Pre-trip inspections

Light to medium duty vehicles, typically pickup trucks, are regularly used in forestry and especially on resource roads across BC. As road surfaces change, moving from paved to unpaved roads, these vehicles experience high mechanical stress throughout their lifecycle.

Vehicle inspections are vital and every vehicle operator should perform daily inspections at the start of their shift AND an abbreviated inspection at the end.

We all know it is important to perform a pre-trip inspection on any commercial work vehicle. It is the driver’s responsibility to conduct and record a thorough walk around to determine whether the vehicle is safe to operate on public roads and is within the standards set by the Motor Vehicle Act and WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Guidelines.

The employer is also responsible to make a record of these inspections and safely store these reports for future reference for record keeping, maintenance purposes and/or, if required, inspection by relevant authorities. We recommended downloading BCFSC’s Vehicle Inspection Check-list to assist with pre-trip inspections.

An inspection will determine whether the vehicle is fit for purpose and safe to use. Designated individuals, typically the vehicle operator, within a company can perform these inspections. The operator does not have to be a certified automotive mechanic, but should be trained in-house, or complete the BCFSC Resource Road Driver Training course. During the inspection, look for defects that would render the vehicle unsafe or out-of-service until the faults are fixed by either the vehicle operator or a certified automotive mechanic (if required). Also look for easily remedied defects such as dirty lights, low coolant levels and so on and resolve them.

After the pre-trip inspection is done, we often miss the need to conduct further vehicle inspections during the course of a shift or day. The operator should continue to make ongoing assessments throughout any period the vehicle is in use.

If there is a change in the vehicle’s performance, for instance, unusual and unfamiliar noises, feeling things change, wobble or shake, warning lights and so on, it is important to remain focused on the driving task but still monitor its “health” while driving. Any change that falls outside of the vehicle’s “normal condition” should be inspected before a possible defect leads to a dangerous situation. Pull over to a safe, flat area, secure the vehicle from moving and set up your safety zone using warning triangles, etc. to alert others of a vehicle on the roadside. Communicate your situation via radio on the relevant RR channel and engage your response plan. When safe to do so, inspect the vehicle. Any defects that can’t be rectified by the driver or passengers safely would require calling for further assistance from the company, a third-party mechanic or a tow service.

Further Check and Inspections

Aside from the initial pre-trip inspection, further checks are recommended and can be performed in moments. These checks will help ensure your vehicle is as safe as possible for the upcoming trip conditions that may evolve throughout a shift such as weather changes. Consider the following:

• Ensure that you are on the correct RR or VHF channel.
• Re-check all secured loads inside and on the bed of the vehicle, including things like open fluid containers.
• Engage locking hubs (if equipped) and four wheel drive (4wd) (if required) and ensure the 4wd mode selected is working with no warning or blinking
• If 4wd is required, engage high- or low- range as necessary for greater control and to reduce wear-and-tear of drive train and tires.
• Ensure tire pressure is correct for the resource road It may be necessary to slightly reduce air pressure for better traction and ride quality.
• Install chains if icy or snowy conditions are encountered.
• Turn on daytime running lights for added visibility of your vehicle.
• Deploy warning whip flag if that could impede the driver’s vision or violate the regulations of the Motor Vehicle Act.

• Ensure all lights are working and clear of dirt, dust or debris.
• Ensure all windows & mirrors are clear of dirt, dust or debris, and are not cracked / chipped in a condition that could impede the driver’s vision or violate the regulations of the Motor Vehicle Act.
• Ensure license plates are clear of dirt, dust or debris.
• Re-inflate tires to road / manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
• Thoroughly check tire integrity including inspecting inside sidewalls for damage.
• Ensure mirrors are re-adjusted after road vibrations.
• Re-torque lug nuts if a spare tire was required.
• Disengage 4wd for greater control and to reduce wear-and tear on the drive train and tires and ensure the 2wd mode is working with no warning or blinking lights.
• Ensure brakes and wheels are free of dirt or debris that may impede braking efficiency and / or change the balance of the wheels causing dangerous vibrations and potential vehicle control issues.
• Ensure the mud flaps are clear of dirt and debris so it is not flung across the road or highway creating danger to others.
• Ensure floor mats are clear of dirt and debris so the pedals are not operationally hindered.
• Stow warning whip flag if deployed.
• Do a mental check. Are you still ok to drive? Is there another occupant who could drive if you are too tired, etc.?

Post–trip/shift inspection. Conduct a full vehicle walk around to inspect the following (but not limited to):

• Dashboard warnings.
• Check the integrity of mirrors, windows and vehicle lights to ensure they are working properly and are not cracked / chipped in a condition that could impede the driver’s vision or violate the regulations of the Motor Vehicle Act.
• Re-check tire integrity for damage, including inside sidewalls. Do not forget the spare.
• Check fuel levels.
• Check for for leaks, smells and inspect the body, chassis and bumper integrity.
• Clean out and secure the interior.
• Roll up windows.
• Inspect and re-secure loads within the vehicle and in the bed.
• Do an inventory of safety equipment such as warning triangles, firefighting equipment etc and check it is functioning correctly.

A post-trip inspection from one worker is not designed to replace a regulated pre-inspection from another. It is a cursory inspection aimed at detecting any obvious faults or issues. Any defects found should be recorded and fleet maintenance informed so they can fix it.

Checks may seem cumbersome but are crucial in maintaining the safety and integrity of the vehicle, its occupants and other road users. By performing these inspections, we reinforce good safety culture. On occasion, time-sensitive production and operations can quickly push vehicle inspection checks to the wayside. Taking 10-15 minutes to perform a vehicle check will greatly reduce the likelihood of a dangerous situation stemming from an unsafe vehicle. A good operator will make it a habit and a routine and a good employer will make it a necessary operational procedure.

WorkSafeBC regulations indicate companies and operators are responsible for the upkeep of vehicles and more importantly, the safety of the workers that travel within them.

Look at it pragmatically. If you are tasked to drive a vehicle you may not have driven before, or for a while, you want to ensure it is not only fit to drive but is also safe for occupants and other road users. The beauty of a post-trip inspection is you have done your due diligence in terms of health and safety of the vehicle, If a fault is found, it can be fixed by the company fleet mechanics, or a replacement can be found in advance of the next day’s operations reducing potential down time and loss of production. Also consider you may not be driving that same vehicle on your next shift, you may be off sick, the vehicle may be re- assigned to another work-site, and so on. In good faith, you want to leave your assigned vehicle in a good, safe condition so the next operator can do their pre-inspection without finding fault(s) and use the vehicle safely during their shift.

A good driving safety culture is imperative both with a company and the operator.

Pre and post inspections and other checks are a great way of ensuring the health and safety of workers and maintaining the quality reputation of a company’s safety culture.

Article original publication

BC Forest Safety Council, Forest Safety News, June 2020.