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    Checklists

    Telehandler 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, machine parked on level ground, boom retracted and lowered, forks down, engine off. Don't start the machine until it's done. Anything that affects safe operation gets tagged out and reported before the machine moves.

    Before you approach

    • Work area and overhead path — people, vehicles, power lines, clearance for a raised boom, soft or sloped ground
    • Ground under the machine — fresh oil, coolant, fuel or hydraulic puddles
    • Steps, handholds, platforms — secure, clean, free of mud, ice, snow and grease
    • Guards, covers and housekeeping — in place, undamaged, closed; trash and grease build-up cleared

    Boom, carriage and forks

    • Forks and fork pins — cracks, bends, heel wear, locking pins seated, both forks the same
    • Carriage and quick coupler — secure, locked, retainer pins and plates in place, wear at the hooks
    • Attachment — pinned and locked, hydraulic couplers seated, capacity chart matches the attachmentIf fitted
    • Boom sections and wear pads — cracks, bent plates, weld damage, pad wear, debris in the boom track
    • Boom chains and sheaves — tension, stretch, broken or seized links, rust, sheave condition
    • Lift, extend, tilt and frame level cylinders — leaks at seals, scored or bent rods, hose chafe
    • Boom hoses, fittings and cable track — chafe, weeping, bulges, damage, routing secure
    • Grease points — boom pivots, cylinder pins and carriage greased per the lube chart
    • Load chart and capacity decals — present, legible, correct chart in the cab for the attachment fitted

    Axles, tires and brakes

    • Tires, wheels and lug nuts — cuts, exposed cord, uneven wear, pressure, lugs tight, valve stems
    • Axles, wheel ends, drive shafts — leaks, damage, loose mounting hardware, u-joint play
    • Steering linkage and cylinders — leaks, bent rods, worn pins, loose tie rod ends
    • Frame, counterweight, stabilizers — cracks, missing bolts, leaks, pads intact, no damage
    • Brake lines and park brake — leaks, chafe, lines secure, park brake holds

    Engine compartment and fluids (engine off)

    • Engine oil level — level on dipstick, condition
    • Coolant level — level in surge tank; never open a hot system
    • Hydraulic oil level — level in sight glass, boom retracted and lowered
    • Transmission and brake fluid levels — both at the correct level; low brake fluid means service before operating
    • Fuel and DEF level, caps, water separator — enough fuel for the shift, caps sealed, drain water, no DEF crystals
    • Air cleaner restriction indicator — not tripped; empty the vacuator valve, service if flagged
    • Exhaust and turbo area — debris and grease build-up, damaged shields, leaks
    • Belts, hoses and engine bay leaks — tightness, cracks, chafe; oil, fuel, coolant or hydraulic leaks
    • Radiator, oil cooler, AC condenser — debris, fin blockage, leaks
    • Batteries and disconnect switch — secure, terminals clean and tight, no corrosion

    Lights, safety devices and exterior

    • Work lights, boom lights, beacon — working, lenses intact and clean
    • Windows, mirrors and cameras — intact, clean, adjusted, unobstructed view
    • Fire extinguisher — charged, mounted, inspection tag current
    • ROPS / FOPS and cab mounts — damage, cracks, loose mounting bolts

    In the cab (before start)

    • Seat and seat belt — condition, buckle latches, mounting secure, age within replacement interval
    • Controls and park brake — in neutral, park brake set, controls return to neutral
    • Cab floor and pedals — clear of tools, mud and debris
    • Wipers, washers, heater and defrost — working, washer fluid topped up, clear 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 and gauges — no abnormal noise or smoke, warning lights clear, no fault codes
    • Horn, back-up alarm, back-up camera — all working
    • Boom lift, extend, retract, tilt — smooth, no drift, no abnormal noise or jerking
    • Frame level and stabilizers — full travel both ways, holds positionIf equipped
    • Load stability / RAS system — self-test passes, warning and override work as they should
    • Steering — all steer modes select and align, no wander or binding
    • Service brake and park brake — stops the machine, park brake holds on a grade
    • Leaks after pressure is up — recheck cylinders, hoses, pumps and valve bank

    Run these telehandler 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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