HGV Daily Walkaround Check: The Complete Guide to First-Use Inspections

Why Daily Walkaround Checks Matter

Every commercial vehicle over 3.5 tonnes must undergo a first-use check before it leaves the yard each day. This isn't just best practice — it's a legal requirement under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and a core part of your O-licence undertakings.

Failure to carry out proper walkaround checks can result in:

• Roadside prohibitions — an immediate PG9 prohibition if a defect is found
• O-licence action — the Traffic Commissioner can revoke, curtail or suspend your licence
• Criminal prosecution — drivers and operators can face fines or imprisonment for serious defects
• Insurance voidance — claims may be rejected if inspection records are missing

What Must a Walkaround Check Cover?

A thorough HGV walkaround check follows a structured path around the vehicle. Here's what drivers must inspect:

Exterior Checks

• Lights and indicators — all working, clean, not cracked
• Tyres — adequate tread depth (1mm legal minimum for HGV), correct inflation, no cuts or bulges
• Wheels and wheel fixings — no missing or loose nuts, no cracks
• Mirrors — clean, correctly adjusted, not damaged
• Windscreen and windows — no cracks in the driver's swept area, wipers working
• Number plates — clean, legible, properly secured
• Body condition — no sharp edges, panels secure, load restraint equipment functional

Under the Vehicle

• Fluid leaks — oil, coolant, hydraulic fluid, fuel
• Air lines and electrical connections (for articulated vehicles)
• Exhaust system — secure, no excessive smoke

Cab Interior

• Seatbelt — functioning correctly
• Dashboard warnings — no active warning lights
• Steering — check for excessive play
• Brakes — service brake, parking brake, air pressure gauges
• Horn — working

For Trailers

• Coupling — fifthwheel or drawbar secure
• Landing legs — fully raised
• Doors — functional, sealed if carrying goods
• Load security — appropriate restraints in place

Paper vs Digital Inspections

How to Implement Digital Walkaround Checks

1. Set up your vehicle fleet in Zohti with asset numbers, registration plates and checklist templates
2. Drivers download the mobile app — available on iOS and Android
3. Scan QR code or select vehicle to begin the inspection
4. Follow the guided checklist — tick items, add photos of any issues, note defects
5. Submit — the completed inspection is immediately available to transport managers in the dashboard

Defect Escalation

When a driver reports a defect during a walkaround:

• Safety-critical defects (e.g., brake failure, tyre below limit) prevent the vehicle from operating until resolved
• Non-critical defects (e.g., minor body damage) are logged for repair scheduling
• Managers receive instant notifications via the dashboard and can assign mechanics

Record Retention

Under DVSA guidance, walkaround check records should be retained for at least 15 months. Zohti stores all records indefinitely with full audit trails, so you never have to worry about missing records during a DVSA visit.

Start Digital Inspections Today

Operators using Zohti complete walkaround checks 60% faster than paper-based processes while capturing more detailed evidence. Request access to try it with your fleet.