Vehicle Checks
Vehicles need to be routinely checked and inspected. A system must be in place setting out what checks and inspections need to be carried out, with what frequency and by whom.
This will include:
• Pre-trip check – Carried out by the designated driver of the vehicle prior to each trip, or daily should the trip be more than 24 hours duration. This is to ensure the vehicle is in a safe and roadworthy condition before commencing the journey.
• Inter-trip check – Carried out by the designated driver after a schedule rest period. This is to ensure that the vehicle is still roadworthy for the remainder of the journey.
• Post-trip check – Carried out by the designated driver at the end of the trip, or daily should the trip be more than 24 hours duration. This is the opportunity to check for any faults that may have arisen during the journey, and to log any defects to be fixed by the maintenance team.
On completion of a check, the driver will be required to correct any minor issues (e.g. topping up fluid levels) as well as completing a vehicle checklist and reporting any faults. Safety-critical defects, for example brake failure, must be reported, while the vehicle must be taken out of use immediately and not driven until faults are rectified.
It is recommended that the fleet management or vehicle maintenance team inspect each vehicle on a routine basis (ideally weekly). This ensures that anything that may have been missed during checks carried out by drivers is identified.
