Keep your commercial vehicles running smoothly with this step-by-step guide. Here’s a pre-trip inspection list for daily, monthly, and annual vehicle inspections. Do thorough vehicle checkups with this convenient list – learn what can get inspected from brakes and tire inspection to suspension, headlights, mirrors, seatbelt, clutch, steering, defrosters and heating, horns, windshield and wipers, airbags, and fluid levels! You can also download free daily, monthly and annual vehicle inspection checklists from our Fleet vehicle maintenance software for small business, Simply Fleet.
Any company using a fleet of vehicles needs to do regular vehicle inspections in order to ensure the smooth running of their business.
Vehicle inspections are important for various reasons. They allow us to check if there are any problems with our vehicles.
We can also use them to keep tracking preventive maintenance schedules and ensure that the trucks are safe and reliable.
Benefits of conducting regular vehicle inspections
There are many benefits of executing vehicle inspections. Few of them are listed below:
- Safety: Breakdowns and untimely accidents due to mechanical failures, are avoided thanks to regular and timely inspections.
- Reliability: Through regular inspections you can guarantee that the vehicles are in the best condition and thus you avoid the risk of any failure on the road.
- Cost-savings: Get avoid even more expensive repairs because of the lack of on time service.
- Longevity: Right maintenance is beneficial, because it extends the lifespan of your cars which in turn will result in saving you the costs of replacement.
- Compliance: With the regular inspections you can comply with all the legal requirements for vehicle safety and emission standards.
- Resale Value: It obviously raises the resale value of your vehicle. For instance, car with the records of all inspections conducted on time will surely be sold for more money later.
Consider these 20 Things for Vehicle Inspection
1. Brakes
A squishy brake pedal could mean you need to check your brake fluid levels before getting behind the wheel. Checking your brake fluid levels before starting your car is one way to ensure it’s working properly.
The brakes won't work correctly if there’s no air in the lines.
Brakes are one of the most common causes of accidents. If you notice anything unusual about your brake system, such as excessive wear, corrosion, or sticking, bring your truck to a reputable shop for repair.
2. Leaking fluids
Fluid leaks can occur anywhere in your vehicle. Therefore, follow these guidelines:
- Check your oil level regularly
- Keep track of how much fluid you use
- Take your truck to a mechanic immediately after seeing leakage signs
3. Loose parts
Parts like hoses and belts can break without warning. Make sure everything is tight and secure before hitting the road.
4. Tires
The tires on your car are one of the most essential parts of your vehicle. They keep you safe while driving on the road. Tires are another area that can cause problems.
Look for cracks, bulges, cuts, or uneven tread. If you find something out of place, contact a tire specialist immediately.
5. Poor alignment
Alignment issues can cause steering problems and poor handling. Have your alignment checked before driving long distances.
6. Lights
Vehicle lights should be checked regularly to make sure they're working properly. Check your headlights, taillights, turn signals, fog lights, backup lights, and emergency flashers.
Headlights help you see better during night driving. Replace bulbs if necessary.
7. Under the Hood
Before you open up your truck, check it over carefully. There could be problems under the hood that you don't even know about. Here are some things to check:
- Oil Level - If there isn't enough oil in the crankcase, the engine won't start. You'll see a dipstick sticking out of the filler neck
- Coolant Temperature - A coolant leak could cause serious damage to your engine. Look for a puddle of water near the radiator cap
8. Steering
Change the level of power steering fluids regularly (every three months) and replace them every 2 years or based on usage.
Besides, check the belt of the power-steering system. Once the steering box has covered 100,000 km or more, it might eventually require replacement. Check it regularly.
9. Clutch
Make sure the clutch engages and disengages correctly. Keep the accelerator pressed down and move the car into drive. The gears should smoothly shift without any noise.
Check the fluid levels in hydraulic clutches and check the condition of the cables in cable-operated clutches. The clutch should not be slipping and should not have any unpleasant smell or sound.
10. Engine
Fleet managers should prioritize routine engine inspections to ensure optimal performance and longevity of their vehicles.
Regularly check for oil levels, coolant conditions, and any unusual noises or vibrations to enhance overall fleet efficiency
Download your FREE Daily & Monthly Inspection Checklist!
11. Emergency equipment
Make sure all the emergency equipment like a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flashlight, etc are available in the vehicle in case of any contingency.
12. Seat Belts
Seat Belts provide the required security to the truck driver, especially in case of any accidents. You need to make sure the seat belts get secured well so can don't get stuck.
13. Horns
With the ever-increasing traffic on highways, the role of horns is critical. Make sure the horn is loud enough and you blow the horn a few times to check if it’s working well.
14. Defrosters and Heating
Defrosters and heaters are the basic requirements during the cold winter months.
The heater keeps the driver warm and shielded from the harsh cold weather outside. The fog or frost on the windshield makes it difficult for the truck driver to have a clear view of the road ahead.
To ensure the safety of all the defrosters have to be analyzed to check if hot air blows from them.
15. Check windshield wiper blades
Wipers clean off dirt and debris from your windshield. Blades must be replaced regularly.
Check your windshield wipers regularly. Look at them while driving down a highway. If there are streaks on your windshield, your windshield wiper blades might need
replacing.
16. Check battery voltage
Your battery is responsible for starting your vehicle.
If it doesn't hold a charge, you're likely to experience trouble getting your engine running. A low battery can cause problems such as stalling, overheating, or even fire.
17. Check turn signals
Turn signals alert drivers behind you about your intentions. They work best when they are working correctly.
18. Suspension
A suspension system consists of four main components: springs, shocks/struts, bushings, and control arms.
- Springs are used to absorbing road bumps and vibrations
- Shocks help dampen the impact of hard landings
- Bushings connect the spring and shock together
- Control arms to keep everything aligned properly
Your vehicle's suspension system should be checked periodically to make sure it works correctly. If you notice anything unusual about your suspension, such as
excessive noise, leaking fluids, or shaking, contact your local mechanic immediately.
19. Bumpers
Check if the front and rear bumpers are secured. There should not be any kind of damage on the bumpers.
20. Mirrors
Without your side and rear view mirror, you are driving blind. Your side and rear view mirror should be clean and clear.
Mirrors are mandatory for parking the vehicle, changing lanes, and being aware of other vehicles around us on the road.
Vehicle Inspection Log Template: Free Download
Keeping track of your vehicle inspections can be a hassle. To help you out, we've created a free downloadable vehicle inspection log template that you can use to easily record the results of your inspections. By using this template, you can ensure that your vehicle inspections are thorough and consistent. This will help you to identify potential problems early on and avoid costly repairs down the road.
Conclusion
Regular vehicle inspections is a part of preventive fleet maintenance. There are many benefits associated with performing vehicle inspections. For instance, we can save time and money by regularly checking our vehicles.
These inspections may prevent us from having to spend hours repairing expensive parts. Also, we can avoid accidents caused by mechanical issues. Finally, we can reduce the risk of theft and vandalism. To yield these benefits, a vehicle inspection checklist can help ease your fleet task.
However, to streamline vehicle inspections and their subsequent maintenance, vehicle inspection checklist software plays an important role. Digitalizing the whole process by use of mobile tools that allow you to do all these things such as preventive maintenance scheduling and report generation, etc will help you a lot.
