The daily walkaround check

Inside the cab

1. Mirrors, cameras and glass. Windscreen with no cracks, scratches or discolouring that get in your view; front side windows not tinted too dark; every mirror there, unbroken, secure and not blocked; any camera working and showing the right view.
2. Wipers and washers. Wipers working and not missing, damaged or worn. Washers spray.
3. Warning lights and gauges. Gauges and instruments working, and no warning light on that should not be: engine, emissions, ABS, EBS.
4. Steering. Turns as it should, power assistance working, no excessive play, no jamming, and no lift or movement in the column.
5. Horn. Works, and you can reach it from the seat.
6. Brakes and air. Air builds up properly and the warning works; no air leaks you can hear; the footwell is clear; the service brake works the tractor and the trailer; the parking brake holds; the pedal has no excessive side play and its anti slip tread is there.
7. Height marker. The height shown in the cab is right for today: fifth wheel position, trailer and load all change it. Bridge strikes start here.
8. Seatbelts. No cuts, damage or fraying; they lock when fastened and retract properly.
9. Cab, doors and steps. Cab mountings and tilt secure, no panel coming loose, doors open and shut properly, steps secure.

Outside, walking round

10. Lights and indicators. All working, lenses fitted, clean and the right colour; brake lights come on with the pedal; marker lights there and working.
11. Fuel and oil leaks. Filler cap on properly, and nothing dripping underneath with the engine running.
12. Body and wings. Fastenings working, cab and trailer doors shut securely, panels secure, landing legs secure, side guards and rear under run guard fitted where needed and not damaged.
13. Battery. Secure, in good condition, not leaking.
14. AdBlue. Enough on board. Top it up before you go, not on the hard shoulder.
15. Exhaust smoke. No more than normal.
16. High voltage cut off (electric vehicles). You know where the emergency switch is, it works, and the high voltage parts are secure and undamaged.
17. Alternative fuel systems. You know where the isolation switch is, there are no leaks, and what you can see is in good condition.
18. Spray suppression. Flaps fitted where needed, secure, undamaged and not clogged.
19. Tyres and wheel fixing. Wheels and tyres secure; tread at least 1mm; inflated properly; no deep cuts in the sidewall and no cord showing; wheel nuts tight (check the indicators if fitted); nothing stuck between the twins.
20. Brake lines and trailer parking brake. Couplings clean and in the right place, no leaks or damage on the lines, trailer parking brake working.
21. Electrical connections. Wiring you can see is insulated and cannot catch; trailer connections secure; switches working.
22. Coupling. Tractor and trailer properly coupled, the trailer seated in the fifth wheel or coupling, and the secondary locks in place.
23. Load. Does not move, is stable, and is held with the right restraint for what it is.
24. Number plate. Not broken, wrong, badly spaced, dirty, faded or covered.
25. Reflectors. None missing, broken or loose; the right colour; not covered in dirt.
26. Markings and warning plates. Conspicuity markings the right colour, visible and secure; for dangerous goods, the hazard panels show the right information, are visible, secure and not covered.
27. Anything else this vehicle carries. A crane, a tail lift, a tipping gear, a fridge unit: whatever the vehicle is fitted with gets checked too.

When you find something

Write it down and report it to whoever looks after the vehicle. The record should show:

• The vehicle registration or fleet number
• The date
• What the defect is and what it is doing
• How bad it is, for example dangerous
• Your name
• Who you reported it to
• "Nil" when there is nothing wrong. A blank sheet proves nothing.

If something goes wrong on the road, stop where it is safe and look. A dangerous defect is put right before you carry on. Driving an unsafe lorry can mean an unlimited fine and, in the worst cases, prison, and an examiner can stop the vehicle where it stands until it is repaired.

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