These guides explain what a good daily check looks like, what to record, how to stay safe and what the rules expect. Start with 12 things fleet operators often forget. They are general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the latest guidance from DVSA and GOV.UK for your situation.
Daily checks
HGV walkaround check guideWhat to check on an HGV before every journey: cab, tyres, lights, leaks, load and trailer. A step by step walkaround with what to record and report.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.Van daily check checklistA quick daily check list for vans: lights, tyres, fluids, load and documents. Takes two minutes. Copy it or use it as a Kovi template.Driver defect reporting guideWhat to write when you find a defect, who to tell, when to stop the vehicle and how operators should record and close it off.Trailer walkaround check guideHow to check a trailer before you set off: coupling, air lines, landing legs, lights, tyres and load. Includes common faults.Tyre checks for lorries and vansTread, pressure, damage and age: what a driver can check on a tyre in thirty seconds, and when to stop and report it.Rolling out daily checks to driversWhy drivers skip checks and how to fix it: make it quick, make it matter, show you read them and never punish honest defect reports.Common walkaround check mistakesTick and flick, undated sheets, defects never closed. The mistakes that make a check worthless, and simple fixes for each.Electric van daily checksWhat to add to a daily check for electric vans: charge level, cable and port, tyres, warning lights and safety around high voltage parts.Winter vehicle checksCold weather checks for lorries and vans: tyres, screen wash, lights, batteries, AdBlue and what to carry.
Safety
What fleets often forgetThe gaps that catch out fleets: unread check sheets, open defects, lapsed dates, no licence checks, untrained drivers and missing records.Why vehicles fail roadside checksThe usual causes of roadside defects and prohibitions: tyres, lights, brakes, load security, wheel fixings and leaks, and the daily check that prevents them.Wheel nut and wheel loss safetyWheels coming off is rare and serious. Wheel nut indicators, rust trails, torque after tyre work and what drivers should look for each day.Air brake checks for driversHow drivers check air brakes before setting off: pressure build up, warning devices, leaks, handbrake and a brake test on the move.Reversing safetyReversing is a leading cause of injuries in yards and depots. Practical controls: avoid it, use banksmen, cameras, alarms and clear routes.Blind spots and visibilityWhy large vehicles have blind spots, how to check mirrors and cameras every day and what drivers should do near cyclists and pedestrians.Coupling and uncoupling safelyA safe routine for coupling a trailer: reversing, locking, tug test, air and electrical connections, landing legs and checks before moving.Working at height on vehiclesFalls from vehicles cause serious injuries. Safer ways to sheet, rope and load, and what employers should provide.Mobile phone policy for driversHandheld phone use while driving is illegal. What employers should put in a policy, and how to use phones safely for checks and navigation.Driver fatigue and safetyTiredness is a major factor in road crashes. Warning signs, rules on hours, scheduling that helps and what drivers should do when tired.Drug and alcohol policyDrink and drug driving limits in Great Britain, why employers should have a clear policy and what it should cover.Driver induction checklistWhat to cover with a new or agency driver in their first hour: vehicle, checks, defects, policies, incidents and documents.Accident and incident reportingA simple process for reporting collisions, near misses and damage: what the driver does at the scene, what the office records and what to learn.Breakdown safetyWhat to do when a vehicle breaks down on a motorway or a busy road: get out safely, stay safe, call for help and warn others.AdBlue faults and limp modeWhy AdBlue warnings matter, what happens when it runs out, common causes of faults and what to do and report.Vehicle security and fuel theftPractical ways to protect vehicles, tools, loads and fuel: parking, locks, tank caps, lighting, key control and what to check daily.Fleet safety policy outlineA practical outline for a fleet safety policy: roles, daily checks, defects, drivers, hours, incidents and review. Adapt it for your business.
Legal requirements
How long to keep check recordsOperators are expected to keep driver check and defect records for a set period. What DVSA guidance says, what to keep and how to find it later.PMI vs daily walkaround checkPlanned preventive maintenance inspections and daily driver checks do different jobs. Here is how they fit together for UK operators.Operator licence guideWho needs an O-licence, the three types, what operators promise to do on vehicle maintenance and daily checks, and where to apply.DVSA roadworthiness guide explainedA plain English summary of what DVSA expects from operators: driver daily checks, defect reporting, planned inspections, brake tests and records.Preparing for a DVSA visitThe records and habits examiners look for: daily check records, defect fixes, PMI sheets, driver hours and licence checks. A practical checklist.OCRS explainedWhat the DVSA Operator Compliance Risk Score is, what feeds it, and how better daily checks and defect handling protect your score.Prohibition notices explainedWhat a DVSA prohibition means, immediate versus delayed, what to do next and how daily checks help you avoid them.Driver CPC explainedWhat Driver CPC is, who needs it, the 35 hours of periodic training every five years and how to keep training records.Driver licence checksWhy and how employers check driving licences, using the DVLA check code, what to look for and how to keep a record.Driving for work: duty of careEmployers have general duties to manage work-related road risk. What that means for vehicle checks, drivers and records.Driver hours rules (GB)A plain English summary of the main driving time, break and rest limits for lorry drivers in GB, and how they relate to walkaround checks.Tachograph basicsWhat a tachograph does, download timings for driver cards and vehicle units, how long to keep data and what to check.HGV annual test preparationA practical preparation list for the annual test on lorries and trailers over 3.5 tonnes: what gets failed, what to clean and what paperwork to bring.MOT for vansMOT timing for vans up to 3.5 tonnes, common failure points and how to avoid a failed test with daily checks.Load security guideThe basics of safe load restraint: weight distribution, straps, curtains, tipping and what to check before you move.Vehicle weights explainedGross vehicle weight, kerb weight, payload and why 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes matter for licences, tests and rules.
Running a fleet
How to choose a vehicle check appA buyer checklist for fleet check software: price, offline use, defect workflow, records, data export and what happens if you leave.Defect categoriesHow to grade defects: dangerous, major, minor and advisory. What to do for each and how to build it into your reporting.Cost of vehicle downtimeWork out what one vehicle off the road costs you per day, and how catching defects early reduces it. Includes a worked example.Fleet management for small fleetsA practical starting list for fleets of 3 to 30 vehicles: records, daily checks, dates, defects and driver management.Road transport glossaryPlain English definitions of the terms used in UK road haulage and fleet management, from AdBlue to walkaround check.