Submit Daily Safety Module logo
Submit Daily Safety Module
← Back to Vehicle and Driver Safety

Toolbox Talk

Pre-Operation and Daily Vehicle Inspections

OSHA 1926.601(b)(14) is direct: every vehicle in use gets checked at the beginning of each shift to make sure key parts are in safe operating condition and free of damage that could cause a failure while you're driving. Defects get fixed before the vehicle is put in service — not after the run.

A walkaround takes a couple of minutes. A brake that fades on a downgrade, a tire that lets go under load, or a coupling that drops a trailer takes a couple of seconds to become a fatality.

What the shift check covers

The standard names the parts. Check that each is there, working, and undamaged:

  • Service brakes, including trailer brake connections.
  • Parking (hand) brake and the emergency stopping/braking system.
  • Tires — inflation, tread, cuts, and no missing lugs.
  • Horn.
  • Steering mechanism.
  • Coupling devices — hitch, pintle, fifth wheel, safety chains.
  • Seat belts.
  • Operating controls and all safety devices (lights, wipers, alarms, mirrors).

Add fluids, leaks, and mirror/glass condition to the loop — anything that would stop you seeing or stopping.

Do it the same way every time

Walk a consistent path so nothing gets skipped: front, down one side, rear, up the other, then in the cab. Check tires and lights on foot before you climb in; test brakes, steering, horn, and gauges once you're seated.

Look under the vehicle for fresh puddles — a spreading stain is a leak, not condensation. Tug the trailer coupling and confirm the safety chains and breakaway are connected.

When something's wrong

Any defect that affects safe operation means the vehicle comes out of service until it's corrected. Tag it, report it, and don't let "it's just a short trip" talk you into driving it.

Log the check. A written or app-based record shows the vehicle was inspected, flags repeat problems before they strand a crew, and protects the driver who did the right thing.

Attendance Form

Done with the Toolbox Talk?

Send the crew to the Toolbox Talk attendance form to submit this topic, presenter status, and any required hard-copy upload.

Open Attendance Form