What To Look For in a Daily Walkaround
- Posted by:
- Admin
- Tags:
- Posted date:
- 01-01-1970
Find out what to look for in a daily walkaround for commercial vehicles. All vehicles must be safe and roadworthy by law. Find out what is involved in a van walkaround.
What Are Daily Walkaround Checks For Commercial Vehicles
All vehicles must be safe and roadworthy by law, which means those vehicles that do not meet the minimum legal requirement for a vehicle to be safe should not be used. In addition, having daily checks done to ensure each time they enter the road, they are in the best condition possible is important.
Ensuring the vehicle meets all the relevant stands for road safety is important as it is part of health and safety. For companies, having all their trucks checked before use is important to protect your employees and others on the road from avoidable injuries. A manager should try to ensure the checks are done before use.
What Should be Checked Before you Drive your Van?
There are a few checks that need to be done to the van before you begin the transport. These checks include the inside and outside of the vehicle.
Some of the outside checks include:
Types/wheels (wear and tear, the correct pressure to carry the load being taken, treads at the minimum of 1.6mm, etc.).
Check the load (is the vehicle overloaded or leaning to a side? Check the load is evenly distributed and securely attached).
Tow-bars and tail-lifts (ensure the tow-bar is connected properly with all electrical connections are working).
Check for issues with the battery (are there any obvious leaks or damage to the battery? Is the battery secure and working?).
Check all the fuels, oil, and fluids important to the truck's operation and work correctly with the proper amount.
The number plates at the front and rear of the vehicle must be clean and easy to read.
The doors for your vehicle need to close securely without hindrance.
Ensure there is no sharp edges or loose panels around the vehicle for health and safety.
These checks are important before you big transporting any loads to ensure it is safe for all drivers.
Some of the inside checks include:
Your foot brake and handbrake must work correctly with excessive slack.
Do all lights work correctly? This includes blinkers, front and backlights, brake lights, and dashboard lights such as ABS, EPS, full-beam etc.
Are the driver controls, seatbelt and seat adjusted and comfortable for use?
Does the driver have access to a hi-visibility jacket or vest?
Are there any unsecured objects that could be a hazard while driving?
Are the seats secured correctly, and do seat belts operate correctly without wear and tear or other visible damage?
Ensure the driver's horn is easily accessible and works.
Check for any excessive play in the steering.
Are there any obstructions to the use of mirrors?
Ensure they are clean and easy to see out of with no damage to them.
Ensure there is washer fluid and the wipers work correctly.
Ensure the widescreen demister works correctly.
The list is for light vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. The vehicles which go from 3.5 to 7.5 have different regulations for them to work correctly.
Commercial Vehicle Checklist
As stated before, the checklist will include checking the brakes work correctly, horn and steering are safe, all lights working correctly internal and external, mirrors and glass are clean, accessible, visible and secured. Seats and seat belts are secure and safe to use, washers and wipers are full and safe.
On the outside of the van:
Check the battery is safe for use,
All fluids (fluids, oil and fuel) are correct
There is no damage to bodywork or health hazards to others around the vehicle.
The exhaust does not emit an excessive amount of smoke.
Tyres and wheels are at minimum standards, at least for safe use.
Van is not overloaded, and weight is equal.
Tow bars and tail lifts are secured and connected to work properly.
With this, some insurance agencies may ask for you to keep a record of any defects found and rectified as well as any follow-ups.
How long should a vehicle walkaround take?
The vehicle walkaround is very important to catch any issues that might arise and cause you some problems or harm later. Although there is no legal time limit, you should aim for 5-10 minutes. This gives you plenty of time to spend to search properly and not overlook anything that might be dangerous later on.
The vehicle walkaround should be done each day before you start to ensure no issues came up the day before, during, or after use.
Should I Report vehicle defects?
Any hazards or serious defects found during your daily walkaround should be repaired immediately before the vehicle is taken out for the day, as this can be dangerous for the operator and others on the road.
In addition, failing to report and fix the issues for the vehicle can make you responsible for any damages that occur.
The checklist that the driver should have would also include a section for any defects that have been found during the daily checks.
This is where the defects or possible defects would be reported. Having a proper process for reporting any defects or hazards found on the vehicle is important for better communication, such as the defect, location, etc.
Following up on the defect reports is also important to ensure they have been appropriately recorded and ensure that any defects stated have been fixed and no longer pose a danger.
In addition, having a record for the maintenance, repairs, and servicing did to vehicles can show you have a good process system for keeping the trucks safe.
Catching these defects early can also save you money later on if you fail the DVSA's (Driver and Vehicle Standards Association) checks, as this can mean your company loses finances. The services you offer will be impacted.
Catching these defects early can also save you money later on if you fail the DVSA's (Driver and Vehicle Standards Association) checks, as this can mean your company loses finances. The services you offer will be impacted.
If you manage a commercial fleet, you will require a Daily Walkaround For Commercial Vehicles to prevent accidents. Following an accident, you will need a professional team for your HGV spray painting. For HGV spray painting in Doncaster and Scunthorpe, follow the link below.