Stay on top of regulatory compliance, maintenance, and your routine inspections.
While preventative maintenance should be the #1 priority for all rental operators... software tools have been too complex, slow, or non-existent for many teams to manage their fleet effectively.
Record360's comprehensive mobile app lets you create digital inspections, capture photos & videos, and securely access them online.
Seeing is believing with Record360's photo and video evidence. No more questions, just 100% certainty about your equipment's condition.
Set your team up to take immediate action by scheduling emails for failed inspections, assigning tasks, and providing internal comments.
The Record360 mobile app helps you reduce damage disputes with processes that work the way your teams do. We offer the simplest technology program you’ll ever implement so you can build customer trust, guaranteed.
Operate with customer trust & confidence. Record360 unifies your rental, service, and sales departments in a single tool — so you can protect yourself from damage. Create a consistent, transparent process with our digital inspections, tasks, and customer texting platform.
Truck inspections can provide a wealth of relevant information for both the driver and the organization responsible for shipping whatever freight might be present aboard the truck. In some cases, like for truckers and other vehicle operators with a commercial driver’s license (CDL), regulatory compliance requires a pre-trip inspection checklist to ensure both the safety of the driver as well as the security of the goods. It can be vitally important to ensure that the vehicle itself is functioning properly to avoid injury to the driver or other motorists and to preserve the integrity of the goods being shipped.
A truck inspection checklist covers just about everything a driver would need to inspect before embarking on a lengthy journey. From the front of the truck and the engine compartment to the rear of the trailer – there are numerous items that need to be inspected to ensure proper functionality. A daily truck inspection checklist PDF might have all of the necessary items, but the effort of memorizing checklist items and making the checklist inspections an integral part of shipping routine preparations can be quite taxing.
At the front end of the truck, the driver must inspect the integrity of the engine compartment as well as the necessary fluids (oil, coolant, power steering, etc.), hose, and pump connections, and drivers must also ensure that belts are properly mounted and do not have any signs of extreme wear like cracks or frayed edges. Drivers must also inspect the front suspension, including the spring mounts/hangers, shock absorbers, and airbag(s) – there shouldn’t be any leaks, abrasions, or other visible signs of damage or wear.
Additionally, drivers are responsible for ensuring that mirrors and their brackets are all secured and clearly visible from the driver’s seat. The steps, door, and hinges must all be sturdily mounted and secure enough to seal properly. Similarly, the fuel tank should remain intact with the cap and seal still attached and functional.
Towards the rear of the vehicle and trailer, drivers must be sure to inspect the frame, drive shaft, exhaust, mudflaps, and catwalks. At the coupling area, drivers must ensure that the air connector is secure and that cables are not dragging or tangled. Mounting bolts are all present and tight, the skid plate must be sufficiently greased, and the locking jaw and kingpin are both mounted and secure. Additionally, drivers must also inspect the brakes, wheels, tires, and wheel rims to reduce the possibility of a flat or blowout.
There are also points of inspection for the trailer and inside the cab as well, so there’s a lot of information that the inspector assesses during a pre-trip inspection. But instead of attempting to memorize a truck inspection report, drivers can utilize a truck inspection checklist app to help ensure that everything is as it should be.
Drivers could also potentially search for a post-trip inspection checklist PDF to double-check items once the trip has been completed to determine any damages or wear that might have occurred in transit. CDL manuals and company documents may also provide additional information about the thoroughness of inspections.
Similar to a CDL checklist, a Department of Transportation (DOT) truck inspection checklist can help to ensure that compliance regulations are satisfied and that both the vehicle and its operator are capable of safely operating on public roads legally. All commercial vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds must undergo an annual DOT inspection to assess the parts and extent of vehicle wear. There are six different ‘levels’ of DOT inspections – levels 1 through 6 – and each one serves a unique purpose.
The most commonly conducted of these inspections is level 1, and generally, inspectors are assessing various documents, the health, and well-being of the vehicle operator, in addition to the safety and functionality of the vehicle. These inspections are conducted in person and generally take under an hour to complete. Level 2 inspections are quite similar to level 1 inspections, with the primary difference being that a level 2 inspection does not require the inspector to climb under the vehicle. Because of this, level 2 inspections are generally completed in about 30 minutes.
A level 3 inspection involves the assessor checking the driver for all the necessary certifications and proper licenses. Drivers must provide a skill performance evaluation certificate, relevant medical certifications, a valid driver’s license, a record of duty status, and any relevant driver or vehicle inspection reports. Because level 3 inspections are driver-centric, they typically only take about a quarter of an hour to conduct.
Level 4 inspections are one-time assessments that help examine a specific item or claim about a vehicle. Because the claims may vary widely, the time to complete a level 4 inspection will also fluctuate depending on unique conditions and variables. Level 5 inspections look very similar to level 1 inspections on paper, except that for level 5 inspections, the driver does not need to be present.
Finally, level 6 inspections are special examinations for specific radioactive substances. These inspections can take up to an hour or longer, and the driver, cargo, and vehicle must pass each pass inspection before the driver is allowed to depart. After passing a level 6 inspection, the vehicle is given a special nuclear symbol to indicate that the inspection has been passed. Once the driver arrives at the destination and the shipment has been fulfilled, the symbol is no longer valid and is removed.
DOT annual inspection requirements generally include a comprehensive assessment of the driver, relevant credentials, and licenses, as well as the functionality and safety of the vehicle. For more information about DOT inspection forms and stickers, you might consult a DOT inspection form PDF or a DOT level 1 inspection checklist PDF.
There are a variety of capabilities enabled by today’s commercial vehicle inspection software. Whether your company needs a vehicle condition report app, a vehicle damage inspection app – there are innumerable software solutions that can help modernize your business and potentially help streamline your daily operations.
Technology is one of the driving forces modernizing contemporary trucking and ground shipping enterprises; companies are continually searching for ways to improve their workflow while increasing revenue streams and minimizing safety hazards and potential threats to the longevity of the company. Even as little as a few years ago, vehicle operators were largely expected to use physical, paper maps in order to successfully navigate a shipment from point A to point B.
By utilizing commercial vehicle inspection software, organizations can help ensure that their drivers and shipments are adhering to compliance and regulations. Additionally, vehicle inspection software can help a business immediately recognize when a vehicle might have a problem so that a maintenance team can quickly be dispatched to resolve the issue. Improving inspection efficiency also helps to improve efficiency throughout the rest of the process.
For ease of convenience and transparency, fleet managers and/or business owners may decide to utilize a daily vehicle inspection app in order to help streamline checklist inspections and to immediately identify an issue as it arises so drivers can proceed to their delivery destinations in a quick and efficient manner. A vehicle inspection app for Android or iOS can be even more useful and user-friendly than a free daily truck inspection checklist.
With a daily vehicle inspection app, you can execute routine inspections quicker while helping improve efficiency throughout the rest of the process. By utilizing an app or other vehicle inspection software, you can also increase visibility. The software helps companies respond to issues faster and with greater precision as opposed to traditional, analog methods of record keeping.
Vehicle inspection apps can also help improve safety initiatives by identifying issues in real-time. This increases efficiency capabilities by helping keep all parties informed. And with improved asset management capabilities, your organization can divert resources more effectively and profitably. A daily vehicle inspection app can provide numerous features for your front line to help improve performance and management at scale.
Companies that are able to adapt in the digital era and develop ways for technology to help improve their efficiency are setting themselves up for success; there is a fair amount of truth in the old adage about working smarter instead of harder. When it comes to the menial, time-consuming aspects of running a business, doesn’t it make sense to develop a centralized, easy-to-use system to help fulfill your organization’s vehicle inspection needs?
Used in over 23 million inspections at 2,000 locations nationwide, Record360’s InspectPro is the #1 inspection app in the heavy equipment and truck industry. Enhance customer satisfaction through accurate damage assessments, build trust, and demonstrate commitment to the customer experience.
Streamline your rental inspection app with Record360. Cut costs, streamline inspections, augment inventory management, and protect your assets from damage—all while keeping your customers happy.
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