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Free template

A trailer inspection checklist you can print today.

Walk the trailer before you hook up and again before you leave the yard. Write down every defect. Print the sheet or save it as a PDF.

Also calledTrailer pre-trip inspection, Semi trailer checklist, Trailer walkaround form, Trailer DVIR

How to use it

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

  1. Step 1

    Do it before you hook up

    Look at the trailer while it's still, before you back under it. Check again before you leave, with everything connected.

  2. Step 2

    Write down every defect

    A small air leak or a loose light still goes on the sheet. Note where it is and what you saw.

  3. Step 3

    Don't haul a bad one

    If a safety item fails, report it and hold the trailer until it's repaired. Note who fixed it.

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Run this check on a phone, with a photo on any failed step, no signal needed. A failed step opens a repair and the record is kept for you.

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Common questions

What are the rules for inspecting a trailer?
For commercial vehicles, FMCSA rules at 49 CFR 396 cover vehicle inspection, repair and the driver's report. Check the current rule for what applies to your trailers, and add any required lines to this sheet.
How often should a trailer be inspected?
Before it's hauled, and whenever the driver changes. Your company's procedure and the current rules set the full schedule for periodic and annual inspections. This sheet covers the driver's walkaround.
Do I need a different sheet for each trailer type?
Start with this one and add lines. A reefer needs a unit check, a flatbed needs a look at the straps and boards, a tanker needs its hatches and valves. Drop lines that don't apply.