2. Checking the Vehicle Before Departure
1. Introduction
2. Why Do an Inspection?
3. Who is Responsible?
4. A Best Practice
5. What to Look For?
6. Report Issues ASAP
7. Summary
Training Topic Agenda
3. One in four cars (25%) and one in three
light trucks (33%) have a significantly
under inflated tire.
Low tire pressure-related crashes are to
blame for approximately 660 fatalities
and 33,000 injuries every year.
– According to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
10 % of studied, reconstructed, and
documented crashes conclude
“equipment failure” as the determining
factor for the crash.
– Large Truck Crash Causation Study,
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
1. Introduction
4. Driver errors due to:
– Distractions (especially
cell phone use)
– Impairment (sleep
depravation or
drug/alcohol use)
– Frustration (leading to
aggression)
Continue to top the list of
causes for most crashes.
However, roughly
10% of all crashes
are caused by
equipment that was
not operating
properly.
5. While a few crashes can
be traced back to a
manufacturer’s design
defect many crashes could
have been prevented if
regular documented
inspections, leading to the
proper maintenance of
vehicles, were
implemented.
Gross failure of
equipment, due to
years of neglect, can
easily produce a legal
grievance.
Photo from January 24, 2016
Three people were killed and at least nine others were injured in this collision.
When paramedics arrived they found both occupants of this vehicle had sustained fatal injuries.
by Mike Winnett, Independent Consultant
7. 2. Why Do an Inspection?
Because a basic inspection often reveals issues that
affect tire conditions and fuel consumption.
– Tires that are properly inflated, aligned, and rotated extend
their service life and reduce fuel consumption and costs.
Under
inflated
Wear
on the
outer
edges
Wear in
the middle
Over
inflated
Alignment
Problems
Failed
Shock or
Strut
Irregular
wear
patterns
8. Why Do an Inspection?
Because, if you leave for a
trip without checking that
the vehicle is safe to drive,
you could suffer wasted
time due to a mechanical
breakdown, or worse …
… an injury from a crash
due to a mechanical
failure.
Which would you prefer?
9. 3. Who is Responsible?
Why do professional pilots inspect the aircraft before takeoff?
– Is it because they do not trust the ground crew? No!
– The ground crew does maintain the plane while it is on the ground.
– However, the pilot is responsible for the plane once it is in operation.
10. • Similarly, all drivers have a responsibility to check
their vehicle before operating it – whether it is a
personal or a business vehicle.
• If something is broken, missing, or not working
properly it is the driver’s responsibility to address it
or communicate the issue.
• Report business vehicle defects to management.
– Be calm.
– Be professional.
– Put Safety First.
11. Individuals with
extensive training and a
proven background in
vehicle repair and
maintenance should be
relied upon …
… to provide the
expertise, skill, and
labor necessary to keep
company vehicles safe
and dependable.
Who is Responsible?
12. • Drivers, must monitor vehicle performance closely and report issues
ASAP.
– Many drivers’ manuals issued across the U.S. state, “it is the driver’s
responsibility to ensure that a vehicle is safe to drive.”
• Drivers who fail to report a known issue may be held civilly or
criminally liable for property damages or loss of live as a result of
deliberate or depraved indifference.
– Depraved indifference focuses on the risk created by a person’s
conduct, not the injuries actually resulting (People v Register, 60 NY2d
273, 469 NYS2d 599 (1983)).
• "Deliberate indifference lies somewhere between negligence
and conduct engaged in for the very purposes of
causing harm or with the knowledge that harm will
result. … Thus, an [individual] must: (1) be
actually aware of facts … that a substantial risk
of harm exists; (2) actually draw the inference;
but (3) nevertheless disregard the risk to [a
Who is Responsible?
13. Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration
(FMCSA)
• Drivers of “commercial
motor vehicles”
regulated by state
and/or federal safety
standards must perform
documented inspections
BEFORE leaving on a
trip:
– FMCSR 396.11 Driver
vehicle inspection
report(s) and
– 396.13 Driver inspection
The American National
Standards Institute
(ANSI)
• ANSI published
voluntary guidelines for
motor fleet operations.
• These suggest all
drivers inspect their
vehicles before any trip:
– ANSI Z15: 6.5 Periodic
Vehicle Checks. “Visual
checks shall be made by
drivers each time a
vehicle is to be operated.”
Who is Responsible?
14. 4. Best Practices
• Many companies have Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) for
inspecting vehicles. Here are a few
“best practices:”
– some large fleets have in-house mechanics on
staff
– some smaller fleets rely on local garages for
consistent maintenance and routine repairs
– some companies require a minimal inspection:
i.e., lights and brakes only
– some require lifting the hood to the engine to
check fluid levels, belt tension, etc.
15. SafetyFirst’s online training modules are designed to reinforce safe driver best
practices and positive driving behaviors.
For more information contact SafetyFirst at customerfirst@safetyfirst.com
• SafetyFirst has developed the SafetyZone Learning Management System (LMS)
for online training that provides Safe Driver Training Modules. One of our
popular and brief modules, Preparing your Van for Departure, focuses on HOW
TO complete a basic vehicle inspection before setting out on a trip.
A Best Practice
16. 5. What to Look For?*
Most inspection checklists include the following:
√ Gauges function as designed
√ Fuel and fluids are sufficient
√ Wheels clear and tire pressure is correct
√ Mirrors and reflectors are secure
√ Windshield is free of cracks and chips that obscure
visibility
√ Windshield wipers are in good/fair condition
√ Headlights, turn signals, & brake lights are all
operational
√ Emergency equipment is in place and ready for use
*See the Print and Post at end of presentation!
17. Other inspection considerations before departure:
√ “CIRCLE OF SAFETY” check* or WALK AROUND!
√ Be sure it is safe to move the vehicle.
√ Adjust mirrors
√ Secure any personal or work items needed in the
driver’s compartment.
√ Secure items/cargo that could shift in the event of a
maneuver or collision.
√ Adjust seat position
√ Secure and adjust seatbelts!
√Think safety first!
*See BONUS slide at end of presentation!
What to Look For?
18. 6. Report issues ASAP
Notifying management when something does
not seem right.
– This means during or immediately after a “pre-trip”
inspections, or when driving.
• If you notice the vehicle is running hot, or “pulls” to one side of
the road, etc., help the company by reporting that the vehicle
may need expert attention.
19. • Safety defects should be repaired before a
vehicle is put back into service.
• Documenting maintenance on vehicles
creates a record that tracks any
re-occurrence of similar issues.
Report Issues ASAP
20. • Vehicle inspections help prevent time wasting breakdowns,
out-of-service delays, and crashes.
• Consistent inspections can help assure proper maintenance
and may reduce fuel costs as well as extend vehicle life.
• Companies may have specific methods or SOPs for conducting
inspections. What is ours?
• Assuring vehicles are working properly can save lives.
7. Summary
21. Sobering!
A good reason to do a
vehicle CIRCLE OF SAFETY
check before driving off!
A crew working for a utility company
found this young child in the wheel well
of their truck while conducting a
“CIRCLE OF SAFETY.”
No one wants to imagine what could
have happened if the employees had
gotten into the truck and driven off
before doing a walk around.
Please share this photo and experience
with others.
The crew that took this picture also reported
children climbing into the back of other company
vehicles to play and explore!
Posted on November 19, 2014 by LCT contributing editor Jim Luff
23. MAINTENANCE
• Tires – good condition, properly inflated
• Lights -- Turn signals, brake, parking, reverse,
headlights, and interior lights operational
• Windshield and wiper blades in good
condition
• Windows and Mirrors – clean, no chips, no
cracks
• Fluid levels – fuel, wiper fluid, oil, coolant,
break, power steering, ATF
• No visible fluid leaks
• Oil Change within 3k miles/3 months
• COMMENTS:
• --
• --
• --
ORGANIZATION
• Legal Documents – insurance, inspection,
registration, accident report
• Personal Tools – present, in good condition
and properly stored/secured
• Company Tools – present and in good
condition
• Truck Stock/inventory – proper quantities,
proper location, saleable condition
• First aid kit, fire extinguisher, flares, and
reflective triangles on hand
• Spare Tire & Jack
• Forms/marketing – invoices, service
agreement/warranty, brochures, business
cards, product literature, etc.
• COMMENTS:
• --
• --
• --
• Exterior Clean -- body, windows, wheels
• Interior Cab Clean – windows, floors, dash,
etc.
• Interior Cab Uncluttered – no trash, loose
forms, tools, etc.
• Parts/Tool Compartment(s) – everything in its
place, clean
• Customer Care – shoe covers, latex gloves,
tool rug, drop cloths, wipes
• COMMENTS:
• --
• --
• --
CLEANLINESS
Checking the Vehicle Before Departure
Inspecting a vehicle can save time & money or even a life.
Print and post: SafetyFirst Systems, LLC MTMTT- March 2016
Approximately 10% of
all crashes can be
traced back to
equipment malfunction
or failure.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA)
Wheels Free of Obstructions
Circle of Safety Check
Today’s Date: ________________________
Inspected by: ________________________
