PM checklist
Quarterly Truck Maintenance Checklist
Quarterly maintenance review connects inspection condition with budget planning and repair reserve updates.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost review | Total PM, tires, repairs, towing, and downtime for the quarter. | Quarterly totals show whether reserves are realistic. | Separate tractor, trailer, and reefer spend. |
| Inspection readiness | Review repeated defects, lights, tires, brakes, leaks, and paperwork gaps. | Recurring defects deserve root-cause attention. | Link defects to invoices. |
| Aftertreatment history | Review regens, derates, DEF issues, DPF cleaning, and aftertreatment fault invoices. | Patterns matter more than a single code. | Attach scan reports when available. |
| Wheel-end review | Look for wheel seal work, bearing notes, brake contamination, and hub temperature complaints. | Wheel-end problems can be costly and safety-sensitive. | Track by axle and side. |
| Reserve adjustment | Update monthly reserve assumptions using actual miles and invoices. | Budget assumptions should change when evidence changes. | Use the calculator after entering quarterly totals. |
How Often to Use This Checklist
Use every quarter and after seasonal operating changes.
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.