Free excavator daily pre-start checklist
Free excavator daily pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Covers hydraulics, pins and bushes, tracks, cab, safety devices and engine checks. Download free.
Updated 2 May 2026
Excavator Daily Pre-Start Checklist
Excavator daily inspection: complete before first use each shift
Walk-Around
Engine & Fluids
Undercarriage / Tracks
Boom, Stick & Bucket
Cab & Controls
Safety Devices
Lights & Electrics
Attachments
Operator Sign-off
Signature
Print name
Date & time
Supervisor / Reviewer Acknowledgement
Signature
Print name
Date
How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.
- PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
- Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
- Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails
Two ways to use it
Use in MapTrack →Use it digitally instead
Unlimited usersThese same 39 checks, already built.
- Scan the asset’s QR tag with any phone
- Submitted forms can trigger alerts
- Photos on fails, audit-ready records
- Export responses, PDF reports with your logo
Free trial. No credit card needed.
Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
These templates are free general guides provided as-is. They do not constitute legal, safety or compliance advice. You are responsible for ensuring any form meets your specific workplace obligations, industry standards and applicable regulations.
Don't just download it - use it live. Start a free workspace with this excavator daily pre-start checklist already built, so your crew can run it from a phone.
Commercial Director
Key takeaways
- The MapTrack excavator daily pre-start checklist contains 39 checks across 8 sections. Sections covered: Walk-Around, Engine & Fluids, Undercarriage / Tracks, Boom, Stick & Bucket, Cab & Controls, Safety Devices, Lights & Electrics, Attachments.
Enter your email below to download this excavator daily pre-start checklist as a ready-to-use PDF.
Used by construction, mining and field service teams
What is a excavator daily pre-start checklist?
An excavator daily pre-start checklist is a structured form used to inspect an excavator before it is operated each day or shift. It helps operators and supervisors confirm the excavator is safe and fit for use, reducing the risk of mechanical failures, accidents and non-compliance. The checklist covers everything from the undercarriage and tracks to the boom, stick, bucket, cab controls and safety devices, catching problems such as worn pins and bushes, hydraulic leaks or faulty safety locks before they lead to costly downtime or incidents. In Australia, excavator inspections must comply with AS 4024.2601 (Earth-moving machinery - Excavators), ISO 6165 and the WHS Regulations for plant and equipment. The WHS Act 2011 places a primary duty on the PCBU to ensure that plant used at a workplace is without risks to the health and safety of any person so far as is reasonably practicable. Chapter 5 of the WHS Regulations sets out duties for managing risks associated with plant, including inspection, maintenance and operator training requirements. Excavators present equipment-specific hazards such as rollover on sloped or unstable ground, struck-by incidents from the swinging counterweight, crushing injuries during attachment changes when the quick hitch is not fully locked, and underground service strikes during digging operations. Excavators over 3 tonnes typically require the operator to hold a Statement of Attainment. A documented daily pre-start is the standard method for demonstrating compliance and supporting audits, insurance claims and incident investigations.
Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this excavator daily pre-start checklist
- Fewer breakdowns: spot minor issues (worn tracks, low fluids, loose pins) before they become costly repairs or downtime.
- Operator safety: identify faults in ROPS/FOPS, seatbelts, swing locks and emergency stops before the excavator is used.
- Compliance: meet WHS and regulatory requirements; demonstrate due diligence for plant operation.
- Preventive maintenance: keep excavators in good order and extend asset life.
- Consistency and accountability: a standardised approach so critical checks aren't missed across operators and sites.
- Recordkeeping: maintain a verifiable history of pre-starts for audits, insurance and investigations.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise excavator checklists in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Auto-schedule pre-start forms so operators are prompted before every shift.
- Flag overdue pre-starts on the dashboard so nothing leaves the yard unchecked.
- Link each pre-start to the asset record for a complete inspection history.
Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles excavator checklists.
Try MapTrack free for 30 days
Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.
- No credit card required
- 30 days free trial
- Cancel anytime
1-2 days/week saved
“Bloody amazing! We used to spend 1-2 days a week tracking and managing our generators alone.”
Steve McAllister
Asset Coordinator, Saunders International
What to include in a excavator daily pre-start checklist
This excavator daily pre-start checklist covers 11 key areas:
- Excavator details: asset ID, make/model, serial number, hours reading.
- Operator details: name, licence/ticket number, date.
- Walk-around: general condition, cleanliness, no visible damage or leaks, ground conditions.
- Engine and fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, DEF/AdBlue (if fitted), air filter indicator.
- Undercarriage / tracks: track tension, sprockets, rollers, idlers, track pads/shoes, no debris wrapped.
- Boom, stick and bucket: pins and bushes (wear/play), bucket teeth and cutting edge, hydraulic cylinders, hoses, quick hitch.
- Cab and controls: ROPS/FOPS integrity, seatbelt, mirrors, wipers, horn, reversing camera/alarm, joystick operation, gauges.
- Safety devices: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency stops, swing lock, boom lock, travel lock.
- Lights and electrics: headlights, work lights, beacon, indicators, battery.
- Attachments: secured, correct pins, hoses connected.
- Overall result, defects table, operator and supervisor sign-off.
How to use this excavator daily pre-start checklist
- Complete excavator and operator details at the top of the checklist, including the hours reading.: Record the excavator asset ID, make and model, serial number and current hour meter reading. Enter your name, competency or licence details, site location and the date and time of the inspection.
- Perform a walk-around inspection before entering the cab. Check for leaks, damage, debris and ground conditions.: Circle the excavator looking for hydraulic or oil puddles underneath, cracked welds on the boom or stick, loose track shoes and debris wrapped around sprockets or idlers. Confirm the ground is stable for safe operation.
- Go through each checklist item and inspect the corresponding component. Mark Pass or Fail (and add notes if needed).: Check all pins and bushes for wear by rocking the bucket and stick. Inspect hydraulic hoses for bulging, chafing or weeping. Verify the quick hitch safety latch engages fully and the ROPS/FOPS structure is undamaged.
- If any item fails, note it and do not operate the excavator until it is rectified or approved. Report defects per your procedures.: Tag the excavator out of service for critical defects such as failed swing lock, broken quick hitch latch or ROPS damage. Notify the supervisor and maintenance team to arrange prompt rectification before the machine is used.
- Sign and date when the check is complete. Keep the form for your records or export/save as PDF.: Confirm all items are marked Pass, Fail or N/A. Print your name, sign and date the form. In MapTrack, submit the inspection to automatically link it to the excavator asset record.
In MapTrack, you can run digital pre-starts attached to each asset. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full excavator daily pre-start checklist as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
Complete an excavator pre-start inspection before each use or at the start of each shift. If the excavator has been relocated to a new site, has had repairs, or was used by another operator, perform a fresh check. Many construction sites require a daily pre-start for all plant and equipment on site. In addition to daily pre-starts, follow the manufacturer scheduled service intervals, typically at 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 hours. Your company policy, site rules or contract may specify additional frequency. When in doubt, complete the checklist each time the excavator is used. In MapTrack, you can schedule each inspection tier and track compliance across your entire excavator fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- AS 4024.2601 (Earth-moving machinery - Excavators)
- ISO 6165 (Earth-moving machinery)
- WHS Regulations (plant and equipment)
Excavator daily pre-start checklist preview
The numbers behind this excavator daily pre-start checklist
Every figure below is sourced and dated, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without having to chase the original report.
Embed this free template on your website
Run an industry blog, trade association site, or training resource? Drop a preview of this free excavator daily pre-start checklist straight into your page. The snippet is self-contained, needs no scripts, and links readers back to the full free template.
<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Excavator daily pre-start checklist</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Excavator details: asset ID, make/model, serial number, hours reading.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Operator details: name, licence/ticket number, date.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Walk-around: general condition, cleanliness, no visible damage or leaks, ground conditions.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Engine and fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, DEF/AdBlue (if fitted), air filter indicator.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Undercarriage / tracks: track tension, sprockets, rollers, idlers, track pads/shoes, no debris wrapped.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Boom, stick and bucket: pins and bushes (wear/play), bucket teeth and cutting edge, hydraulic cylinders, hoses, quick hitch.</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/excavator-pre-start-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Excavator daily pre-start checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.
Cite this template
Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this checklist. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.
The MapTrack excavator daily pre-start checklist contains 39 checks across 8 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Excavator daily pre-start checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/excavator-pre-start-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Excavator daily pre-start checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/excavator-pre-start-checklist
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/excavator-pre-start-checklist.
Need to run digital pre-starts attached to each asset?
Register every excavator in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.
Pre-start inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo