Free checklist · Construction equipment
Telehandler daily inspection checklist (free, printable)
Before each shift, inspect a telehandler with the boom fully retracted and lowered: tires, boom sections and wear pads, hoses, the carriage, the forks or attachment and its locking pin, stabilizers, and fluids. In the cab, confirm the load chart matches the attachment fitted, then test the steering modes, frame leveling, brakes, boom functions, load moment indicator, horn, lights and backup alarm.
- How often
- Before each shift
- The rule
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.602(c)
- Items
- 31 checks
- Takes
- About 8 minutes
By the CheckBadges team · Updated
Layout
Telehandler daily inspection checklist
Before each shift
| Item | OK | Problem | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkaround (boom retracted and down, engine off) | |||
| Tires and wheel nutsNo cuts or bulges; pressure per the decal; every nut tight | |||
| Boom sectionsNo dents, cracks or bends in any section | |||
| Boom wear padsIn place, not worn past the limit; no metal-on-metal marks | |||
| Boom hoses and hose carrierNo leaks, kinks or chafing along the boom | |||
| Lift, extend and tilt cylindersNo leaking seals or scored rods; pins and keepers secure | |||
| Carriage and attachment pinAttachment locking pin fully in and retained | |||
| Forks and fork locksNo cracks, bends or worn heels; locks hold forks in place | |||
| Other attachmentMaker-approved for this machine, undamaged, correctly fitted | |||
| Stabilizers and padsLegs, pads and cylinders undamaged; no leaks | |||
| Axles, frame and steeringNo leaks, cracks or loose pins; steering cylinders secure | |||
| Engine and fluids | |||
| Engine oil levelBetween the marks; no fresh leaks | |||
| Coolant levelAt the mark, checked cold | |||
| Hydraulic oil levelIn range with the boom fully retracted and lowered | |||
| Air filter restriction indicatorNot in the red; radiator clear of debris | |||
| Fuel level | ☐ Full ☐ 3/4 ☐ 1/2 ☐ 1/4 ☐ Low | ||
| In the cab | |||
| Steps and handholdsSecure; no mud, oil or ice | |||
| Cab, ROPS and FOPSNo cracks, bends or missing bolts; glass not cracked | |||
| Seat beltLatches and retracts; webbing not cut | |||
| Load chart for the attachmentChart in the cab matches the attachment fitted, and is readable | |||
| Boom angle and extension indicatorsPresent, readable and undamaged | |||
| Mirrors and cameraClean and adjusted; camera shows a clear picture | |||
| Hour meter reading | ________ hours | ||
| Function tests (engine running) | |||
| Gauges and warning lightsAll warnings clear after start-up | |||
| Load moment indicatorSelf-test passes; warning lights and alarm work | |||
| Steering modesFront, round and crab steer each work; wheels realign | |||
| Service and parking brakesStop the machine firmly; parking brake holds | |||
| Frame levelingLevels the frame both ways; level indicator reads true | |||
| Boom functionsLift, extend, tilt and auxiliary work smoothly, no drift | |||
| Backup alarmSounds in reverse | |||
| HornWorks | |||
| Lights and beaconAll work | |||
Problems found and action taken:
If anything is a problem, don't use the machine: tag it out and report it. Free checklist from checkbadges.com — put it on a QR sticker and operators can fill it in on their phone.
What to check on a telehandler, item by item
Walkaround (boom retracted and down, engine off)
- Tires and wheel nuts — No cuts or bulges; pressure per the decal; every nut tight
- Boom sections — No dents, cracks or bends in any section
- Boom wear pads — In place, not worn past the limit; no metal-on-metal marks
- Boom hoses and hose carrier — No leaks, kinks or chafing along the boom
- Lift, extend and tilt cylinders — No leaking seals or scored rods; pins and keepers secure
- Carriage and attachment pin — Attachment locking pin fully in and retained
- Forks and fork locks — No cracks, bends or worn heels; locks hold forks in place
- Other attachment — Maker-approved for this machine, undamaged, correctly fitted
- Stabilizers and pads — Legs, pads and cylinders undamaged; no leaks
- Axles, frame and steering — No leaks, cracks or loose pins; steering cylinders secure
Engine and fluids
- Engine oil level — Between the marks; no fresh leaks
- Coolant level — At the mark, checked cold
- Hydraulic oil level — In range with the boom fully retracted and lowered
- Air filter restriction indicator — Not in the red; radiator clear of debris
- Fuel level (Full / 3/4 / 1/2 / 1/4 / Low)
In the cab
- Steps and handholds — Secure; no mud, oil or ice
- Cab, ROPS and FOPS — No cracks, bends or missing bolts; glass not cracked
- Seat belt — Latches and retracts; webbing not cut
- Load chart for the attachment — Chart in the cab matches the attachment fitted, and is readable
- Boom angle and extension indicators — Present, readable and undamaged
- Mirrors and camera — Clean and adjusted; camera shows a clear picture
- Hour meter reading (reading, in hours)
Function tests (engine running)
- Gauges and warning lights — All warnings clear after start-up
- Load moment indicator — Self-test passes; warning lights and alarm work
- Steering modes — Front, round and crab steer each work; wheels realign
- Service and parking brakes — Stop the machine firmly; parking brake holds
- Frame leveling — Levels the frame both ways; level indicator reads true
- Boom functions — Lift, extend, tilt and auxiliary work smoothly, no drift
- Backup alarm — Sounds in reverse
- Horn — Works
- Lights and beacon — All work
How often a telehandler has to be inspected
Inspect a telehandler before each shift, using the daily checks in its operator's manual. OSHA treats telehandlers as forklifts: its forklift eTool lists the "variable reach type", a machine "equipped with a telescoping boom", under Class VII rough terrain forklifts. Which rule applies depends on where it works:
- On construction sites, 29 CFR 1926.602(c) says industrial trucks must meet ANSI B56.1-1969 for "design, construction, stability, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation", have their rated capacity "clearly posted on the vehicle so as to be clearly visible to the operator", and not be modified in ways that affect capacity or safe operation "without the manufacturer's written approval". Operator training rules are the same as general industry's (1926.602(d)).
- In general industry, such as a lumber yard or a plant, 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7) applies: trucks must be examined before being placed in service, "at least daily". That section excludes farm vehicles.
- The consensus standard for rough terrain forklifts is ANSI/ITSDF B56.6, and the manufacturer's manual sets the daily checks for your model.
In the UK, a telehandler is lifting equipment, so it also needs a LOLER thorough examination: at least every 12 months, or every 6 months when it's used with a platform to lift people.
How to do the walkaround
Most telehandler checks are done with the boom fully retracted and lowered, then repeated as function tests:
- Park it level with the boom fully retracted and lowered, the forks or attachment on the ground, the parking brake on and the engine off.
- Walk round the tires and wheel nuts. Stability depends on them, so look closely.
- Follow the boom from the pivot to the head: each section, the wear pads at the head and at each section, hoses and the hose carrier, and the cylinders.
- At the carriage, check the attachment locking pin is fully in and retained, then the forks, fork locks, or the attachment itself.
- Check the frame, axles, steering cylinders and stabilizers, and look underneath for leaks.
- Open the engine cover for the fluids, with the boom still retracted and lowered for the hydraulic oil.
- In the cab, find the load chart for the attachment fitted, then check the indicators, seat belt and mirrors.
- Start it and test in a clear area: the load moment indicator self-test, each steering mode, brakes, frame leveling, stabilizers, every boom function, horn, backup alarm and lights.
- Record the hour meter and sign.
The defects that take a telehandler out of service
These keep a telehandler parked until they're repaired:
| Defect | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Load chart missing, or not for the attachment fitted | Without it, nobody knows the safe load at that reach, and forward tip-overs follow |
| Attachment locking pin not fully in | The forks or attachment can come off the carriage with a load up |
| Load moment indicator faulty or bypassed | It's the warning as a load nears the forward tipping limit |
| Frame leveling not working | Raising a load on a frame that isn't level invites a sideways tip-over |
| Wear pads worn through, or a damaged boom section | Sections bind or fail under load |
| Steering modes out of alignment | The machine crabs or turns unexpectedly |
| Damaged tire or missing wheel nuts | Tires are part of the stability triangle |
What to do when something fails
Retract and lower the boom, set the brake, shut it down and tag it. On construction sites, 1926.20(b)(3) requires unsafe equipment to be tagged, locked out or removed; in general industry, 1910.178(q)(7) says a truck can't be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting its safety. Use an out-of-service tag and take the key. What to do when equipment fails inspection covers repair and release.
Keeping the record
OSHA doesn't require the daily examination to be written down, but a dated record of who checked the telehandler is how you show it was done. Keep it with the hour meter reading and any problems found. Equipment inspection record keeping covers what to keep, and the forklift inspection requirements explain the general-industry rule in detail.
On a phone, it's quicker than a clipboard: a QR sticker in the cab opens this checklist for that machine, and a problem marked by the operator emails you with photos and warns the next person who scans it until it's fixed.
Skip the clipboard
Put this telehandler inspection checklist on a QR sticker.
- Operators scan the sticker with their own phone's camera. No app, account or password.
- Anything marked Problem emails you right away, with photos, and warns the next operator.
- Every check is saved by machine with who did it and when. Print one or export a CSV.
Free for 3 machines. Every item above is already filled in — edit anything. No card.
Telehandler 1
Telehandler inspection checklist
Frequently asked questions
Is a telehandler a forklift under OSHA?
Yes. OSHA classes telescoping-boom "variable reach" machines as Class VII rough terrain forklifts, so they're powered industrial trucks. Operators need forklift training and evaluation on that type of truck (29 CFR 1910.178(l), which 1926.602(d) applies to construction).
Do you need a different load chart for each telehandler attachment?
Yes. Capacity depends on the attachment as well as boom angle and extension, so the manufacturer supplies a chart for each approved attachment. Keep the right one in the cab and check it matches whenever the attachment changes.
Why level a telehandler's frame before raising the boom?
A small tilt at ground level becomes a big sideways lean at full height, moving the load's center of gravity toward a lateral tip-over. Level the frame with the leveling control before lifting, using the level indicator in the cab.
What does a telehandler's load moment indicator do?
It measures how close the machine is to tipping forward under the load and warns the operator with lights and an alarm as the limit approaches; on many models it also cuts out the boom functions that would make it worse. Run its self-test on every pre-use check.
How often does a telehandler need a thorough examination in the UK?
Under LOLER, at least every 12 months, or every 6 months when it's used with a work platform to lift people, or per a written examination scheme. That's on top of the operator's pre-use check each shift.
Keep reading
- Heavy equipment inspection appA heavy equipment inspection app for daily walkarounds: operators scan the QR sticker on an excavator, loader or dozer and check on their phone. No app or login.
- Forklift inspection checklistFree forklift inspection checklist for the OSHA daily pre-shift check: 30 visual and operating checks with what a pass looks like. Print it or use QR codes.
- OSHA forklift inspection rulesOSHA requires forklifts to be examined before use at least daily, and after each shift if run around the clock. What to check, who does it, records and fines.
- LOLER thorough examinationsLOLER thorough examination intervals: 6 months for accessories and kit that lifts people, 12 months for other lifting equipment, or an examination scheme.
- Heavy equipment inspection checklistFree daily heavy equipment inspection checklist for any construction machine: walkaround, fluids, cab and function tests, plus machine-specific checklists.
- ConstructionConstruction equipment inspections on a QR sticker per machine. Operators and subs scan with their own phone, no app or login. Defects email you with photos.
Do your telehandler checks by QR code.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.