Prioritizing Daily Vehicle Inspections

This post was written by: Channing Puls

Are drivers taking the appropriate amount of time to complete their pre-trip inspections?

Most commercial vehicle operators are not making their pre-trip inspections a priority, and this poses a significant threat to safety. It is crucial for companies to ensure that their drivers and contractors prioritize this process to avoid disastrous consequences. Pre-trip inspections are mandatory by the FMCSA to ensure the vehicle’s safe operation, but a lot of carriers require both pre- and post-trip inspections.

Brakes are one of the most critical components of any vehicle and undergo significant wear and tear. Shockingly, some drivers miss the malfunctioning disc brakes, which can cause substantial damage. During a walk around inspection, you can inspect for pad trouble, caliper trouble, or fluid leaking can cause a catastrophic accident. Almost one-third of all roadside violations have brake related problems.

Tire safety is just as important and requires a proper pre-trip inspection. A closer look at your tires can reveal that your tread is splitting and that it is about to fail. Fortunately, a situation like this can be detected during a walk around inspection before starting their day or while enroute from the shipper to consignee. Tire blowouts account for over 12,000 truck accidents yearly, causing injuries, fatalities, and property damage.

Since fleet service personnel cannot examine each vehicle daily, the driver serves as the frontline defense. They are the eyes of the fleet, and a complete pre-trip/post-trip inspection and DVIR process is essential for a good preventive maintenance program. Without proper visibility into daily equipment conditions, fleets may operate unsafely, putting lives and property at risk.