Understanding RSA Daily Walkaround Checks: A Complete Guide for Irish Fleet Operators

If you operate commercial vehicles in Ireland, you already know about daily walkaround checks. Or at least, you should.

Under SI No. 348 of 2013 (Road Safety Authority Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Regulations), daily walkaround checks aren't optional. They're a legal requirement for every commercial vehicle before it hits the road.

After spending 20 years building business systems for Irish logistics and haulage companies, I've seen what happens when fleet operators don't take this seriously. Fines. Impounded vehicles. Insurance claims denied. Operations shut down.

This guide covers everything you need to know about RSA daily walkaround checks, what the law actually requires, and how to stay compliant without drowning in paperwork.

What Are Daily Walkaround Checks?

Daily walkaround checks (also called pre-trip inspections or driver vehicle checks) are visual and functional inspections that drivers must perform before operating a commercial vehicle.

The purpose is simple: catch defects before they become dangerous. A missing mirror. Worn tires. Brake issues. Fluid leaks. These problems don't fix themselves, and they put your driver, other road users, and your business at risk.

Who Needs to Do Daily Walkaround Checks?

If you operate any of the following vehicles in Ireland, daily checks are legally required:

• Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) - Category N1 (vans, pickups)
• Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) - Categories N2 and N3 (trucks over 3.5 tonnes)
• Passenger Vehicles - Categories M2 and M3 (buses, coaches with 9+ seats)
• Trailers - Categories O3 and O4 (trailers over 3.5 tonnes)
• Ambulances - Special purpose M category vehicles

Even if you only use your vehicle occasionally, or it's technically "private use" (like a horse lorry), the law applies based on vehicle type, not usage.

What Does the Law Actually Require?

SI 348/2013 places specific obligations on commercial vehicle owners and operators:

1. Daily Checks Must Be Performed

Every commercial vehicle must undergo a walkaround check before use each day. This is the driver's responsibility, but as the operator, you're accountable.

2. You Must Have a System

You can't just tell drivers "check the vehicle." You need documented procedures and checklists that cover all required safety items.

3. Records Must Be Kept for 2 Years

This is where most operators struggle. You must retain documentation of every check for two years and make it available to RSA inspectors on demand.

Not "we'll find it eventually." On demand means immediately.

4. Defects Must Be Addressed

If a driver identifies a defect, it must be recorded and repaired by a suitably qualified person. You can't just ignore it and hope for the best.

What Should Be Checked?

While specific requirements vary by vehicle type, a comprehensive daily walkaround check typically includes:

Exterior Checks:

• Tires (tread depth, inflation, damage)
• Lights (headlights, indicators, brake lights, reflectors)
• Mirrors (secure, clean, unbroken)
• Body condition (damage, secure doors, load security)
• Registration plates (visible, secure, clean)
• Fuel and fluid leaks

Under Vehicle:

• Brake lines
• Exhaust system
• Suspension components
• Evidence of leaks

Cab/Interior:

• Windscreen and windows (cracks, chips, visibility)
• Wipers and washers
• Horn
• Seat belts
• Warning lights on dashboard
• Brakes (including parking brake)
• Steering

Trailer (if applicable):

• Coupling secure
• Lights functioning
• Load secure
• Tires and wheels

The RSA provides standard checklist templates, but you can customize these based on your specific vehicle types and operations.

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

Let's be blunt: Non-compliance isn't a paperwork issue. It's a business risk.

During RSA Roadside Inspections:

RSA enforcement officers can stop any commercial vehicle at any time. If they ask to see your daily walkaround check records and you can't produce them, that's an immediate €2,500 fixed penalty notice. For the second offense, it's €5,000.

If your vehicle has defects that should have been caught during a proper check, the vehicle can be impounded on the spot.

During Premises Inspections:

RSA can visit your premises unannounced and request to see your maintenance records, including daily check documentation for the past two years.

Insurance Implications:

If you're involved in an accident and your insurer discovers you don't have proper daily check records, they may deny your claim.

Paper vs Digital: The Documentation Challenge

The law doesn't specify how you document daily checks. Paper forms are perfectly legal. So are digital records.

But here's the reality of paper:

• Forms go missing
• Checks are rushed or backfilled
• Records are hard to retrieve during inspections

Digital systems solve this by:

• Forcing completion before the vehicle is marked as checked
• Timestamping and geolocating each check
• Storing records automatically in searchable databases
• Making records available instantly

Common Compliance Mistakes

1. "The drivers know what to check." Verbal checks don't count.
2. "We fill them in later." Backdating checks is fraud.
3. "The forms are somewhere." If you can't produce them immediately, it's non-compliance.
4. "We only keep them for a month." Records must be retained for two years.
5. "The driver said it was fine." If it's not documented, it didn't happen.

Setting Up an Effective System

• Clear procedures
• Proper driver training
• Accountability
• Defect management workflows
• Reliable record retention

The Bottom Line

Daily walkaround checks aren't bureaucracy. They're basic risk management.

The companies that get this right aren't the ones with the fanciest tools. They're the ones with systems drivers actually use and records they can produce instantly.

After 20 years watching fleet operators struggle with compliance, I can tell you: The hard part isn't the checking. It's the documentation.

Fix that, and everything else becomes manageable.