What should a ute daily check cover?

A ute daily check should cover the exterior (tyres, lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers, body condition, numberplates and tow bar/hitch if fitted), under the bonnet (oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, battery and belts), interior (seatbelts, horn, handbrake, gauges, warning lights and air conditioning), and onboard equipment (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle, hi-vis vests, torch, recovery equipment, tools, cargo barrier/tray, UHF radio and spill kit if required). Complete the check before the first use of each day.

How often should service vehicles be checked?

Service vehicles used for work purposes should receive a daily pre-use inspection before the first use of each day or shift. This visual and functional check takes 5 to 10 minutes and catches defects before they become a safety risk on the road. In addition to daily checks, service vehicles should follow the manufacturer scheduled service intervals, typically every 10,000 to 15,000 km or 6 to 12 months. If the vehicle is used in harsh conditions (dust, gravel roads, heavy loads), increase the inspection frequency accordingly.

What safety equipment should be in a ute?

At a minimum, a work ute should carry a first aid kit (stocked and in date), a fire extinguisher (charged with a current service tag), a warning triangle or reflectors, at least two hi-vis vests, a working torch, and recovery equipment such as a tow rope or strap and jumper cables. Depending on your industry and site requirements, you may also need a UHF radio, spill kit, tools and a cargo barrier. Check your company policy, site induction requirements and state or territory regulations for specific obligations.

Is the template free to use without MapTrack?

Yes. Download and use the template for free. Open the HTML file in any browser and use Print then Save as PDF to generate a printable copy. No MapTrack account is required. If you later want digital daily vehicle checks linked to each ute or service vehicle with automatic defect alerts, tool inventory tracking and fleet compliance dashboards, MapTrack can help. Book a demo to see how it works.

Is this ute service vehicle daily check free to download?

Yes, this ute and service vehicle daily check template is completely free to download as a PDF. No account or signup is required. For teams wanting to move beyond paper forms, MapTrack offers a digital version that automates scheduling, sends overdue alerts, and stores completed records in the cloud for instant retrieval during audits.

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Free ute and service vehicle daily check (PDF-ready). Vehicle condition, tools onboard, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and safety gear. Download free.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

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What is a ute / service vehicle daily check?

A ute / service vehicle daily check is a structured inspection form completed by the driver before using a ute, van or light commercial vehicle for work purposes. It is a visual and functional walk-around that covers the vehicle exterior (tyres, lights, mirrors, windscreen, body condition), under the bonnet (oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, battery, belts), cabin controls (seatbelts, horn, handbrake, gauges, warning lights) and onboard equipment (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle, hi-vis vests, torch, recovery gear, tools, cargo restraint, UHF radio and spill kit). The completed form provides a documented record that the vehicle and its safety equipment were inspected and any defects reported before driving.

Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this ute / service vehicle daily check

Driver and crew safety: catch tyre, brake, light and fluid issues before they cause a breakdown or accident on the road.
Tool and equipment accountability: confirm that essential tools, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and recovery gear are present and in working order before leaving the depot.
WHS compliance: demonstrate that vehicles used for work are inspected regularly, supporting your duty of care under WHS legislation.
Reduced downtime: early detection of minor issues prevents costly breakdowns and unplanned repairs in the field.
Fleet visibility: a consistent daily check across all utes and service vehicles gives fleet managers visibility of vehicle condition and recurring defects.
Audit trail: a signed daily form provides documented evidence for insurance claims, incident investigations and fleet audits.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise ute / service vehicle 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 ute / service vehicle daily check

This ute / service vehicle daily check covers 11 key areas:

Vehicle details: registration, make/model, odometer, fleet number, job/site.
Driver details: name, licence number, date.
Exterior: tyres, lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers, body condition, numberplates, tow bar/hitch if fitted.
Under bonnet: oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, battery, belts.
Interior: seatbelts, horn, handbrake, gauges, warning lights, air conditioning.
Safety equipment: first aid kit (present, stocked, in date), fire extinguisher (charged, current service tag), warning triangle/reflectors, hi-vis vests (x2 minimum), torch (working).
Recovery and communication: tow rope/strap, jumper cables, UHF radio, spill kit (if required).
Tools and cargo: tool kit present, tools secured, cargo barrier/tray, load secured, tie-downs.
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 ute / service vehicle daily check

Fill in the vehicle details (registration, make/model, odometer, fleet number, job/site) and driver details (name, licence, date) at the top of the form.: Record the vehicle registration, make, model, current odometer reading, fleet number and the job or site you are travelling to. Enter your name, licence number and the date. This information links the daily check to a specific vehicle and driver, supporting fleet compliance records, insurance documentation and WHS audit requirements.
Walk around the exterior. Check tyres for condition and pressure, inspect all lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers, body panels, numberplates and tow bar if fitted. Mark Pass or Fail for each item.: Start at the front and work clockwise. Check each tyre for tread depth, cuts, bulges and correct inflation. Inspect all headlights, indicators, tail lights and brake lights for function. Confirm mirrors are secure and clean. Check the windscreen for cracks and wipers for blade condition. Look for body damage, loose panels or trim. Verify number plates are legible and securely attached. If a tow bar or hitch is fitted, check for cracks and confirm the pin or coupling is secure.
Open the bonnet. Check engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, battery terminals and belts. Mark Pass or Fail.: With the engine off, check the engine oil dipstick and top up if below the minimum mark. Inspect the coolant expansion tank level (never remove a hot radiator cap). Check the brake fluid reservoir is between the MIN and MAX marks. Fill the washer fluid if low. Inspect the battery terminals for corrosion and confirm connections are tight. Check drive belts for cracks, glazing or looseness. Look for any fluid leaks around hoses and gaskets.
Sit in the cabin. Check seatbelts, horn, handbrake, dashboard gauges, warning lights and air conditioning. Start the engine and confirm no warning lights remain on.: Fasten the seatbelt and give it a sharp tug to confirm the retractor locks. Sound the horn. Apply the handbrake and confirm it holds the vehicle. Turn the ignition to the accessory position and check that all warning lights illuminate during the self-test, then start the engine and confirm they extinguish. Test the air conditioning on both hot and cold settings. Check the fuel gauge and trip meter for the planned journey.
Check onboard safety equipment - first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle, hi-vis vests, torch, recovery gear, UHF radio, spill kit.: Open the first aid kit and verify it is stocked and all items are within their expiry date. Check the fire extinguisher gauge shows a full charge and the service tag is current. Confirm the warning triangle or reflectors are accessible. Count at least two hi-vis vests and check the torch has working batteries. Verify recovery gear (tow rope or strap, jumper cables) is present. Test the UHF radio if fitted. If a spill kit is required for your site or industry, check it is complete and stocked.
Confirm tools are present and secured, cargo barrier is in place and any load is restrained.: Check the tool kit is present and all required tools accounted for. Confirm tools are secured in a toolbox or tray and cannot become projectiles in a sudden stop. Verify the cargo barrier is in place between the cabin and the tray or load area. If carrying any load, confirm it is restrained with tie-downs or straps rated for the load weight and that the total weight does not exceed the vehicle GVM.
If any item fails, record it in the defects table with a description and action taken. Do not drive the vehicle if defects affect roadworthiness until they are rectified.: Write a clear description of each defect and the immediate action taken. Safety-critical defects such as brake failure, tyre blowout, non-functional headlights, non-functional brake lights or steering issues must prevent the vehicle from being driven. Notify your fleet manager or supervisor and arrange repair. For non-critical defects, log them for scheduled maintenance but proceed if the vehicle remains safe to drive.
Select the overall result (Pass / Action Required / Fail), sign and date the form. Save or print a copy for the fleet records.: Mark the overall result based on your findings. Sign and date the form, noting the time. If your company requires a supervisor countersignature, obtain it before departing. File the completed form in the vehicle glovebox logbook, upload to your fleet management system or submit digitally through MapTrack so the record is linked to the vehicle asset for compliance tracking.

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?

Utes and service vehicles used for work purposes should receive a daily pre-use inspection before the first use of each day or shift. This visual and functional check takes 5–10 minutes and catches defects before they become a safety risk on the road. In addition to daily checks, vehicles should follow the manufacturer's scheduled service intervals - typically every 10,000–15,000 km or 6–12 months. Many organisations also require a more detailed weekly or monthly inspection that includes tyre tread measurements, fluid top-ups, tool inventory and fire extinguisher expiry dates. If a vehicle is used in harsh conditions (dust, gravel roads, heavy loads), increase the inspection frequency accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

WHS Regulations 2017 (Part 5.1 Plant)
WHS Act 2011 (Section 19 - Primary duty of care)
AS 1851 (Routine service of fire protection equipment)

Need to run digital pre-starts attached to each asset?

Register every ute / service vehicle in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.

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