PM checklist
Annual Truck Maintenance Checklist
An annual checklist is useful before insurance renewal, used-truck sale, PM plan review, and major repair budgeting.
If this checklist creates repair items, record them in the maintenance log template and use the PM schedule generator to plan the next due mileage.
Printable Checklist
| Item | What to check | Why it matters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record completeness | Confirm PM, repair, annual inspection, tire, DPF, and defect correction records are filed by unit. | Annual review should leave the record set usable. | Fix naming and missing invoice gaps. |
| Major system review | Summarize engine, transmission, clutch, cooling, aftertreatment, brakes, and tires. | Annual budgeting needs system-level risk notes. | Mark high-cost items for quote planning. |
| Inspection and compliance dates | Confirm annual inspection, registration-related maintenance needs, and recurring defects. | Missed dates create avoidable downtime. | Use calendar reminders outside the site if needed. |
| Resale file | Collect invoices, oil samples, ECM reports, inspection reports, and photos that support equipment value. | Good records matter when selling or financing. | Do not alter records; organize copies. |
| Next-year reserve | Set PM, tire, repair, and emergency reserve targets for the next year. | Older equipment rarely has flat maintenance risk. | Adjust for age, miles, and known defects. |
How Often to Use This Checklist
Use once per year and before buying, selling, or refinancing equipment.
Common Mistakes
- Checking boxes without writing mileage, unit number, defect notes, and follow-up status.
- Treating a visual walkaround as a qualified mechanical inspection.
- Skipping records for small defects that later become repeated repair issues.
- Filing paper logs where drivers, dispatch, and maintenance cannot retrieve them quickly.
Records to Keep
- Completed checklist with date, odometer, driver or inspector name, and unit number.
- Defect correction notes, invoices, parts receipts, and photos when useful.
- PM due mileage, next inspection target, and any out-of-service decision notes.
Use the print button to print the checklist or save it as a PDF from the browser.
Related resources
Sources and Methodology
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Part 393 - Equipment safety rules used as a reference point for inspection-sensitive systems such as brakes, lamps, coupling devices, and tires.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Part 396 - Maintenance, inspection, repair, and recordkeeping requirements for motor carriers.
- Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports and Roadside Inspection Basics - Public FMCSA material used for inspection and recordkeeping context.