Pre-trip inspection checklist
Tap OK, DEFECT or N/A on each item. The federal pre-trip items come first, then checks for your equipment. Print it as a DVIR-style record.
Updated October 2026 · Free, no signup
Inspection
- Checked
- 0 of 17
- Defects
- 0
- Federal-item defects
- 0
- Unit / odometer
- - / -
Mark every item OK, DEFECT or N/A.
What the checklist covers, and why
The first section is the federal list. 49 CFR 392.7(a) says no driver may drive a commercial motor vehicle until satisfied that these parts are in good working order:
| Federal item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Service brakes and trailer brake connections | Air or hydraulic system holds, gladhands seal, lines not chafed |
| Parking brake | Holds the truck on a tug test |
| Steering mechanism | No excess play, no leaks, linkage secure |
| Lights and reflectors | Every lamp works, reflective tape intact |
| Tires | Tread depth, inflation, no cuts or bulges |
| Horn | Works |
| Windshield wipers | Clear the glass |
| Mirrors | Secure, clean, uncracked |
| Coupling devices | Fifth wheel locked, kingpin engaged, safety chains on hotshots |
| Wheels and rims | No cracks, loose or missing lug nuts |
| Emergency equipment | Fire extinguisher, warning triangles |
Source: 49 CFR 392.7 and 396.11 (Cornell LII) · checked 2026-10
The other sections are good practice, labeled that way because they aren't in the federal list: fluids, belts, air pressure, gauges and paperwork, plus checks for your equipment, like a dump hoist, a reefer unit, flatbed securement, tank valves or a box truck liftgate.
DVIR rules in plain words
- Pre-trip (392.7): every driver, every trip.
- Written report (396.11): after each day's work, only when a defect is found or reported. Carriers operating a single truck are excluded from the written report rule.
- Repairs: a defect likely to affect safe operation gets fixed, or certified as not needing repair, before the truck runs again.
- Records: keep reports and repair certifications for three months.
Worked example
EXAMPLE: a dump truck driver marks a weeping hydraulic line on the hoist (good-practice item) and a cracked marker lamp (federal item). The checklist shows two defects, one federal, and says FIX BEFORE YOU DRIVE. The lamp gets replaced; the hoist line gets written up for the shop. Print it, sign it, and the record is done.
Printing it as a DVIR
Hit Print result. The page prints the checklist with your unit number, odometer and date, plus signature lines for the driver and for the mechanic's repair certification. Share the link with a second driver and they get the same equipment setup.
Why it matters for your loads
Brokers and shippers don't wait for a truck that fails at the dock or gets put out of service at a scale. A clean pre-trip keeps the week on schedule. When you dispatch with us, we plan offers around your real availability, so a truck in the shop doesn't get booked.
Questions about this calculator
What does a pre-trip inspection have to cover?
Federal rules say a driver must be satisfied, before driving, that these are in good working order: service brakes including trailer brake connections, parking brake, steering, lights and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment (49 CFR 392.7). Good practice adds fluids, belts, air pressure and your equipment's own systems.
Do I have to fill out a DVIR every day?
Under 49 CFR 396.11, a driver must prepare a written report at the end of each day's work only if a defect is found or reported. Carriers operating a single commercial motor vehicle are excluded from the written DVIR rule. The pre-trip check in 392.7 still applies to every driver. Many carriers keep a daily record anyway.
How long do I keep a DVIR?
Three months from the date the report was prepared, along with the repair certification and the driver's review, under 49 CFR 396.11(a)(4).
Can I drive with a defect?
Not with a defect likely to affect safe operation. The carrier must repair it, or certify that repair is unnecessary, before the truck runs again (49 CFR 396.11(a)(3)). Some defects are also out-of-service conditions at roadside inspections.
How long should a pre-trip inspection take?
Long enough to check every item properly. For most drivers that's 15 to 30 minutes, more on a combination with a trailer. Under hours-of-service rules, inspection time is on-duty time, so log it.
Numbers done. Want someone to find loads that beat them?
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