What this checklist is for
For compact track loaders (CTL) or skid-steer loaders (SSL), log a daily walk by filling out the form on screen. Once finished, download the logged record in either CSV file or PDF format.
The header name the unit, undercarriage, hours, jobsite, and attachment. The stations indicate if the following are OK, Defect or N/A: Operator protection, loader, coupler, powertrain, tires or tracks, lights, backup alarm, and work area. A final sign-off section show defects and which party tagged or released the machine.
Under 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2), employers is required to have competent persons inspect vehicles frequently. Under 1926.21(b)(2), employers are required to train workers to identify and avoid unsafe working conditions.
In 1926.601(b)(14), the OSHA’s eTool reiterates this start of shift check which encompasses service brakes, parking and emergency stopping systems, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, operating controls, and safety devices, plus lights, reflectors, wipers, defrosters, and fire extinguishers when applicable. Any defect should of been repaired prior to putting it into service.
Equipment under 1926.602 fall outside of Section 1926.601(a). It refers to loaders, etc. Rubber-tired skid-steer still has its own rules. The walk should be based off the eTool list. Add SSL content from both NIOSH Publication 2011-128 and osha shib 01-12-2009. Top off with the operator’s manual of this particular model (serial number). It is not an OEM teardown sheet or an official OSHA blank.
What it is not
- It is not a powered industrial truck exam under 29 CFR 1910.178. OSHA SHIB 01-12-2009 states that skid-steer loaders intended primarily for earth moving are not covered by that standard. Do not copy data-plate, mast, and fork rows from the published Forklift Inspection Checklist onto this compact loader.
- It is not a CMV pre-trip under 49 CFR 392.7 and not a Post Trip Inspection Checklist (49 CFR 396.11 DVIR). Gladhands, fifth wheels, and 4/32 inch steer tread are highway items. For a Class A yard walk use the published Pre Trip Inspection Checklist.
- It is not a Bobcat compact equipment checklist. That is a separate pending topic. Pin shapes, handle directions, and interlock tests differ by maker. Do not treat a Bob-Tach style nickname as a universal coupler step.
- It is not a CDL skills score sheet, a light-vehicle PPI, or a Truck Inspection Checklist for a highway tractor. OK / Defect here is not an automatic CDL failure.
How to fill each block
Write down the information about the machine and who operated it. Date, operator name, unit identifier, serial number, make, model. Include the unit plate rated operating capacity, shift, job site, hour meter, and attachment.
Are you trained for this make and model? Read the operators manual for this unit. Only qualified employees should operates this unit per section 1926.20(b)(4). Capacity is taken from the manufacturer's manual and plate, not from made-up numbers. Never exceed the manufacturer's recommendation per NIOSH 2011-128.
While the engine is off, check interlocks and operator protection. Check labels, manual, cab glass, steps, seat bar, seat belt, side screens, FOPS, and ROPS.
Rubber-tired skid-steer equipment made after July 15, 2019 becomes part of Subpart W (construction use), 29 CFR 1926.1000. For ROPS remounts, use equal or better hardware per 1926.1000(d). Maintain a permanent label in a readable condition per 1926.1000(e).
Later frames referenced in 1926.1001(c) point to ISO 3471:2008.
Read your OEM’s description of interlocks and then sit down and try them. For example, John Deere 260/270 manuals include: Park-brake crank lockout; Boom-and-bucket lock; Seat-presence lock; and Seat-belt switch lock. According to Caterpillar, there is a control interlock that prevents travel and hydraulics if the operator exits the seat. OSHA advises against modifying or bypassing such systems. Do not operate controls from outside the cab. A dead switch or a defeated belt are a defect. Tag it out.
Check the coupler, loader arms, and attachment.
Do not touch the pins until the lower arms are lowered or placed on the manufacturer's lift-arm support. Make sure the pins engages the slot and the coupler is fully latched. A visual pin check is required for John Deere. Cat guidance advises testing powered couplers prior to use. CASE provides support beams with both hydraulic and mechanical couplers.
According to OSHA and NIOSH, never service under raised arms unless supported as approved. The stand cannot be hydraulic only. If pins is loose, the machine is out of service.
Perform daily checkouts of the controls, brakes, hydraulics, and powertrain on level ground. Turn off engine and lower attachment except when specified in the manual. The John Deere daily check includes: oil, fuel, coolant, hoses, gauges, codes, radiator, brakes, horn, and steering. Kubota also includes the battery, air cleaner, and coolant reserve. Don’t pull a hot radiator cap!
Bidirectional machines must have a maintained horn (Section 1926.602(a)(9)(i)). Only test tilt, lift, and travel if interlocks pass; do so in a clear area.
Tires/Tracks, Examine the carcass, pressure, rims, and lugs. Inspect rims, lugs, pressure, and tire carcass for wheeled equipment. For track loaders, inspect the tension, idler, roller, and track. John Deere combines its tracks and tires into one walk-around. Tires is on OSHA’s list. This form does not publish a 49 CFR 393.75 tread fail. A defect is a derailed track, a cracked rim, or a flat.
Check the work area, lights, and alarms. No riders, keep bystanders clear of the area, says NIOSH. Keep the heavy end uphill. Avoid side slopes. Enter and exit with the attachment flat.
Unless you have someone signaling safety or an alarm that works, section 1926.602(a)(9)(ii) prohibits reversing with obstructed view. Some fleets had dead backup alarms, which is a safety violation. For this cab/site, include fire extinguishers, defrosters, wipers, and lights.
All Defects must be recorded. No defects, Tagged out, Scheduled if safe, Repaired prior to dispatch. According to Section 1926.20(b)(3), Unsafe equipment must be locked/tagged out. According to OSHA, malfunctioning safety systems must remain out of service until they are repaired.
What varies
Walk signed by the operator. Only if required by the employer is a supervisor signature necessary.
The difference between a wheeled SSL and a compact track loader is the rows of tires or tracks.
Open ROPS vs. enclosed cab: Checks for door interlock, wipers, defroster
Mechanical coupler versus hydraulic or electric coupler changes how you prove lockup, not whether you look at the pins. hydraulic coupler: How you prove lockup (not if you check pins)
Pedal vs. Joystick controls change the OEM interlock test, but they do not rule against bypassing.
Seat belts: Section 1926.602(a)(2): meet SAE J386-1969. Standup machines and those without ROPS is exempt.
Dedicated SSL text in 1926.602 remains reserved. The form follows OEM restraint systems, NIOSH, and SHIB. Built after July 15, 2019 rubber-tired skid-steer equipment is within the Subpart W ROPS net. Machines built prior may have been fitted with ROPS. No cutting screens into a side door.
After you finish
Recordkeeping rules might be added under state-plan OSHA. Some sites require a written compact-equipment card every shift. Federal construction text does not reference this template. Other rules apply to agriculture, mining, and public-road moves. Slow-moving-vehicle and lighting rules apply if moving on a public highway.
Follow the operator’s manual provided by the builder. Daily points at ground level vary by machine. Don’t make up ROC, psi, or track tension numbers. Refer to the machine decal. When sources conflict, the regulation text and the OEM procedure for that serial win over a generic row on this page.
Get a copy of what you filled out in PDF format (filled). Get a copy of what you filled out in CSV format. Get a blank copy to fill out by hand. Form answers remain on your browser alone. Next person visiting will see a blank form. Below is the printable PDF and preview.
Send the signed record back through the employer’s maintenance process. The tagged machine is now out-of-service until someone who has been authorized repairs it. Do not call OSHA. You do not red-tag a CMMS. No lockout/tagout initiation.
For general-industry maintenance, SHIB says 29 CFR 1910.147 might apply. When you retest after repair, keep bystanders away. Shut down, set the park brake, lower the attachment. Exit the cab using three-point contact with the manufacturer steps.
Not a substitute for the OEM or a licensed inspection
The above is not a replacement for the operator’s manual, osha shib 01-12-2009, NIOSH 2011-128, and 29 CFR Part 1926. It is also not a substitute for qualified personnel repairing defects.
This is not legal advice. The above is a record keeping template only. Don’t fabricate numbers that are not stated in the sources. A filled sheet does not certify that the machine meets lab tests. A filled out sheet does not indicate the machine meets the lab test.