Free truck inspection checklist
Jump to download form ↓Enter your email below to download this truck inspection checklist as a ready-to-use PDF.
Free truck inspection checklist (PDF). Heavy vehicle check: coupling, air brakes, tyres, lights, load restraint and fluids. AU NHVR aligned. Download free.
Commercial Director
Key takeaways
- A truck inspection checklist is a periodic heavy-vehicle safety check covering coupling, air brakes, tyres, lights, load restraint and fluids in more depth than the daily pre-trip.
- It supports the operator and driver duties under the Heavy Vehicle National Law to keep a regulated heavy vehicle roadworthy.
- Air brake checks, including reservoir drain, low-pressure warning and a leak-down test, are central to a heavy-vehicle inspection.
- Load restraint equipment must meet the Load Restraint Guide; check straps, chains, dogs and anchor points as part of every inspection.
Updated 4 June 2026
How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.
- PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
- Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
- Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails
Download free PDF template
Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Used by construction, mining and field service teams
What is a truck inspection checklist?
A truck inspection checklist is a structured form for a thorough periodic safety inspection of a heavy vehicle and, where fitted, its trailer or coupling. It covers the fifth wheel or tow coupling, the air brake system, tyres and wheels, lights and reflectors, steering and suspension, engine and fluids, the cabin, and load restraint equipment, recording a pass, fail or not-applicable result for each item with notes on any defect to be rectified. It is built for rigid trucks, prime movers and trailers rather than light vehicles.
Transport operators, fleet managers, drivers and workshops use this checklist as the periodic heavy-vehicle record that sits above the quick daily pre-trip check. It examines the coupling and air brake system in the detail that heavy vehicles demand and produces the documented evidence that a truck was inspected and kept roadworthy. In MapTrack, the inspection runs as a mobile form against each truck and trailer, with photos and defect work orders captured against the asset. Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, both the operator and the driver hold duties to ensure a regulated heavy vehicle is roadworthy and its load restrained, and a documented inspection regime is how those duties are evidenced.
Learn more about gps and fleet tracking in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this truck inspection checklist
- Heavy-vehicle focus: covers coupling, air brakes and load restraint, the items that matter most on rigids, prime movers and trailers.
- Air system confidence: structured brake and air checks, including leak-down and low-pressure warning, catch faults before they reach the road.
- Coupling safety: fifth wheel, kingpin, jaws and trailer connections are inspected so a trailer cannot disconnect in transit.
- Load restraint check: straps, chains, dogs and anchor points are verified against the Load Restraint Guide before the truck is loaded.
- Deeper than the pre-trip: a periodic inspection finds developing wear and brake faults that a daily walk-around will not surface.
- NHVR evidence: a signed inspection record supports the operator and driver roadworthiness duties under heavy-vehicle law.
- Defect to repair: failed items are logged with an action and rectified-by date so a truck is not run with a known fault.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move your checklists from paper to 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).
- Monitor odometer and service-interval triggers across your entire fleet.
- Capture fuel receipts and trip logs alongside vehicle inspection data.
- Compare vehicle downtime and repair costs to inform replacement decisions.
Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles checklists.
Try MapTrack free for 30 days
Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.
- No credit card required
- 30 days free trial
- Cancel anytime
Intuitive for field crews
“MapTrack's a great platform - intuitive for the guys out in the field and also has fantastic support.”
Matthew Anderson
Maintenance Planning Supervisor, Supagas
What to include in a truck inspection checklist
This truck inspection checklist covers 10 key areas:
- Vehicle details: registration, fleet number, make and model, odometer and inspection date.
- Coupling: fifth wheel, kingpin, jaws, tow coupling, safety chains and trailer connections.
- Air brake system: reservoir drain, build-up time, low-pressure warning, leak-down test, park brake.
- Tyres and wheels: tread, pressure, sidewall, wheel nut indicators, dual spacing and spare.
- Lights and reflectors: headlights, indicators, brake, marker, reverse and trailer lights.
- Steering and suspension: play, airbags, springs, shock absorbers and chassis condition.
- Engine and fluids: oil, coolant, fuel, AdBlue, and any oil, coolant or air leaks.
- Cabin and controls: horn, seatbelt, mirrors, gauges, warning lights and tachograph or device.
- Load restraint: straps, chains, dogs, curtains, gates and anchor points condition.
- Overall result, defects table, and driver plus supervisor sign-off.
How to use this truck inspection checklist
- Park the truck safely and record the vehicle details.: Position the truck on level ground with the engine off and the park brake applied, and chock the wheels if needed. Record the registration, fleet number, make and model, odometer and inspection date before you start so the inspection record is complete and traceable to the asset.
- Inspect the coupling and trailer connections.: Check the fifth wheel or tow coupling, kingpin, locking jaws, release handle, safety chains and the trailer electrical and air line connections. Confirm the coupling is secure and undamaged and that nothing could cause the trailer to disconnect under load on the road.
- Test the air brake system thoroughly.: Drain the air reservoirs, check the build-up time, confirm the low-pressure warning activates, and perform a leak-down test with the brakes applied. Check the park brake holds and inspect brake chambers, slack adjusters and lines. Treat any air leak or warning fault as a fail.
- Check tyres, wheels, suspension and lights.: Inspect each tyre for tread, pressure and sidewall damage, check wheel nut indicators and dual tyre spacing, and examine airbags, springs and shock absorbers. Have a second person confirm all headlights, indicators, brake, marker, reverse and trailer lights and reflectors are working.
- Inspect fluids, cabin and load restraint equipment.: With the engine cool, check oil, coolant, fuel and AdBlue levels and look for leaks. Confirm the horn, seatbelt, mirrors, gauges and warning lights work, then inspect straps, chains, dogs, curtains and anchor points against the Load Restraint Guide before any load is applied.
- Record the result, raise defects and sign off.: Mark the overall result, list any failed item in the defects table with an action and a rectified-by date, and complete the driver and supervisor sign-off. Take the truck out of service for any defect affecting roadworthiness or load restraint until it is repaired and re-checked.
In MapTrack, you can track your fleet with gps and digital pre-starts. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full truck inspection checklist as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
Run a full truck inspection on a set periodic cycle, typically monthly or aligned to a service interval, and always before a major trip or after a significant repair, while the daily pre-trip check is completed every shift before driving. Trailers should be inspected on the same cycle as the prime mover. In MapTrack, you can schedule the periodic inspection against each truck and trailer and trigger it by date or odometer, so the deeper heavy-vehicle check runs reliably alongside the daily pre-trip rather than being missed.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- Heavy Vehicle National Law - Operator and driver duties to ensure a heavy vehicle is roadworthy
- National Transport Commission - Load Restraint Guide (requirements for restraining loads on heavy vehicles)
- WHS Act 2011, s19 - Primary duty of care (provide and maintain safe plant, including heavy vehicles)
Embed this free template on your website
Run an industry blog, trade association site, or training resource? Drop a preview of this free truck inspection checklist straight into your page. The snippet is self-contained, needs no scripts, and links readers back to the full free template.
<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:#0E7490;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Truck inspection 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;">Vehicle details: registration, fleet number, make and model, odometer and inspection date.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Coupling: fifth wheel, kingpin, jaws, tow coupling, safety chains and trailer connections.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Air brake system: reservoir drain, build-up time, low-pressure warning, leak-down test, park brake.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Tyres and wheels: tread, pressure, sidewall, wheel nut indicators, dual spacing and spare.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Lights and reflectors: headlights, indicators, brake, marker, reverse and trailer lights.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Steering and suspension: play, airbags, springs, shock absorbers and chassis condition.</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/truck-inspection-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Truck inspection checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Please keep the “by MapTrack” attribution link in the snippet.
Need to track your fleet with gps and digital pre-starts?
Register every asset in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.
GPS and fleet tracking · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo