklist
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-pre-start-checklist.
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<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Grader pre-start checklist</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Cab & ROPS: ROPS/FOPS structure condition, seatbelt and operator restraint, mirrors, horn, backup alarm, gauges and instruments, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Blade & Moldboard: cutting edge condition and wear, end bits and blade bolts, moldboard surface (cracks, warps), blade tip clearance, scarifier/ripper tines and pins.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Circle & Turntable: ring gear teeth condition, circle drive motor and gearbox, drawbar and ball stud, turntable bearing clearance, circle rotation through full range.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Engine & Fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel level, DEF/AdBlue where applicable, air filter restriction indicator, battery terminals, belts, hoses, and leaks.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Tyres & Brakes: tyre pressure and condition (cuts, bulges), wheel nuts, parking brake function, service brake response, tandem drive chain condition.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Steering & Hydraulics: front axle lean and steering response, articulation joint condition, hydraulic cylinders for leaks, hose condition, hydraulic system pressure.</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-pre-start-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Grader pre-start checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.
About the author
Co-Founder & Commercial Director
Jarrod has spent over a decade in technology consulting and asset management, including roles at Accenture (mining and heavy industry) and CGI as an Asset Management Consultant. He co-founded MapTrack and built and scaled its original platform, then rebuilt it with Lachlan and Alex from thousands of customer conversations and 300+ user research sessions with field teams. His consulting background gives him deep insight into the operational and compliance challenges facing asset-intensive Australian businesses.
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