manowar:
I’m in the same vehicle every day and nobody else drives it so I too tend to have an ongoing inspection system. I’ve got plenty of POA time each day to have a good check around the vehicle, clean off mirrors etc, oil and water etc.
I’m not having a go at you or critisising you, but a comment like that to the wrong person is enough to land you in court for failing to record your working day properly.
Happy Keith:
'…I slightly resent paying for torch batteries (from the declining hourly rate/wage) to check-out their wagons in order to satisfy my legal responsibility…Do they have a moral obligation to reimburse…or should I grow-up?
Giblsa:
'…yes i think you should…its a safety item that i guess 90% or more drivers carry with them. its not as if you replace them every day is it!
Ditto gloves, hard-hat, goggles, etc, etc? My slight point was intended to illustrate the erosion/total eradication of any proper quality in the workplace by supportting workers in their quest to fully & safely satisfy checks that are required by law. You’re acknowledging that it’s being blanked (or certainly not being enabled) by mandarins whilst chinless middle-managers effectively shrug it downwards.
It’s clearly the done thing to be keen, but some of us might note the pee being ripped-out by the endless Mickey Mouse ‘thou shalt’ notices on drivers boards yet sweet FA being offered in the way of any tangible support …at 05.00 in the dark.
Get a grip, man …how else can I get the telly remote working again?
Fallmonk:
Out of currosity when do you write up ure daily defects?
At the start of the shift or at the end ,
Now i always do a pre shift inspection , lights,5th wheel,curtains,load etcbut when do you write these up as it stands i do it at the end of the shift and get it signed off if there is a defect,
This guy must walk round the truck and write down his defects at the end of the day… 
, heard a rumour every day he fills out his defects sheet(s) a small rain forest dissapears the day before for the amount of paper he needs to fill it out very day 
renaultman:
richmond:
Hi there, daily defects checking should be done before you set out in your vehicle, otherwise you could be driving with lights out etc, also as to the people who have said that nothing much has changed between parking up and setting out you are wrong!Recently we had a driver set off down the road in the morning with a flat tyre, the tyre came off as it was a twin and driver didnt notice it hit a car, luckily nobody was hurt, but if he had done proper checks it wouldnt have happened, it happened at the first sharp turn! so guys take 5 mins and take a checkm as they say be carefull out there, nobody out there wants a fatality on there consuncusI think what Lucy, and a few others mean, and this has been done a load of times, is that the early morning walkround checking lights an tryes is done, but the more thorough checks, water, window washer water, oil, wheel nuts, brake temps, springs/airbags etc. Are done through the day, in daylight, and hopefully somewhere dry and warm, rather than poking around in the dark at 5am.
Correct. 
im with lucy on this one.
on dark mornings i have a quick "walk around inspection,lights,tyre inflation,wheelnuts best i can,and a more thourough check through the day.i think any company wanting drivers to check “in detail” in the pitch black are barking,and even more so drivers doing it.you cannot check a vehicle properly in the dark,unless you have eaten lots of carrots,use night vision goggles,or have a very high powered torch.
how do you check your rear brake lights in a yard with no glass or mirrors at low level …it allways beats me that one…yards should have an arte with a mirror at low level
You cannot make any excuses on that front in the USA, you have to do a pre-trip inspection which takes about fifteen minutes and log that you have done this. Any subsequent inspection at a Scale can cause you problems if you have not been thorough enough as you are signing that the vehicle conforms to everything that the DOT requires.
You also have to do a pre trip inspection and complete a daily defect book here, I’m glad my name isn’t on the ‘O’ licence for some of those who’ve commented so far, Beverly Bell would be in her element reading this thread.
■■■■■■00:
how do you check your rear brake lights in a yard with no glass or mirrors at low level …it allways beats me that one…yards should have an arte with a mirror at low level
wedge the brake pedal down and walk round the back 
Denis F:
■■■■■■00:
how do you check your rear brake lights in a yard with no glass or mirrors at low level …it allways beats me that one…yards should have an arte with a mirror at low levelwedge the brake pedal down and walk round the back
i usually use my full flask to rest it on the pedal if no clutch works a treat or a piece of wood wedged under the cluth and loud pedal and over the brake!
stringy:
You also have to do a pre trip inspection and complete a daily defect book here, I’m glad my name isn’t on the ‘O’ licence for some of those who’ve commented so far, Beverly Bell would be in her element reading this thread.
I hope you aren’t referring to me, Stringy. I had this conversation with the VOSA TE who gave me a clean bill of health at Hamilton services the other week and he said that my way was fine, if not preferable for a tramper, as it means that the driver is constantly alert to vehicle condition throughout the shift rather than mentally switching off after the checks. I also published the details in CM shortly afterwards, so if Beverley Bell disagrees I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
Lucy:
stringy:
You also have to do a pre trip inspection and complete a daily defect book here, I’m glad my name isn’t on the ‘O’ licence for some of those who’ve commented so far, Beverly Bell would be in her element reading this thread.I hope you aren’t referring to me, Stringy. I had this conversation with the VOSA TE who gave me a clean bill of health at Hamilton services the other week and he said that my way was fine, if not preferable for a tramper, as it means that the driver is constantly alert to vehicle condition throughout the shift rather than mentally switching off after the checks. I also published the details in CM shortly afterwards, so if Beverley Bell disagrees I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
How does any know she isn’t a member and posts quite often mascerading as a trucker 
Lucy you mentioned that you do a daily pre trip check and ongoing checks throughout the day so no, I wasn’t referring to you.
You must admit for such a major safety issue it isn’t taken seriously by some.
The big thing with the T.E. is history trail, if you have a document that’s completed on a daily basis pre-formatted with items to be checked including things such as fire extinguishers, trailer that they can cross check against records held in the depot on what defects or nil defects you reported and the action they took then you will be fully compliant and they will leave you alone, this is the procedure they recommend and other ways will always be open to interpretation.
In this day and age you must play the game while covering your backside, imagine standing in court after a an accident involving a fatality and stating that you’re the only one who drives that truck so you don’t need to check as often or thoroughly, they more you drive it the less you notice changes.
stringy:
they more you drive it the less you notice changes.
sorry stringy but i dont agree with that.
if you drive the same vehicle, be it a truck or a car,every day you will notice the slightest difference in engine tone, handling or anything else as your body, eyes and ears get accustomed to the sounds/feel of the thing.
If you have a fault that develops slowly, worn clutch is a prime example, the regular driver doesn’t notice until it becomes a problem but if someone else jumps in they tend to pick it up straight away, I’ve had a good few of these over the years.
Then again if the brakes aren’t as efficient then the regular guy does pick it up because you notice the change in reaction time.
So I both agree and disagree with you and myself
stringy:
So I both agree and disagree with you and myself
Actually the brake thing is a good point, Stringy. Which is where regular inspections come into things.
Giblsa:
Denis F:
■■■■■■00:
how do you check your rear brake lights in a yard with no glass or mirrors at low level …it allways beats me that one…yards should have an arte with a mirror at low levelwedge the brake pedal down and walk round the back
i usually use my full flask to rest it on the pedal if no clutch works a treat or a piece of wood wedged under the cluth and loud pedal and over the brake!
Drive an MAN and use the light test switch 
stringy:
You also have to do a pre trip inspection and complete a daily defect book here, I’m glad my name isn’t on the ‘O’ licence for some of those who’ve commented so far, Beverly Bell would be in her element reading this thread.
can you explain in detail why?
as far as i can see everyone posted on here is compliant,or is it just the fact people dont do a detailed examination of their vehicle before they take it on the road when its pitch black,but do have a basic walk round inspection,and detailed check later in the day??.
i really dont get why miss bell would be doing cartwheels.
i will not sign my name to anything that i cannot see,or do i have to wait till the sun comes up before i comply with vosa??.
as long as i check my vehicle at anypoint during my working day,but do make sure it is safe before i first take it out on the road,i dont see a problem.
As I mentioned earlier in this topic and pasted below, this should answer your question, also check out the document on the last line
stringy:
The pdf document via the link at the bottom of this post is very informative on different issues, our defect reporting is as they recommend, pre-driving, in other words start of the shift
:"You might also want to consider asking
drivers, when they carry out their pre-driving
checks, to complete and sign a written report,
or make out a nil report as appropriate.16
15 You can find more information on forward planning systems in A Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness. You can order copies of the guide by visiting
transportoffice.gov.uk"