Heavy vehicle pre-start: What you need to know

Heavy vehicle operators are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are always kept in a roadworthy condition. It’s the law and not up for negation! A good pre-start inspection gives drivers and operators the opportunity to confirm the heavy vehicles’ condition and state of roadworthiness.

A pre-start inspection involves thoroughly examining a vehicle before each journey to identify any potential issues or faults that could compromise its performance.

While some drivers may adopt a hasty “tick-and-flick” approach, neglecting the pre-start process can have severe consequences further down the road. This advice column emphasises the importance of a meticulous pre-start inspection, highlights the drawbacks of the tick-and-flick method, and outlines the legal ramifications that can arise if the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) discovers a deficient pre-start procedure.

Ensuring Road Safety: A thorough pre-start inspection significantly contributes to road safety. By detecting and rectifying mechanical, electrical, or structural issues before a journey, drivers can prevent potential accidents caused by vehicle malfunctions.

This proactive approach reduces the risk of breakdowns, tyre blowouts, brake failures, and other mechanical failures that can endanger lives on the road.

Our article on the importance of trailer coupling maintenance tackles the subject of maintenance to this area of your rig. It briefly overviews the WorkSafe investigation into a failed coupling component that should have been detected during the vehicle pre-start and routine maintenance procedures.

Preventing Costly Breakdowns: Identifying and addressing minor faults during a pre-start inspection helps prevent them from escalating into major problems. Timely detection of issues allows for prompt maintenance or repairs, avoiding unexpected breakdowns that can result in expensive repairs, towing costs, and significant downtime.

Take the missing alternator bolt in Figure-1. During his shutdown procedure, the night-shift driver noted the missing alternator bolt and logged it into the system for repair. The day shift driver commenced his shift, didn’t read the note about the truck’s condition left by the night shift driver, completed his pre-start form and signed it to say everything was OK. Four hours later, the operations manager answers a phone call from the driver.

The conversation started along the lines of: “This air-con in this piece of $# I! doesn’t work and …” so the tirade of verbal abuse went on.

Consequently, a field service vehicle got dispatched to replace the missing bolt. But the company incurred an eight-hour breakdown call-out cost to fix a part that the company fitter could easily fit in the workshop for a fraction of the cost.

Then there is Figure-2; the heavy hydraulic hose was placed on top of the airline hoses when the trailer was reconnected. How long do you think these airlines would last on a trip with that hydraulic hose lying on top? Thankfully, an eagle-eyed driver spotted the error during the pre-start and rectified the situation.

In Figure-3, A driver detected a weeping coolant leak during a pre-start. But not all coolant leaks are easy to spot. Sometimes when the engine is hot, you’ll smell the coolant, but there is no noticeable wet leak. However, evidence of dry coolant stains will be visible on the surrounding components, as in Figure-4.

A frayed positive battery lead that had rubbed through and shorted on the chassis cross member was the cause of this truck fire in Figure-5.

In just these few examples, it quickly becomes apparent how vital regular pre-start inspections contribute to the overall longevity and reliability of the trucking operation.

Complying with Legal Obligations: In most states, including those governed by the NHVR, conducting a thorough pre-start inspection is a legal requirement. Compliance with these regulations helps ensure that heavy vehicles adhere to safety standards and are fit for road use. Neglecting the pre-start process can lead to penalties, fines, and potential suspension of licenses.

The tick-and-flick approach, characterised by a cursory and often negligent pre-start inspection, poses several drawbacks.

Increased Risk of Accidents: Superficially assessing a vehicle’s condition through a tick-and-flick approach increases the likelihood of overlooking critical faults or potential hazards. Neglected issues such as faulty brakes, worn tyres, or malfunctioning lights can lead to accidents that could have been prevented with a more thorough inspection.

Compromised Roadworthiness: By merely ticking boxes without carefully inspecting each component, the tick-and-flick approach fails to guarantee the roadworthiness of a heavy vehicle. It disregards essential safety aspects, including brake functionality, suspension integrity, steering responsiveness, and adequate visibility. This approach compromises the safety of the driver, passengers, and other road users.

If the NHVR discovers that a pre-start inspection was not performed thoroughly, the following legal consequences may apply:

Fines and Penalties: Non-compliance with pre-start inspection requirements can result in significant fines imposed by regulatory authorities. These fines vary depending on the jurisdiction and the severity of the offence. The financial burden of such penalties can be substantial and detrimental to the operation of the business or individual involved.

License and Registration Suspension: In cases of repeated non-compliance or serious safety violations, the NHVR may suspend the heavy vehicle license or registration. This suspension could lead to a loss of income for businesses dependent on the operation of these vehicles and severe consequences for individuals whose livelihoods rely on heavy vehicle operations.

Legal Liability: In the event of an accident caused by a neglected pre-start inspection, legal liability may be imposed on the responsible party. This liability can extend to claims for personal injury, property damage, or even loss of life. Negligence in performing thorough pre-start inspections can significantly weaken one’s defence in legal proceedings.

Many modern Euro truck makers have removed the dipstick and other manual aids that drivers once used to check the condition of their vehicles. For instance, the oil level check in most Euro trucks is performed through the dashboard today.

Care must be taken when using the digital check method via the dashboard because if not performed correctly, the dash will only display the last time the oil level was checked correctly, as in the case in Figure-6, which shows that oil was last checked 300 kilometres ago. A thorough pre-start still requires checking all vehicle components, not just the oil and coolant level.

Due to the importance of pre-starts, some transport companies now employ dedicated pre-start specialists whose sole task is to conduct thorough vehicle inspections before the vehicle leaves the depot.

Surprisingly, this is a practice used previously. As far back as the 1950s, trucking companies like Norwalk Trucking Lines from Chicago had dedicated pre-trip yardmen who loaded, checked and fueled the truck before the vehicle left the depot. Interestingly, they also engaged a serviceman at various truckstops to inspect the truck while the driver took his rest break during the journey; if you’re interested in seeing the film, google Career in Trucking – semi trucks of the 1950s.

Nevertheless, a heavy vehicle pre-start inspection is essential for ensuring road safety, preventing costly breakdowns, and complying with legal obligations.

Remember, while the tick-and-flick approach may save time in the short term, it disregards critical safety considerations and exposes drivers, passengers, and other road users to unnecessary risks.

Neglecting a thorough pre-start inspection can have severe legal consequences, including fines, license or registration suspension, and legal liability. Thus, heavy vehicle operators must prioritise a comprehensive pre-start inspection process to mitigate risks, protect lives, and uphold legal obligations.

Resources:
NHVR Creating heavy vehicle daily checks
NHVR Heavy Vehicle Inspection Checklist