Pre-start check

A pre-start check is the short inspection a driver completes before operating a vehicle or plant, confirming it is safe and roadworthy and recording any defects found.

Pre-starts are the first roadworthiness check: tyres, lights, leaks, load restraint and anything else the vehicle class requires. On paper they can become a tick-and-flick exercise. Digital pre-starts timestamp the check, photograph defects and, done properly, block or escalate a failed vehicle automatically.

A found defect should flow into a repair without re-keying. The full history from defect to completed repair helps show that Chain of Responsibility duties are being managed. A ready-to-use checklist is in the templates library.

Last updated 10 July 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice.