Daily Walk-around Checks for Light Commercial Vehicles

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Daily Walkaround Checks for Commercial Vehicles Ireland

Daily Walkaround Checks. What do I need to know?

As a commercial vehicle operator, you must have a system for regular walkaround checks to keep the vehicle roadworthy and identify defects. According to the RSA, daily walkaround checks must be undertaken to ensure roadworthiness in commercial vehicles.

What do daily walkaround checks entail?

Daily walkaround checks before driving the vehicle are a simple and effective way to spot potentially dangerous issues before vehicles are used. These daily walkaround checks may be carried out by any person trained to conduct such checks (including drivers). Potential roadworthiness issues can also be identified during driving, so you should seek driver feedback as a source of information on vehicle condition. You must ensure that a walkaround inspection of the vehicle is carried out before the vehicle is used on a public road.


Obligation with recording of defects

You must have a system for reporting and recording vehicle defects for the daily walkaround check to be effective.

Record-keeping requirements

You are required to keep detailed records regarding vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair. If you have a maintenance or fleet management contract with us, we will have these records available to you via our Fleet Portal, which is fully reportable.

What records are operators obliged to keep, and for how long?

Detailed records must be kept regarding vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair. These records must be retained for at least two (2) years after their creation.

These records should include the following:
  • Vehicle registration number, model, year of manufacture
  • When the vehicle had its last annual roadworthiness test
  • Details of when and what maintenance was carried out and by whom
  • Details of all defects reported/discovered
  • Details of when defects were rectified, including the date and by whom
  • Parts and service invoices

Please note that the Mahony Fleet Portal provides full access to your leased vehicles’ maintenance and repair information if you have a maintenance or fleet management contract.

Authorised Officers from the RSA’s appointed Technical Service Providers may undertake inspections at vehicle operators’ premises to check compliance with defect recording and ensure that the operator has an effective maintenance system in place. Operators will need to show the Authorised Officer that scheduled maintenance, inspections, and vehicle repairs are being performed to prevent roadworthiness issues.

The good news is that our Driver App is available if you are a Mahony Fleet customer with a fleet management or maintenance contract. This app assists you in carrying out your legal responsibility to conduct a daily walkaround check of your commercial vehicles. It provides the reporting requirements, record keeping, and defect management system that the law requires.

Contact us today for a Mahony Fleet Driver Portal and Driver App demo.