I suppose it is different for a tramper starting in a dark layby in the same vehicle they parked 12 hours earlier that they would only do a cursory examination before moving and do a more thorough one throughout the day. But as a single shift fleet driver with a non-allocated truck I always make sure I do a full check at the start of the shift, if only to record all the damage that’s already present. To be fair I do have the advantage of doing this in a floodlight yard if its dark. I do need to use my maglite for checking tyres and nuts though. On the subject of torches etc… I don’t mind paying for something that makes my life easier, it would be nicer if work provided it but I’m the one that benefits from it so I don’t mind putting my hand in my pocket.
If you carry ADR then the company must provide a torch as part of the kit
Mike-C:
I think everyones missing a very important point here. If you are stopped and found to have a fault, or stopped because you have a fault the only concrete proof you will have that you carried out any checks will be two things…
[1] Ten or fifteen minutes on your chart at the start of your duty showing other work.
[2] a signed check sheet or defect report to confirm ‘no defects’Without these you are going to be hard pushed to prove you have checked anything.
That is exactly what we were told by a ‘transport consultant’ type bloke a while ago. weren’t you was it mike.
had the full nine yards as a result of some kind of ministry slapped-wrist exercise a while previous.
stringy:
As I mentioned earlier in this topic and pasted below, this should answer your question, also check out the document on the last linestringy:
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"
but you have completley missed my point.
what you have quoted there is not law,its a suggestion.
there is no law that states when throughout your working day you must complete your checks.
however,any driver found taking an unroadworthy vehicle on the road is subject to prosecution within reason.by that,i mean a driver is not responsible for anything other than basic safety checks,usually supplied by any half decent outfit.
so for example,a trailer hub bearing fails and the whole hub comes off down the road,that is not down to the driver,he cannot be held responsible.
while i totally agree with daily checks,i do not buy into doing them in pitch black first thing in the morning cant see a thing scenario,and,my point is,there is no law that states i must sign a form and complete ALL checks before i start my journey.
I never said it was law, it is what they recommend, you don’t have to follow their recommendations but it makes life easier, especially if you have an incident and they require proof that you have a robust defect system in place which is law by the way.
If you decide to go outside their recommendations by stretching service intervals to 12 weeks or analysing your own tachographs you’re not breaking the law but you’ll find you get more checks than those who don’t.
buck73:
stringy:
As I mentioned earlier in this topic and pasted below, this should answer your question, also check out the document on the last linestringy:
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"but you have completley missed my point.
what you have quoted there is not law,its a suggestion.
there is no law that states when throughout your working day you must complete your checks.
however,any driver found taking an unroadworthy vehicle on the road is subject to prosecution within reason.by that,i mean a driver is not responsible for anything other than basic safety checks,usually supplied by any half decent outfit.
so for example,a trailer hub bearing fails and the whole hub comes off down the road,that is not down to the driver,he cannot be held responsible.
while i totally agree with daily checks,i do not buy into doing them in pitch black first thing in the morning cant see a thing scenario,and,my point is,there is no law that states i must sign a form and complete ALL checks before i start my journey.
It’s sad but, the Drier who sits in his cab haing a cuppa at 5am whilst ticking all the boxes on his checklist, will be less likely to do time, than the driver who keeps an eye on their vehicle throughout the day. That being one of the reasons, I now only have one truck, and that doesn’t go very far at all 
stringy:
I never said it was law, it is what they recommend, you don’t have to follow their recommendations but it makes life easier, especially if you have an incident and they require proof that you have a robust defect system in place which is law by the way.If you decide to go outside their recommendations by stretching service intervals to 12 weeks or analysing your own tachographs you’re not breaking the law but you’ll find you get more checks than those who don’t.
stretching service intervals,and not having a robust defect system are completley different from choosing to check your vehicle in daylight,than,in pitch black.
look,in summer or should i say when i start my shift and its light i thoroughly check my vehicle,probably in a lot more detail sometimes than most,being a time served hgv mechanic.reading through this topic,people seem to imply that it is wrong,to take a vehicle on the road without ticking all of the boxes.as i mentioned above,if you do not do your checks and something should happen within reason of the drivers checklist,then yes,the full force of the law should be used.
but i refuse to sign my name to something which i cannot physically check or see till conditions allow.
and there is no law which states at which time of day you must check your vehicle.
and yes,i do check my vehicle on a daily basis,and im not a armchair box ticker.
buck73:
so for example,a trailer hub bearing fails and the whole hub comes off down the road,that is not down to the driver,he cannot be held responsible.
Err…it is down to the driver and he is liable. Its a simple Construction and use offence. The fact it happened is usually enough to prove your ‘guilt’. I’ve had an endorsement on my licence for a CU offence a long time ago.
I spend about 5-10 mins checking the vehicle lights, bodywork, water, oil and tyres, by the time i have done this my kettle is boiled and its time too rock n roll.
I also do checks throughout the day, especially if I have been off road!!! God knows what you can pick up or break in some of the places we go!!!
I do checks in the evenings too, especially if I am in the yard as any problems can be solved overnight by our machanics.
TBH I thought daily check/defect sheet had to be filled out and signed off by driver BEFORE leaving the yard■■?
Clarky:
I spend about 5-10 mins checking the vehicle lights, bodywork, water, oil and tyres, by the time i have done this my kettle is boiled and its time too rock n roll.I also do checks throughout the day, especially if I have been off road!!! God knows what you can pick up or break in some of the places we go!!!
I do checks in the evenings too, especially if I am in the yard as any problems can be solved overnight by our machanics.
TBH I thought daily check/defect sheet had to be filled out and signed off by driver BEFORE leaving the yard■■?
On Planet-DHL it has to be. TM signs it too.
Does my truck look like DHL? If I dont complete daily check then MY arse gets it from the TM AND TC!!!
Nope but the reason I do this is because my mother recieved a head injury from a mud-flap coming off a truck on a motorway…she was lucky that the top of the windscreen took the main impact. Imagine that was someone walking down a dual carraigeway■■? In fact don’t cos it wouldnt be nice knowing that because you didn’t check it out.
Clarky:
Does my truck look like DHL? If I dont complete daily check then MY arse gets it from the TM AND TC!!!
Nope but the ones I drive have DHL on the door. 
I was agreeing with your point that the checksheet should be completed and signed before leaving the yard. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
Apologies tofer, thought it was ANOTHER sarcastic comment, Only get TM to sign if he is in yard , lol… but he signs when i get back, if its serious defect he gets a call to advise me what to do…
Again apologies tofer… 
No problems mate, I can’t believe people would make sarcastic comments on here
Oh wait…
tofer:
No problems mate, I can’t believe people would make sarcastic comments on hereOh wait…
Where is the blunder-ing man when we need him■■? 
when checking brake lights
back into dark area and dap brakes whilst looking for light refected on wall or other vehicles
who checks the fog lights
Hi All,
I work for a large logistics company, and we use a system where the driver has a daily check sheet and timesheet combined. All drivers are asked to do daily checks prior to commencing a journey, and to sign off against each day to say they have been done. The checks are easily carried out using a torch (which we supply), and 5 - 10mins of the drivers time. 8 out of the 24 checks our drivers are asked to make are done from within the cab anyways! I really cant see the problem spending the first ten minutes of the day checking, especially as its time you are paid for.
I can see the points of some on here who say why check something which you parked up just 12 hours earlier, but all I ask is did you check is 12 hours earlier?
For those who are interested in how this topic is covered in the USA, the link below is a letter I sent to a friend of mine wishing to drive in America and this topic is part of the Theory test.
welltin:
‘…checks are easily carried out using a torch (which we supply)…’
Crikey, a company with integrity working with the driver: Such activity should be applauded & suggests how those with the nous & punch whom are maintaining a watching brief on this site could learn from this tuppenny-ha-ppenny gesture of reciprocal trust reaping a dividend to achieve a more roadworthy fleet for their board too. Not least, it illustrates to a TM/O licence holder partnership capable of looking beyond spreadsheets, etc, of what should, in 2009, be a transport industry norm.
Financial cost ? Peanuts.
Effect to company? Enabling & better enhancing the legislated requirement for a proper daily/pre-use check.
Effect upon driver? Hey, this company cares!
Effect upon the industry? Arguably priceless; a practically useful leadership initiative via joined-up teamwork.
I’m bored to read how ‘Mission Statements, etc’ talk-the-talk of ‘blah’ …but this tiny bit of consideration walks-the-walk. How refreshing: Big 'em up, welltin.
Mike-C:
buck73:
so for example,a trailer hub bearing fails and the whole hub comes off down the road,that is not down to the driver,he cannot be held responsible.Err…it is down to the driver and he is liable. Its a simple Construction and use offence. The fact it happened is usually enough to prove your ‘guilt’. I’ve had an endorsement on my licence for a CU offence a long time ago.
err,i think you will find it is not.
how can a driver be expected to check the servicability of hub bearings before his journey??
do you have to jack up each wheel in turn and check for play and noise??
we had a driver this happened to on the a1 at ferrybridge,no action was taken against him.
i would love to see a jury try to convict a driver in court,on something the driver has no mechanical knowledge,or ability to check,before his journey.
“so,driver,why did you not check the hub bearings were servicable before you started your journey?”
driver"erm…■■?"