Vehicle inspection guides

Guides to daily vehicle checks and driver vehicle inspection reports. Rule statements are checked against the regulation text, and each guide lists its sources.

• Pre-trip inspection checklist: free PDF forms and how to use them
  Blank PDF forms, the 11 parts the rule names, and how to write up a defect so the next person can act on it.
• Pre-trip car inspection: a 28-point checklist for company cars and pickups
  All 28 checks in plain language, NHTSA's tire numbers, and how to tell whether federal rules apply to your vehicle.
• Fleet vehicle inspection checklist: a simple system for small fleets
  Who does what, how long each record is kept, a sample inspection log, and the limits of doing this without paid fleet software.
• Post-trip inspection: is it required by DOT, and what should it cover?
  What FMCSA actually requires at the end of the day, how it differs from the pre-trip step, and a guidance sentence that no longer matches the rule.
• DVIR requirements: 9 questions checked against the rule
  Nine questions about DVIRs, each answered from the regulations and FMCSA guidance.
• Electronic DVIR vs paper: what the 2026 rule changed and which to use
  What the 2026 rule changed, the conditions in 390.32, and a comparison of paper, free tools and fleet software with checked prices.

Looking for the form itself? Download a blank DVIR form or fill one in online.