Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist: Interactive and Printable

This pre-trip inspection checklist walks you through each item one tap at a time, saves your progress in this browser, and prints as a DVIR-style sheet.

A pre-trip inspection is the cheapest repair you will ever do. Most roadside failures and many out-of-service violations start as something visible in the yard: a soft tire, an air leak, a light out, a brake out of adjustment. A checklist makes sure the same items get checked in the same order every day, even when you are tired or running late.

How to use it

Tap each item as you check it. Progress saves in this browser, so you can walk away and come back. When you are done, use the print button for a paper copy, or share the link with a driver. If you find a defect, write it down, get it fixed before the truck moves if it affects safety, and note the repair on the report.

The checklist is a reminder list, not a repair procedure. Limits such as tread depth and brake stroke come from federal rules and your OEM spec, and our tools check them: the tire tread depth legal checker for tires and the brake adjustment checker for pushrod stroke.

What the federal rules require

Two rules shape the daily inspection for commercial vehicles.

Before driving (49 CFR 396.13): the driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition, review the last driver vehicle inspection report, and sign it if defects were listed.

Source: 49 CFR 396.13, checked October 2026

End of the day (49 CFR 396.11): the driver prepares a written report covering at least the service brakes including trailer brake connections, parking brake, steering mechanism, lighting devices and reflectors, tires, horn, windshield wipers, rear vision mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment. For property-carrying vehicles, a report is not required when no defect is found or reported.

Source: 49 CFR 396.11, checked October 2026

The checklist covers every item on that list and adds the common sense checks drivers already do: fluids, leaks, belts, cargo securement and documents.

Truck inspection checklist by area

Walk-around: leaks under the truck, tires and wheels, lights and reflectors, brake components you can see, coupling devices, body and doors, cargo securement.

Under the hood: oil and coolant at the marks, belts and hoses, wiring, power steering fluid.

In the cab: gauges and dash warnings, air build-up and leak test, low air warning, parking brake, horn, wipers, mirrors, seat belt, heater and defroster, emergency equipment, documents.

Your equipment adds its own items. A reefer has a unit and fuel tank to check, a flatbed has straps, chains and tarps, a dump truck has a hoist and gate, a tanker has valves and vents. Add those to your routine.

When you find a defect

Write it down with the location and what you saw. If it affects safety, such as brakes, steering, tires or lights, do not drive until it is fixed. For anything you are unsure about, call a qualified technician. Many defects that end up as roadside violations were noted, then ignored.

If the inspection turns up something that needs a shop, plan the stop. Our preventive maintenance schedule generator helps place repairs and services so they do not catch you on a load, and the truck maintenance checklist covers the deeper shop-level checks.

Winter and mountain routes

Before a winter run, add chains that fit your tires, washer fluid rated for cold, and a check of the defroster. Several states post chain requirements for commercial vehicles; our chain law checker by state links to each state's official road information. Dash fault codes are worth checking before you leave too; the guide to the best semi truck diagnostic tool covers code readers for heavy trucks.

Where we fit

We are a dispatch desk, not a shop. When your truck passes its checks, we find and negotiate the next load and bring you the numbers. You approve it, and the broker sends the rate confirmation to you to sign. Our page for owner-operators explains how we work with single trucks.

What is DVIR in trucking?

DVIR stands for driver vehicle inspection report. Under 49 CFR 396.11, drivers of property-carrying commercial vehicles must prepare a written report at the end of each day's work covering defects that would affect safety or cause a breakdown. Since 2014, a report is not required for property carriers when no defect is found or reported. Check the rule for your operation.

What does a pre-trip inspection include?

A walk-around and in-cab check of everything that keeps the truck safe: fluids and leaks, steering, brakes and the air system, lights and reflectors, tires, wheels and rims, coupling devices, mirrors, wipers, horn, emergency equipment and cargo securement. The federal DVIR list is a good minimum. Your equipment may add items such as a reefer unit, liftgate or hydraulics.

How long should a pre-trip inspection take?

Long enough to actually check each item. For many drivers that is somewhere around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the truck, trailer and equipment. A rushed check misses things. Using the same order every day makes it faster without skipping anything, which is what a checklist is for.

Do I have to review the last DVIR before driving?

Yes. Under 49 CFR 396.13, before driving, the driver must be satisfied the vehicle is in safe operating condition, review the last driver vehicle inspection report, and sign it if defects were noted, to acknowledge the review and any certification that repairs were made or were not needed.

Pre-trip inspection checklist (interactive and printable)