A trailer failed at periodic inspection cannot generate revenue until the second appointment. Yet every point checked at inspection is predictable; if the vehicle is examined with the same eye before it goes to the station, the result holds no surprises.
Pre-Inspection Checklist
- Brake system: Pad thicknesses, listening for air leaks, brake-light operation, and confirming the EBS warning light is off
- Lighting and electrics: All lamps, reflectors and number-plate illumination; broken glass and moisture-affected fittings must be replaced
- Tyres: Tread depth, sidewall damage, pressures and wheel-nut torque, including the spare
- Suspension and axle: Air-bag surfaces, shock-absorber leaks, visible play and broken connections
- Chassis and body: Cracks, advanced corrosion, loose bumpers and side-guard barriers
- King-pin and coupling: Visual check and, if available, the latest measurement record
- Documents: Registration, previous inspection report and, if applicable, additional document validity such as ADR/ATP
The Big Consequence of Small Faults
Statistically, the items most often flagged at inspection are not the most expensive ones: a lamp that's out, an unreadable plate, a missing reflector. This is why the final step of preparation is walking around the vehicle from the outside with the station's eye. In fleets that tie inspection preparation to the trip plan, a re-inspection is the exception; the vehicle goes to the station to get an approval, not to pick up a repair list.