Does anyone use an app for this, rather than pen and paper?
Ta.
An interesting question.
If I was employing and the employee had the use of and responsibilty of a company vehicle then a daily driver's vehicle check would be an important part of the daily routine and part of his terms of employment. I would also sign off the inspection regularily and make it his duty to report any faults immediately.
45 years ago I drove a 7.5 ton Bedford and a daily mechanical check had to be done every morning. In those days it was a day a sheet book where the daily checks boxes were ticked off. Every Friday pm I was officially back at the depot and this book was checked and signed off by our distribution manager.
In those days it was my responsibility to ensure that I reported any fault, bulb out etc, and either fixed it myself or had management book the vehicle in for repair asap with the detail logged for any police inspection.
The flavour of the law seems to have taken that onus away from the driver and made it the responsibility of the employer to ensure the vehicle is completely roadworthy at all times.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/van-drivers-daily-walkaround-check/van-drivers-daily-walkaround-checkAs an owner operator I have to admit that I don't do a daily vehicle walkaround, although I do check oil levels and a quick tyre inspection for a deflated tyre. I know if an indicator bulb is out and I also know when the windscreen wipers need replacing and tend to do these items as an when. I also know when a headlamp bulb is out.
The only hassle is checking the stop light bulbs on my own. A couple of weeks ago I got flagged down by an old lady driving a Jag to tell me one of my stop lights was out. I was grateful for that advise, swapped the bulb out with the reverse light bulb before heading off to the local parts guy for a couple of new bulbs. I don't know how long that bulb was out, but had I done a daily check I would have sorted it before Mr Plod drew it to my attention.
This does raise another question. What happens if an employee's van is in a repair workshop for a few days? Many years ago drivers were paid bonus on the work they did. One particular transport company worked 24 hours a day with 3 drivers doing an 8 hour shift each. They used tipper tailers with monoleaf springs on the trailer axles. In winter and on rough roads those springs sometimes broke. But the driver on the shift just carried on until the end of his shift before reporting the fault. He still earned his bonus, but the next driver had to wait until the spring was replaced, thereby loosing his.
