Check that the turnip parked next to you hasn’t done a mr whippy in between yours an his truck during the night 
good job i had my torch with me
Ive got the same unit everyday so know all its little problems but i share with any randomer on nights so still always give it a good check.
In cab:
check defect book
adjust mirrors
washers and wipers
check oil level
check windows go up and down
horn
walkround:
check the whole body for any fresh scratches or dents, the mirror housings for cracks. The screen for cracks so easily missed sitting in cab on dark mornings!
The adblue cap is on correctly and there is no damage to the tank.
The sliding 5th wheel mechanism make sure the spring is secured by the master bolt which is common to sheer off. Check the stoppers which drivers loved to crash into which damages them. Make sure the handle hasn’t had a hit during the night.
Check the fuel tank cap and see its top up also check it hasn’t been pranged during the night.
Check all lights except for brake/fog and reverse do them when hooked up. When checking the brake lights listen for leaks as you walk down to the back of the trailer.
Check all tyres for tread and condition looking at all the brake hoses and pipes seeing if you can see any loose.
Check your lines make sure they haven’t been stretched or damaged or some git has burst theirs and swap yours, mines are all marked with spray paint to avoid this.
Under the grill check the screen wash level and coolant level and make sure nobody has nicked any of the header caps.
If in a different vehicle i would look at o license,tax, ministry plates aswell.
On trailers much of the same but pay attention to door hinges and mudguard security, also stick your head underneath and see your tanks or brakes aren’t hanging off 
You might think some of that is random but its what ive come across in the past so its what i look out for. If any other bits fall off ill probably add that to my checklist aswell
merc0447:
Ive got the same unit everyday so know all its little problems but i share with any randomer on nights so still always give it a good check.In cab:
check defect book
adjust mirrors
washers and wipers
check oil level
check windows go up and down
hornwalkround:
check the whole body for any fresh scratches or dents, the mirror housings for cracks. The screen for cracks so easily missed sitting in cab on dark mornings!The adblue cap is on correctly and there is no damage to the tank.
The sliding 5th wheel mechanism make sure the spring is secured by the master bolt which is common to sheer off. Check the stoppers which drivers loved to crash into which damages them. Make sure the handle hasn’t had a hit during the night.
Check the fuel tank cap and see its top up also check it hasn’t been pranged during the night.
Check all lights except for brake/fog and reverse do them when hooked up. When checking the brake lights listen for leaks as you walk down to the back of the trailer.
Check all tyres for tread and condition looking at all the brake hoses and pipes seeing if you can see any loose.
Check your lines make sure they haven’t been stretched or damaged or some git has burst theirs and swap yours, mines are all marked with spray paint to avoid this.
Under the grill check the screen wash level and coolant level and make sure nobody has nicked any of the header caps.
If in a different vehicle i would look at o license,tax, ministry plates aswell.
On trailers much of the same but pay attention to door hinges and mudguard security, also stick your head underneath and see your tanks or brakes aren’t hanging off
You might think some of that is random but its what ive come across in the past so its what i look out for. If any other bits fall off ill probably add that to my checklist aswell
Christ sake merc. It will nearly be time to go home when you’ve finished doing your daily walk round checks. 
:D:D
damoq:
Christ sake merc. It will nearly be time to go home when you’ve finished doing your daily walk round checks.
Just a routine sounds worse than it is. As we dont have any gaffers in scotland any problems need to be sorted out by the driver. We need to phone strangs, mechanics awe that pish ourselves. No spare units 
Was in that 911 recovery done your bit getting a tacho calibrated didnt even know it was down there, place is like fort knox!
My check is as follows and I’m the only one in our yard who will do this day in and day out rain or shine. I collect keys and check oil and water.
Check clock on tacho and ensure it’s set to rest
After putting my card in change tacho to other work.
I check in cab first.
Horn
Mirrors
Screen
Washers ( and wipers)
Air gauges
Handbrake for leaks and operation
Toggle gears
Check cameras and reverse bleeper
I then start the lorry and if need be build air. If I have to build air I’ll switch off and walk round to check for leaks as usually I don’t need to build air.
Then on lights hazards Wally flashers set brakes with bar
Then it’s out the cab to check.
Lights
Flashers
Indicators
Wheel nut indicators
Tyres
Spray suppression
Diesel level and cap
All the time checking for damage.
I then run the PTO and listen for noises and ensure the tipping gear is working properly.
As I pull out the yard I check brakes ( primary and secondary) before I get on the road.
This usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes.
Once a week the lorry gets a wash (more if it needs it) and with washing it I get a good look over the lorry to make sure there’s nothing I’ve missed. Also torque wheel nuts weekly
Once a month I’ll find a excuse to put it over the pit and grease it, this usually takes the form of an unofficial inspection at the same time.
Some say it’s OCD and it probably is but I take huge pride in my (his) lorry in the same way I do with my PVs and I’m ■■■■■■ if I’m going to have someone ■■■■ me for missing something obvious.
hiya if it starts go…someone will let you know sooner or later…one time in 1979 i jumped in and away
i go, i saw sparks behind, i stoped and looked…little ■■■■ kids had fastened a load of scrap bike frames
a wheel barrow and a old bed on the back bar with a rope, cut rope and away.good job i did’nt walk
round i’d have tripped over the crap in the dark.
John
merc0447:
damoq:
Christ sake merc. It will nearly be time to go home when you’ve finished doing your daily walk round checks.Just a routine sounds worse than it is. As we dont have any gaffers in scotland any problems need to be sorted out by the driver. We need to phone strangs, mechanics awe that pish ourselves. No spare units
Was in that 911 recovery done your bit getting a tacho calibrated didnt even know it was down there, place is like fort knox!
Its been open a while now. I put my car in there this year and last year for its MOT. Its got to be like Fort Knox cos they do the impounding work for the Police. We’ve got a couple of Fraikin hire units that go there for service/repairs too. Guys are spot on in 911.
We are lucky with our defects. We’ve got out own on site mechanic from Ryder in our place every day to fix anything. Still up to the driver to defect it obviously, but I think your night men are the same as ours. It seems beyond them to even change a bulb or report anything. Its always up to us day drivers.
Truckbling:
Is that all you check then? did you forget the important things like oil, water, windscreen, wipers et al?[zb] me, of all the boring topics to start you start one about bloody vehicle checks. Everybody knows or should know what they need to check so this is just making conversation for the sake of it really. Next you’ll be asking what your routine is for getting out of bed! If you’ve nothing interesting to say then say nothing and save the world from boring posts on vehicle checks.
Spoken like a true door handle! Obviously someone born driving a truck out of their mother’s glory hole! The whole point of this site is to help others out… to quote you further Truckbling:
Truckbling:
If you’ve nothing interesting to say then say nothing .
I check that my flask is full.
Ken.
martinviking:
1st thing I check for is Damage that Mysteriously Appears overnight after the Trunky Monkeys have been out playing ! (& very rarely report it)
That works the other way round, too … I’m forever finding damage that the day bloke has done but hasn’t reported.
We pick up a new trailer every night, so I have the advantage of hooking it up myself and don’t tend to check the dog clip because I know I’ve done it, if you see what I mean. When I was tramping I always used to have a look at that, and all my lines, in case some scrote had been messing about with them in the night. As for oil and water checks, the truck does those. When the levels get a bit low it comes up on the dash. I know this is not ideal and that dash warning systems can fail, but there’s no dipstick. Other checks - looking at the fuel cap, listening for air leaks - are done almost unconsciously. I don’t need to check the fuel level since I know the day man never ever fuels it … I don’t think he knows where the fuel tank is. 
Beware of the Phantom Pin Puller.The treble P can strike any where.Ex drivers with a chip on their shoulder,owed money or kids as a prank to film on their phones.
On a loo or coffee stop i always check the pin.
Peace of mind.
It does happen.
We used to have a sheet of paper with tick boxes for our vehicle checks to fill in every morning. The TM got wise to the fact we were just ticking every box without actually doing the checks so he changed “wipers and screen wash” to “■■■■■■ tassels and suspenders”.
Every single one of us checked the box with out noticing 
I think he had been listening to too much of the dark lord, but he proved his point
Ched:
We used to have a sheet of paper with tick boxes for our vehicle checks to fill in every morning. The TM got wise to the fact we were just ticking every box without actually doing the checks so he changed “wipers and screen wash” to “■■■■■■ tassels and suspenders”.Every single one of us checked the box with out noticing
I think he had been listening to too much of the dark lord, but he proved his point
That’s why I write down the trailer MOT expiry date on the defect sheet, even though there’s no place for it officially. It shows that you haven’t just ticked the boxes if you do get pulled over. Or at least, that you’ve looked at the MOT disc.
I always have some tissue with me in my pocket to check the oil level on the dipstick, I do it properly- remove dipstick wipe clean re-insert then check. Also look at water for correct level and antifreeze consistency.
Then I walk round the unit a few times while lights and blinkers are on touching and kicking stuff pretending I know what I’m doing (just in case someones watching). Jump in cab check radio is tuned in correctly and theres a good position for me tea cup, flask, and vape ciggie thing then bugger off to hunt for me trailer.
I get paid an extra hour a day to do checks and paperwork, 30 mins in the morning and 30 at night, I drive the same truck but still go round it every morning, don’t need to at night. The trucks a 12 plate and I never find anything wrong, it’s just a good habit I’ve gotten into, start at 1 corner and work my way round unit and tank till I’m back where I started from. Main things for me are hoses and fire extinguishers as well as the usual things
Don’y think anybody has mentioned the air-bags on the trailer, suspension levelled & height meter is correct also seal number for trailer & check the trailer roof for holes, if trailer is empty.
Amateurs!! 
ThrustMaster:
Don’y think anybody has mentioned the air-bags on the trailer, height meter is correct also seal number for trailer & check the trailer roof for holes, if trailer is empty.
I don’t ever check my trailer. Mainly cos I drive a rigid. Never check the heights meter cos j dknt have one
Sweeping generalisation anyone
Tipper Tom:
ThrustMaster:
Don’y think anybody has mentioned the air-bags on the trailer, height meter is correct also seal number for trailer & check the trailer roof for holes, if trailer is empty.I don’t ever check my trailer. Mainly cos I drive a rigid. Never check the heights meter cos j dknt have one
Sweeping generalisation anyone
So you’re one of these pretend truckers then and as for not having a height meter…more fool you.
ThrustMaster:
So you’re one of these pretend truckers then and as for not having a height meter…more fool you.
Err perhaps he doesn’t have a height meter as he’s not legally obliged to have one.