What should a truck pre-start inspection cover?

A truck pre-start inspection should cover tyres and wheels (condition, pressure, tread depth, wheel nuts), all lights (headlights, tail lights, indicators, brake lights, clearance/marker lights, work lights and beacon), mirrors, body and chassis condition, engine and fluids (oil, coolant, power steering, brake fluid, DEF/AdBlue, air filter), brakes (service brake, park brake, air pressure build-up, air leaks, brake lines/hoses), steering, electrical systems (battery, horn, reversing alarm/camera), cab safety (seatbelt, wipers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, warning triangle), load restraint, signage and compliance (registration, COR/NHVR, dimension and mass placards, dangerous goods if applicable), and coupling if towing.

How often should heavy vehicles be inspected?

Heavy vehicles should receive a daily pre-start inspection before the first use of each day or shift. Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) in Australia, drivers must not drive a heavy vehicle if it is not safe to operate. A daily pre-start check demonstrates due diligence. In addition, heavy vehicles require regular scheduled servicing (per manufacturer intervals) and periodic roadworthy inspections as required by state/territory transport authorities. Many organisations also conduct weekly, monthly or quarterly detailed inspections for fleet compliance.

What are the legal requirements for heavy vehicle inspections?

In Australia, the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) requires that heavy vehicles are maintained in a safe condition. The Chain of Responsibility (COR) provisions mean that all parties in the transport supply chain, including drivers, operators, schedulers, loaders and consignors, share responsibility for heavy vehicle safety. While the HVNL does not prescribe a specific checklist, regulators expect operators to demonstrate that vehicles are inspected before use and defects are recorded and actioned. A daily pre-start checklist is one of the most common ways to demonstrate compliance. Check with your state or territory transport authority for jurisdiction-specific requirements.

Free truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist

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Free truck and heavy vehicle pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Covers brakes, tyres, load restraint, signage, coupling and cab safety. Download free.

Last updated: 2026-02-21

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 21 February 2026

How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.

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What is a truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist?

A truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist is a daily inspection form completed by the driver before operating a truck, prime mover, rigid, semi-trailer combination or other heavy vehicle. It is a systematic walk-around and cab check covering tyres and wheels, lights, mirrors, body and chassis, engine and fluids, brakes (including air pressure build-up and leak checks), steering, electrical systems, cab safety equipment, load restraint, signage and compliance documentation, and coupling if towing. The completed checklist provides a documented record that the vehicle was inspected and any defects reported before driving, supporting Chain of Responsibility (COR) and NHVR obligations.

Benefits of using this truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist

Driver and road safety: catch critical brake, tyre, steering and coupling issues before the vehicle enters traffic.
HVNL and COR compliance: demonstrate that heavy vehicles are inspected daily, supporting Chain of Responsibility obligations and NHVR expectations.
Reduced roadside defect notices: vehicles that are pre-checked daily are less likely to receive defect notices during roadside inspections.
Preventive maintenance: early detection of fluid leaks, air leaks, belt wear and brake adjustment issues prevents costly breakdowns on the road.
Fleet visibility: a consistent pre-start process across all heavy vehicles gives fleet managers visibility of vehicle condition and recurring defects.
Audit trail: a signed daily checklist provides documented evidence for insurance claims, incident investigations and regulatory audits.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise truck checklists 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).
Auto-schedule pre-start forms so operators are prompted before every shift.
Flag overdue pre-starts on the dashboard so nothing leaves the yard unchecked.
Link each pre-start to the asset record for a complete inspection history.

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What to include in a truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist

This truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist covers 16 key areas:

Vehicle details: registration, make/model/type, odometer, fleet number.
Driver details: name, licence class, date.
Tyres and wheels: condition, pressure, tread depth, wheel nuts.
Lights: headlights, tail lights, indicators, brake lights, clearance/marker lights, work lights, beacon.
Mirrors: side mirrors, spot mirrors, clean, secure.
Body / chassis: no visible damage, leaks, loose components.
Engine and fluids: oil, coolant, power steering, brake fluid, DEF/AdBlue, air filter.
Brakes: service brake test, park brake test, air pressure build-up, air leaks, brake lines/hoses.
Steering and electrical: steering free play, power steering, battery, horn, reversing alarm/camera.
Cab safety: seatbelt, wipers/washers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, warning triangle.
Load restraint: tie-down points, chains/straps, headboard, load rated (if carrying).
Signage and compliance: registration current, COR/NHVR compliance, dimension and mass placards, dangerous goods if applicable.
Coupling (if towing): fifth wheel, turntable, kingpin, airlines, electrical connections, safety chains.
Overall result: Pass / Action Required / Fail.
Defects table: defect description, action taken, rectified by.
Driver and supervisor sign-off: signature, name, date and time.

How to use this truck / heavy vehicle pre-start checklist

Fill in the vehicle details (registration, make/model/type, odometer, fleet number) and driver details (name, licence class, date) at the top of the form.
Walk around the vehicle. Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth. Inspect wheel nuts, lights, mirrors, body and chassis. Mark Pass or Fail for each item.
Check engine and fluids - oil, coolant, power steering, brake fluid, DEF/AdBlue and air filter.
Test brakes - service brake, park brake, air pressure build-up and check for air leaks. Inspect brake lines and hoses.
Check steering (free play, power steering), electrical (battery, horn, reversing alarm/camera) and cab safety (seatbelt, wipers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, warning triangle).
If carrying a load, check load restraint - tie-down points, chains/straps, headboard, and confirm the load is within rated limits.
Verify signage and compliance - registration, COR/NHVR documentation, dimension and mass placards, dangerous goods signage if applicable.
If towing, check coupling - fifth wheel/turntable/kingpin secure and locked, airlines connected (no leaks), electrical connections, safety chains crossed and secure.
If any item fails, record it in the defects table with a description and action taken. Do not drive the vehicle until critical defects are rectified.
Select the overall result (Pass / Action Required / Fail), sign and date the form. Save or print a copy for the fleet records.

In MapTrack, you can run digital pre-starts attached to each asset. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

Heavy vehicles should receive a daily pre-start inspection before the first use of each day or shift. Under the HVNL, drivers must not drive a heavy vehicle unless it is safe to operate. A daily pre-start demonstrates due diligence. In addition to daily pre-starts, heavy vehicles should follow manufacturer-scheduled service intervals and receive periodic roadworthy inspections as required by state or territory transport authorities. Many fleet operators also conduct weekly, monthly or quarterly detailed inspections covering brake adjustment, wheel bearing condition, suspension and chassis integrity. If a vehicle operates in demanding conditions (long-haul, off-road, heavy payloads), increase the inspection frequency accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

What should a truck pre-start inspection cover?: A truck pre-start inspection should cover tyres and wheels (condition, pressure, tread depth, wheel nuts), all lights (headlights, tail lights, indicators, brake lights, clearance/marker lights, work lights and beacon), mirrors, body and chassis condition, engine and fluids (oil, coolant, power steering, brake fluid, DEF/AdBlue, air filter), brakes (service brake, park brake, air pressure build-up, air leaks, brake lines/hoses), steering, electrical systems (battery, horn, reversing alarm/camera), cab safety (seatbelt, wipers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, warning triangle), load restraint, signage and compliance (registration, COR/NHVR, dimension and mass placards, dangerous goods if applicable), and coupling if towing.
How often should heavy vehicles be inspected?: Heavy vehicles should receive a daily pre-start inspection before the first use of each day or shift. Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) in Australia, drivers must not drive a heavy vehicle if it is not safe to operate. A daily pre-start check demonstrates due diligence. In addition, heavy vehicles require regular scheduled servicing (per manufacturer intervals) and periodic roadworthy inspections as required by state/territory transport authorities. Many organisations also conduct weekly, monthly or quarterly detailed inspections for fleet compliance.
What are the legal requirements for heavy vehicle inspections?: In Australia, the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) requires that heavy vehicles are maintained in a safe condition. The Chain of Responsibility (COR) provisions mean that all parties in the transport supply chain, including drivers, operators, schedulers, loaders and consignors, share responsibility for heavy vehicle safety. While the HVNL does not prescribe a specific checklist, regulators expect operators to demonstrate that vehicles are inspected before use and defects are recorded and actioned. A daily pre-start checklist is one of the most common ways to demonstrate compliance. Check with your state or territory transport authority for jurisdiction-specific requirements.

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