Inspection, testing and documentation on heavy vehicles.

A heavy vehicle on the road can have serious consequences for both the driver and other road users if it fails. That's why trucks, buses, and trailers are subject to stricter regulations than cars. As a truck mechanic, you work at the intersection of expertise, legal requirements, and responsibility—and your documentation is part of the safety.

Heavy vehicles weigh many tonnes, often travel far and are used commercially. A brake failure, a loose wheel or a defective coupling can have serious consequences. Therefore the rules impose requirements on both the vehicle's condition, its equipment and the way it is maintained. The requirements are not bureaucracy for its own sake — they are a framework for safe transport.

Heavy vehicles must be inspected at fixed intervals, and many companies also run a fixed program of periodic inspections to catch failures between inspections. An inspection covers the safety-critical systems: brakes, steering, wheels and tyres, lights, equipment and exhaust. The aim is to ensure the vehicle is in proper condition at all times — not just on inspection day.

Areas with special requirements

• 01Brakes — function, tightness and braking ability on all axles.
• 02Steering and wheel suspension — play, leaks and fastening.
• 03Wheels and tires — wear, condition and correct assembly.
• 04Light, reflectors and signalling equipment — so others can see the vehicle.
• 05Weight and load securing — ensuring the vehicle is not overloaded or loaded unsafely.

Heavy vehicles are typically equipped with a tachograph that records the driver's driving and rest time. Rules on driving and rest time are designed to ensure drivers do not drive tired. The tachograph is a legal requirement, and its correct operation and calibration is a technical area requiring care and often special authorization.

When you release a heavy vehicle you vouch that the work you have done is in order. Know the requirements for what you make use the manufacturer's data and the applicable rules and document thoroughly. Professional pride and the law's requirements point in the same direction here: a safe vehicle on the road.