Must a driver do a pre-trip safety inspection? Must a driver do a pre-trip safety inspection?

  • A. Yes. It's a legal requirement

  • B. Yes. It's for safety reasons

  • C. No. Only if the load has been changed

  •  
    The correct answer is B
     
    Correct. It's not a legal requirement, though you may have to complete some items that are a legal requirement during a pre-trip check, such as affixing dangerous goods signs.
     
 
 
 

Truck pre-drive inspection checklist

The following list is a checklist for a pre-journey inspection for a truck. 

Truck and trailer

Starting at the front and working your way to the rear:

  • Headlights
  • Windscreen
  • Rear vision
  • Labels - CoF, CoL, registration and TSL number
  • Fluids – oil, brakes, radiator, power steering
  • Cab corrosion
  • Tyres and wheels - tyre pressure, tread depth and wheel nuts
  • Air tanks and leaks
  • Fuel tanks - cap must be on tight as diesel spilling onto the road makes the surface very slippery which is dangerous for motorbikes
  • Engine - check for signs of leaks
  • Battery and connectors - check for decay
  • Exhaust
  • Suspension
  • Chassis
  • Driveline
  • Mudguards, hubbo, kilometres and RUC
  • Load anchorage - Load is secure (strops, webbing and chains are securely fastened; container is locked down; loose loads are covered adequately)
  • Marker lights
  • Tail lights
  • Stop lights
  • Reflectors
  • Indicators
  • Doors are secure - rear or side doors to the cargo are closed

If you are towing a trailer, you'll also check the following:

  • Drawbeam
  • Drawbar
  • Certification
  • Turntable
  • Tail lights
  • Reflectors
  • Indicators
  • Air hoses

Tractor and trailer

All the above (except drawbeam and drawbar), plus on the trailer and mounts:

  • Kingpin and fifth wheel mounts
  • Load bearing deck cross members
  • Chassis

Doing this 10-minute walk-around will save you time and money later as it allows you to identify issues with the truck before they become major problems that will take the truck off the road. If your truck is inspected by the police or NZTA on the roadside or at a weighbridge and they find defects then they could order it off the road which could be a problem for the client whose cargo you are transporting.

A defect is categorised as dangerous, serious or moderate, depending on its safety risk. Vehicles may be given a pink sticker if they are unsafe for the road. There is a full list of these codes here.

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