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    Articulated Truck checklists: pre-trip inspection and 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 hour services

    By the Tenmil teamUpdated August 2026

    Pre-trip inspection

    Every shift

    Do this walkaround at the start of every shift, truck parked on level ground, body down, park brake set, engine off. Don't start the truck until it's done. Anything affecting safe operation gets tagged out and reported before it moves.

    Before you approach

    • Work area around the truck — people, light vehicles, haul road edges, overhead lines, soft ground
    • Ground under the truck — fresh oil, coolant, fuel or hydraulic puddles
    • Steps, handrails, walkways — secure, clean, free of mud, ice, snow and grease
    • Guards, covers, doors, latches — in place, undamaged, closed
    • Housekeeping — trash, dirt and grease build-up cleared from the engine bay and frame

    Articulation, hitch and driveline

    • Hitch, articulation and oscillation bearings — play, loose or missing retainers, leaks, greased
    • Articulation frame and spherical bearing — cracks, wear, lubrication
    • Steering cylinders and lugs — leaks, scored rods, clearance, loose mounts
    • Drive shafts, U-joints, stop pads — play, missing bolts, damage, greased
    • Frame rails, welds, castings, exhaust — cracks in welds, damaged or missing bolts, exhaust secure with no holes

    Body, hoist and tailgate

    • Dump body and tailgate — cracks, distortion, worn liner, material hung up, tailgate latch operates
    • Body pivot pins and bearings — wear, play, retainers in place, greased
    • Hoist cylinders and rod eyes — leaks, scored or bent rods, cracked eyes, wiper seals
    • Body prop and hoist lock — present, functional, pin accessible, lock in the correct position

    Axles, tires and brakes

    • Tires — inflation, cuts, cord damage, uneven wear, rocks between duals
    • Rims, lock rings, wheel nuts, hub caps — cracks, slippage marks, loose or missing nuts
    • Axles, hubs and final drives — leaks, damage, signs of overheating
    • Suspension cylinders and mounts — leaks, ride height, loose bolts, bent or broken rods
    • Brake lines, hoses, chambers, park brake — chafe, leaks, damage, secure mounting, linkage and pad condition

    Engine compartment and fluids (engine off)

    • Engine oil level — level on dipstick, condition
    • Coolant level — level in expansion tank; never open a hot system
    • Transmission and torque converter oil — level on dipstick, condition
    • Hoist / brake and steering hydraulic tanks — levels in the sight gauges, no leaks in tanks, lines or hoses
    • Fuel level, fuel cap, water separator — enough fuel for the shift, cap sealed, drain water
    • DEF level — level, cap sealed, no crystal build-up or debrisIf equipped
    • Air cleaner restriction indicator — not tripped; reset or service if flagged
    • Belts and hoses — tightness, cracks, leaks, chafe
    • Radiator, coolers and fan — debris, fin blockage, leaks, blade damage
    • Batteries and disconnect switch — secure, terminals clean and tight, no corrosion

    Lights, safety devices and exterior

    • Lights and beacon — head, tail, brake, work and reverse lights working, lenses clean
    • Mirrors and cameras — intact, clean, adjusted
    • Windows and glass — cracks, clean, unobstructed view
    • Fire extinguisher — charged, mounted, inspection tag current
    • ROPS / FOPS, cab mounts and decals — damage, cracks, loose bolts, labels present and legible

    In the cab (before start)

    • Seat and seat belt — condition, buckle latches, mounting secure, pedals reach
    • Controls and park brake — transmission in NEUTRAL, hoist lever in HOLD, park brake set
    • Cab floor and pedals — clear of tools, mud and debris
    • Wipers and washers — working, washer fluid topped up
    • Heater, defrost, AC — working (visibility in all conditions)
    • Emergency exit and hammer — present, accessible, unobstructed
    • Operator's manual and inspection log — in the cab
    • Hour meter reading — recorded on this sheetRecord

    Function check (engine running)

    • Start-up — no abnormal noise or smoke, warning lights clear after self-test
    • Gauges, monitor and pressure build — readings normal, systems build to pressure, no active fault codes
    • Horn, backup alarm, camera — all working
    • Steering and secondary steering — responds smoothly lock to lock, secondary steering test passes
    • Service brake, park brake, retarder — hold on a grade, brake test done before loading
    • Body raise and lower — smooth, no drift, body-up alarm works, body seats fully
    • Leaks after pressure is up — recheck cylinders, hoses, pumps and valve bank

    Run these articulated truck checklists in Tenmil

    Load them as PM templates, trigger them from hour-meter readings, and execute them as work orders in the field — see it on your own fleet scenario in a one-hour walkthrough.

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