Toolbox talk, Procedures, about 6 minutes
Pre-trip inspection habits
Date
Site or job
Led by
Why this one
A truck with a bad tire or weak brakes can fail on the road with a load on and traffic around it. The walkaround takes a few minutes. Skipping it is how a small defect becomes a roadside event.
Say this
- 1.Walk it the same way every time. A set route means you won't skip a corner when you're in a hurry.
- 2.Look at tires first. Tread, sidewalls, lug nuts, valve stems and anything stuck in them.
- 3.Check lights, reflectors, mirrors, wipers and the horn. Walk around while someone works the pedals and signals.
- 4.Look under it. Wet spots, drips and hanging parts tell you what the gauges won't.
- 5.Inside, check the brakes, steering, gauges, seat belt and warning lights before you roll out of the yard.
- 6.Check the load, the hitch, the trailer connections and the tie-downs, per your procedure.
- 7.Write up every defect, even a small one. If it affects safe operation, the vehicle doesn't leave until it's fixed or cleared.
Ask the crew
- – What's the most useful thing a walkaround has ever caught for you?
- – What gets skipped when the schedule is tight, and what would it take to stop skipping it?
- – If you find a defect, who do you tell, and how fast does it get looked at?
Watch for today
- Inspection reports signed with no time to have actually walked the vehicle.
- The same defect written up again and again with no repair.
- Loose or worn tie-downs, straps or chains on a load.
Close with: Same walk, every time. Write it up, fix it, then roll.
Notes and questions raised
Name (print)
Signature
Initials
A starting point. Adapt it to your job, your procedures and the rules that apply to you. portalbaseai.com/toolbox-talks