Compliance that stands up to scrutiny
Daily walkaround checks are one of the first things an examiner asks to see. This page explains what the requirement is, how DailyChecks.co.uk records it, and what evidence you can hand over when it matters.
What the requirement actually is
Vehicles and trailers must be fit for road use every time they leave the yard - not just at MOT.
Drivers must carry out a walkaround check before the first use of a vehicle each day.
Any defect affecting safety must be reported and the vehicle taken out of service until it is fixed.
You must be able to show who checked what, when, and what was done about any defect found.
Records need to be kept and available for inspection - typically 15 months of check history.
Drivers must be competent and trained to identify defects, and the evidence must be documented.
This is a plain-English summary for operators, not legal advice. Always check current DVSA guidance for your licence type and operation.
How the platform records it
Each element below maps to a part of your compliance evidence, from the driver's check through to the workshop's repair.
Daily walkaround checks
Drivers complete a digital check before taking a vehicle on the road, covering lights, tyres, brakes, mirrors, load security and fluid levels. Each check is time and date stamped against the vehicle registration.
Defect reporting
Any item that fails is recorded as a defect with free-text notes and photos, so the workshop has an accurate description of the fault from the outset.
Instant notification
Defects are emailed immediately to the people you nominate - typically the transport manager, traffic desk and workshop manager - so the vehicle is not used until it has been assessed.
Repair records
The person who carried out the repair, the location and the time are logged against the original defect, closing the loop between defect and fix.
Audit trail
Checks, defects and repairs are stored in the cloud and can be filtered by vehicle, driver or date - ready for a DVSA visit or a desktop review.
Live compliance visibility
Your dashboard shows the compliance rate as it happens, rather than in an end-of-month report, so missed checks are spotted the same day.
Compliance Management
Two scores in your driver dashboard
When you are signed in to your driver dashboard, this is where you will see two scores. The first will be your Personal Health Awareness score. The second will be the company average compliance score.
Your Personal Health Awareness
A short awareness check covering fatigue, hydration, movement and fitness for work. It asks what you know about staying well on the road.
Your Personal Compliance score
Is managed by company HR and compliance managers. Your score is a broad guide on overall work performance such as Daily Checks, Infringements and Compliance.
Important Points
- 1Your personal health awareness is never shared to anyone outside your own company.
- 2Only your score is shared with your employer, not your answers.
- 3Your compliance score is personal to you.
- 4The displayed Compliance score is the average score attained for your job role.
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Common questions
How long should daily check records be kept?
DVSA guidance is to keep daily walkaround check records, defect reports and repair records for at least 15 months. Our records stay in your company account and can be exported at any time.
Do digital checks count as evidence?
Yes. A digital check is acceptable provided it records the vehicle, the driver, the date and time, the items checked and any defects found. Every submission here is stamped with that information.
What happens when a driver reports a defect?
The defect is recorded with notes and optional photos, and your nominated contacts are emailed straight away. The vehicle should not be used until the repair is signed off, which is then logged against the original defect.
Does this replace maintenance planning?
No. Daily checks are one part of a maintenance system. MOT and service due dates are stored against each vehicle and trailer so they can be monitored alongside the daily checks.
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