Cab and controls
- Windscreen, wipers and washers
- Mirrors and cameras clean and adjusted
- Horn, steering and handbrake
- Seat belt and seat
- No warning lights after start
Lights
- Headlights (dipped and main beam)
- Indicators and hazards
- Brake lights and reverse light
- Reflectors, markers and number plate light
Wheels and tyres
- Tyres: tread, pressure by sight, cuts or bulges
- Wheel nuts present and tight, no rust trails
- Mudguards and spray suppression
Body, load and tail lift
- Body, doors and curtains secure
- Tail lift: platform, hoses, controls and safety devices
- Load secure and within weight
- Spray suppression and rear marker boards
Fluids and leaks
- Oil, coolant and screen wash levels
- Fuel (and AdBlue) caps fitted
- No oil, fuel, coolant or air leaks under the vehicle
Paperwork
- Driver licence (and CPC if needed)
- Insurance and any permits
- Tachograph card and paper (if used)
Do it on your phone instead
Paper gets lost and nobody sees it until later. Build this as a Kovi template in a few minutes: drivers scan a QR code, tick through it and the office sees defects with photos straight away. Free for 30 days.
This is a general checklist. Add anything your manufacturer's handbook, site rules or operator licence requires.
Questions
Does a 7.5 tonne lorry need an operator licence?
Vehicles over 3,500 kg gross weight generally do, with some exceptions. Check GOV.UK.
Related
ChecklistsCopyable daily check lists for lorries, vans, trailers, forklifts, tippers and refrigerated vehicles. Use them on paper or build them in Kovi.Daily vehicle check checklistA practical daily vehicle check checklist for lorries and large vehicles in the UK. Copy it onto paper or build it in Kovi as a template.Defect reporting with photosDrivers report a defect with a note and a photo. The office is emailed straight away, assigns a fix and closes it off. Full history kept for every vehicle.