Ok so I’m an employed driver , but I’m hoping for sensible answers from those in the know 
hence why I’m asking here not on the main forum .
What is involved in trailer 6 weekly checks ? I presume it should take longer than 2 minutes and actually I involve. coupling up to a unit , oh and going underneath the trailer 
Cheers Mike
Nope it’s more like a maintenance service as far as I’m to believe ie breaks lights nuts and bolts suspension etc
As an employed driver are you required to be doing six weekly trailer inspections? Assuming that is the question then you will need to sign it off as inspected and safe. A reputable and safe operator would have a brake test done too. RHA and VOSA can supply inspection sheets with the areas that require maintenance and adjustment.
No it’s not me doing the so called inspections , ! Presumably they are supposed to be carried out by a trained/ competent person .
I’m just worried pulling trailers that seen to be not being inspected properly !
A six weekly check involves someone who is familiar with how to apply all of the requirements in the following document to the particular vehicle, inspecting it and identifying what needs to be done immediately, later or just reported. He then fills in an inspection sheet and a rectification report and returns these to the operator. He will sign off the vehicle as roadworthy or NOT as the case may be.
We would follow an inspection sheet that lists down all the safety items (plus more) that requires to be checked at each inspection. Wheels are jacked up individually to check bearings for play and have the brakes adjusted if they are on shoes / drums. (essentially everything that may fail an MOT) Also preventative maintenance such as grease up, tyre pressures checked, wheel nuts checked etc. We would allow 1 hour per axle.
As previous replies have said, you should then receive an inspection sheet showing any rectifications that are required. This should be signed off as safe for use once rectifications are done.
Hope this helps
Ian Taylor
I did assist the mechanics where I used to work many years ago do inspections on trucks if they were short handed on a Saturday and they asked nicely. 
Only operating the truck controls so they could be outside the cab and moving trucks in and out while they did the paperwork.
As well as checking lights, tyres, brake operation, Windscreen washers/ wipers etc, they also would lift each wheel and check for play, same with the steering, it didn’t take long, but it did seem thorough.
Where we take our trucks now they have brakes rollers and the trucks and trailers go over them as part of the inspection, and I get a brake roller test report with my inspection sheet, don’t know if this is a requirement though.
So I would say that only having a couple of minutes round an unhitched trailers isn’t really a decent inspection, but are you sure what you saw was the trailer inspection?
Okay Mike, got your point now. See a lot of man and a van doing on-site trailer inspections but would only ever have mine done over a pit and a roller brake test afterwards every time.
The thing is though, if the nominated fitter has signed the trailer off as serviced and fit for use, and you are happy after a walk round check then you should carry on.
Problem you have is proving that even though inspection is done in record time, it is not being done properly.
If you can prove that, then both fitter and company have a case to answer.
Either way I would not be happy with an express service inspection.
Are you sure the trailers require 6 weekly checks? Most of ours are 13 weeks (4 times a year)
The trucks are 6 weekly.
Cheers gents , I don’t really want to say too much more about the circumstances . Apart from we have our own workshop , there has been a change of workshop staff recently and from what I’ve seen ,corners are being cut big style .
Thinks it’s time to look for alternative employment
Proof of the pudding with a maintenance regime is whether the vehicles have defects. Unless you’re regularly finding and being asked to drive with major defects I don’t think I’d worry too much about policing the fitter’s work.
There’s a hell of a lot of trailers out there that won’t see a brake roller tester between MOTs.
Own Account Driver:
Proof of the pudding with a maintenance regime is whether the vehicles have defects. Unless you’re regularly finding and being asked to drive with major defects I don’t think I’d worry too much about policing the fitter’s work.There’s a hell of a lot of trailers out there that won’t see a brake roller tester between MOTs.
That is the holy grail. Since increasing the frequency of inspection last year, owing to the age of the trailers, to six weekly from the previous 13 week programme, the incidence of sticking (not seized) brake calipers has disappeared. The programme now allows three/four inspections during the winter salt laden months. Now apart from the regular tree damage to top marker lights and repeating any ‘observe’ items on the tractor units, the rectification list for any unplanned work has been virtually eliminated. As a result the invoices although more regular, are for smaller amounts.
An additional factor has been the more regularly occurring occasional increase in payload from about 15 cwt, to between 6 and 10 tons, which has improved trailer roller brake test figures.
Lights, Brakes(air leaks and pad/shoe wear,adjustment,free calipers etc) dampers and bags,security eg “u” bolts,landing legs,king pin,valve gear.ABS check,electric couplings and susie couplings,guard rails,rear markings,tyres,wheel nuts,discs/drums for cracking,bearings,Chassis for fractures,security of body,mot and VTG plates and check for Trailer info module logged or live faults and a proper company does a roller brake test.
About an hour and a half+ half hour to fill in the service sheet.