Free Telehandler Pre-Start Checklist
Enter your email below to download the PDF-ready checklist. No account required.
This free telehandler pre-start checklist covers all daily inspection items required before operating a telescopic handler on Australian work sites. The two-page A4 form includes cab and ROPS, boom and hydraulics, forks and attachment, stabilisers and outriggers, engine and fluids, tyres and brakes, and lights and safety devices - 22+ check items in total. Suitable for rough-terrain and site telehandlers across construction, agriculture, and mining applications.
Last updated: 2026-02-21 · MapTrack
Commercial Director
How to use: Download the template, open in your browser, fill in the details, then Print → Save as PDF. File one copy per shift with your plant records or fleet management system.
- ✓ PDF-ready. Open and print to PDF
- ✓ 22+ telehandler-specific check items across 7 sections
- ✓ Free to use with or without MapTrack
Download free PDF template
Trusted by Australian fleets and contractors
We use your email to send your download and occasional MapTrack updates. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy
Preview the template
See the first part of the checklist below. Enter your email above to download the full template (PDF-ready).
What is a telehandler pre-start check?
A telehandler pre-start check is a documented inspection completed by the operator before the telescopic handler is started or put into service at the beginning of each shift. It systematically checks mechanical condition, fluid levels, safety systems, boom and hydraulic integrity, and attachment condition to confirm the machine is fit for operation. Pre-start inspections are required under the Australian Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations for plant and equipment. Telehandlers are classified as both a forklift and a crane depending on configuration, and as a high-risk work plant they carry significant obligations for documented daily inspection. The combination of elevated working heights, telescoping boom operation, and load-bearing capacity makes a thorough pre-start critical to site safety.
Benefits of telehandler pre-start checks
- Identify faults before operation: catch boom cracks, hydraulic leaks, stabiliser faults, or LMI errors before they cause incidents or collapses.
- WHS compliance: demonstrate duty of care and meet work health and safety obligations under Australian legislation, particularly as a high-risk work plant.
- 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 telehandler each shift, and that the correct licence was held.
- Maintenance planning: trend data from pre-starts helps schedule servicing before failures occur, particularly for boom wear pads, hydraulic filters, and tyre condition.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move from paper or static PDFs to digital forms in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Book a demo to see digital pre-starts in MapTrack.
What to include in a telehandler pre-start checklist
Our free telehandler pre-start checklist includes:
- Cab & ROPS: ROPS/FOPS structure condition, seatbelt and operator restraint bar, mirrors and rear camera, horn, backup alarm, gauges and warning lights, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.
- Boom & Hydraulics: boom sections for cracks or deformation, wear pads condition and clearance, telescope cylinder and hoses for leaks, boom pivot pins and retaining hardware, boom extension chain or cable condition, hydraulic oil level and system pressure.
- Forks & Attachment: fork blades for bends or cracks, fork heel wear, carriage locking hooks and retaining pins, attachment coupling secure, load chart displayed and matched to fitted attachment, quick coupler engagement.
- Stabilisers & Outriggers: stabiliser legs for cracks or damage, pins and retaining clips, foot pads condition, stabiliser cylinder hoses, level indicator operation.
- Engine & Fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel level, DEF/AdBlue where applicable, air filter restriction indicator, battery terminals, belts, hoses, and fluid leaks.
- Tyres & Brakes: tyre pressure and condition (cuts, bulges, chunking), wheel nut torque check, parking brake function, service brake response.
- Lights & Safety Devices: headlights, work lights, rotating beacon, indicators, Load Moment Indicator (LMI) calibration and alarm function, emergency lowering valve, emergency stop, walk-around for fluid leaks or ground hazards.
How to conduct a telehandler pre-start check
- Walk-around inspection: before starting, walk around the telehandler checking for fluid leaks under the machine, tyre condition, boom condition, stabiliser condition, 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 forks and attachment: check fork blades for bends or cracks, confirm carriage locks are engaged, verify the load chart is displayed and correct for the fitted attachment.
- Inspect boom: check boom sections for cracks, check wear pad condition and clearance, inspect cylinder hoses for leaks, and confirm pivot pins are secure.
- Inspect stabilisers: check stabiliser legs, pins, retaining clips, and foot pads. Confirm hydraulic hoses are not damaged.
- Inspect cab and controls: check ROPS/FOPS integrity, fasten seatbelt or restraint bar, 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 and LMI display.
- Test brakes and steering: at slow speed in a safe area, test parking brake, service brake, and confirm steering mode selector operates correctly.
- Test boom operation: with forks lowered and stabilisers deployed if required, cycle the boom through raise, lower, extend, and retract to confirm hydraulic response and LMI alarm function at rated capacity limit.
- 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.
Get the free template
Enter your email above to download the telehandler pre-start checklist.
Back to download formHow often should telehandler pre-starts be completed?
A telehandler pre-start check must be completed before first use at the start of each shift or each working day. If multiple operators use the same machine across shifts, each operator must complete their own inspection before taking control. As a high-risk work plant, telehandlers have strict documentation requirements under Australian WHS Regulations. In addition to daily checks, follow the manufacturer's scheduled service intervals (typically at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 hours). Boom wear pad clearances and hydraulic filter condition should be checked at the intervals specified in your machine's service manual. LMI calibration should be verified as part of any annual certification or after repair work to the boom or weighing system.
Frequently asked questions
- What should a telehandler pre-start check include?
- A telehandler pre-start should cover: cab and ROPS/FOPS condition, seatbelt and operator restraint, mirrors and visibility aids, horn and backup alarm, engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil and fuel levels, boom condition (cracks, wear pads, chain/cylinder), forks and carriage (straightness, heel pins, locking hooks), attachment secure and matched to the load chart, stabilisers/outriggers (condition, pins, pads), tyres (pressure, cuts, wheel nuts), parking and service brakes, steering (two-wheel/four-wheel/crab mode selector), lights and safety devices including Load Moment Indicator (LMI), and a walk-around for fluid leaks.
- How often should a telehandler pre-start be completed?
- A pre-start check should be completed at the start of every shift or before first use each day. If multiple operators use the same machine across shifts, each operator must complete their own pre-start before taking control. High-use or hire telehandlers may also require end-of-shift walkarounds. Always follow the most stringent requirement set by your site safety management plan or principal contractor.
- Who can operate a telehandler?
- In Australia, operators of telehandlers used as a forklift or crane must hold the relevant High Risk Work Licence (HRWL). A telehandler used as a forklift requires a LF (Forklift Truck) licence. When configured as a crane (lifting over the rated capacity using the hook), a CN or C class crane licence may be required. Always check your state/territory WHS regulations and confirm the correct licence for the task and configuration being used.
- Is the template free to use without MapTrack?
- Yes. Download and use the template for free. Open the HTML file and use Print → Save as PDF. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital pre-starts linked to each telehandler with automatic fault alerts and load chart management, MapTrack can help.
Need digital pre-starts with automatic fault alerts?
Register every telehandler in MapTrack. Complete pre-starts on mobile, get automatic alerts when faults are identified, and maintain a full inspection history on every asset.