Walkaround checks are incredibly important in order to ensure that the vehicle is safe to be on the road. A recent study by CameraMatics found that 50% of HGV drivers don’t conduct a walkaround check prior to each journey.
Although it is time consuming, and potentially a little annoying, safety should always be a priority in order to protect both yourself, and other drivers on the road.
We have created a short list of things to check outside of the HGV prior to setting-off.
Checking outside the vehicle
There are many things that need to be checked outside of the vehicle to ensure that it is fit for purpose on the roads. This includes making sure that there are no leaks, breakages or instability which could cause issues whilst driving. As you will be travelling long-distances it is important to make sure that the HGV will be safe to travel for a long period of time.
Lights and indicators
Your lights are a great preventative for any road accidents, the amount of times that you will be using them means it is imperative that you know that they are working correctly. It would be less than ideal to notice an issue whilst you are driving, when it is far more difficult to amend the issue.
Fuel and oil leaks
Leaks could make the roads extremely hazardous for other drivers and you could inadvertently cause a serious accident if this is not properly checked.
Battery
Simply checking that your battery is working, sturdy and not leaking could be enough to prevent delays and road accidents which could impact both yourself and other drivers on the road, taking a few minutes to conduct a quick check is crucial.
Exhaust
Make sure to check that your exhaust isn’t emitting too much smoke.
Body and Wings
Checking the stability and security of the body and wings may be a crucial factor in preventing a blockage in the road and potentially an accident. There are multiple things that could go wrong if the body and wings are not correctly secured and it would save you a lot of time and distress if this was something that was picked up on prior to setting off.
Tyres
Making sure that the tyres are in good condition is imperative, your tires take the brunt of long-distance travel and could cause a serious accident if they aren’t checked properly.
Things to double check are:
- Security of tyres and wheels
- The tread of the tyres: you can find out more about this topic here
- The Tyres are inflated correctly
- No deep cuts, trapped objects or cords are on the tyre
- The tightness of the wheel nuts
Brakes
Making sure that there are no brake leaks, damages and that the parking brake is functional could stop a catastrophe on the road once you have set-off.
Conducting a walkaround prior to setting off could be a lifesaver. It may feel a little inconvenient but the benefits of ensuring that everything has been checked over, ensuring that you are operating as safely as possible, outweighs the annoyance of the amount of time that it would take to double check everything in order to protect both yourself and others on the road.
Stay safe. Let us know what you think about walkarounds, get in touch via social media!