Free telehandler pre-start checklist
Free telehandler pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Covers cab, ROPS, boom, hydraulics, forks, stabilisers, tyres, brakes and safety devices. Download free.
Updated 3 May 2026
Telehandler Pre-Start Checklist
Daily plant inspection: complete before first use each shift. Do not operate if any FAIL item is present. HRWL required.
A - Cab & ROPS
B - Boom & Hydraulics
C - Forks & Attachment
D - Stabilisers & Outriggers
E - Engine & Fluids
F - Tyres & Brakes
G - Lights & Safety Devices
Operator Sign-off
Signature
Print name
Date & time
Supervisor 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
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Unlimited usersThese same 38 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
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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.
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Commercial Director
Key takeaways
- The MapTrack telehandler pre-start checklist contains 38 checks across 7 sections. Sections covered: A - Cab & ROPS, B - Boom & Hydraulics, C - Forks & Attachment, D - Stabilisers & Outriggers, E - Engine & Fluids, F - Tyres & Brakes, G - Lights & Safety Devices.
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Used by construction, mining and field service teams
What is a telehandler pre-start checklist?
A telehandler pre-start check is a documented inspection completed by the operator before the telescopic handler is started or put into service at the beginning of each shift. It systematically checks mechanical condition, fluid levels, safety systems, boom and hydraulic integrity, and attachment condition to confirm the machine is fit for operation. Pre-start inspections are required under the Australian Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations for plant and equipment. Telehandlers are classified as both a forklift and a crane depending on configuration, and as a high-risk work plant they carry significant obligations for documented daily inspection. The combination of elevated working heights, telescoping boom operation, and load-bearing capacity makes a thorough pre-start critical to site safety.
Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this telehandler pre-start checklist
- Identify faults before operation: catch boom cracks, hydraulic leaks, stabiliser faults, or LMI errors before they cause incidents or collapses.
- WHS compliance: demonstrate duty of care and meet work health and safety obligations under Australian legislation, particularly as a high-risk work plant.
- Reduced downtime: prevent costly breakdowns and unplanned maintenance by catching issues at the start of shift.
- Insurance and warranty protection: documented pre-starts support insurance claims and manufacturer warranty requirements.
- Operator accountability: signed records confirm who inspected and operated the telehandler each shift, and that the correct licence was held.
- Maintenance planning: trend data from pre-starts helps schedule servicing before failures occur, particularly for boom wear pads, hydraulic filters, and tyre condition.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise telehandler 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 telehandler checklists.
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What to include in a telehandler pre-start checklist
This telehandler pre-start checklist covers 7 key areas:
- Cab & ROPS: ROPS/FOPS structure condition, seatbelt and operator restraint bar, mirrors and rear camera, horn, backup alarm, gauges and warning lights, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.
- Boom & Hydraulics: boom sections for cracks or deformation, wear pads condition and clearance, telescope cylinder and hoses for leaks, boom pivot pins and retaining hardware, boom extension chain or cable condition, hydraulic oil level and system pressure.
- Forks & Attachment: fork blades for bends or cracks, fork heel wear, carriage locking hooks and retaining pins, attachment coupling secure, load chart displayed and matched to fitted attachment, quick coupler engagement.
- Stabilisers & Outriggers: stabiliser legs for cracks or damage, pins and retaining clips, foot pads condition, stabiliser cylinder hoses, level indicator operation.
- Engine & Fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel level, DEF/AdBlue where applicable, air filter restriction indicator, battery terminals, belts, hoses, and fluid leaks.
- Tyres & Brakes: tyre pressure and condition (cuts, bulges, chunking), wheel nut torque check, parking brake function, service brake response.
- Lights & Safety Devices: headlights, work lights, rotating beacon, indicators, Load Moment Indicator (LMI) calibration and alarm function, emergency lowering valve, emergency stop, walk-around for fluid leaks or ground hazards.
How to use this telehandler pre-start checklist
- Walk-around inspection: before starting, walk around the telehandler checking for fluid leaks under the machine, tyre condition, boom condition, stabiliser condition, and any objects beneath or near the machine.
- Check fluid levels: with engine off, check engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, and fuel. Top up if needed and record levels on the form.
- Inspect forks and attachment: check fork blades for bends or cracks, confirm carriage locks are engaged, verify the load chart is displayed and correct for the fitted attachment.
- Inspect boom: check boom sections for cracks, check wear pad condition and clearance, inspect cylinder hoses for leaks, and confirm pivot pins are secure.
- Inspect stabilisers: check stabiliser legs, pins, retaining clips, and foot pads. Confirm hydraulic hoses are not damaged.
- Inspect cab and controls: check ROPS/FOPS integrity, fasten seatbelt or restraint bar, set mirrors, and test horn before starting.
- Start engine and check instruments: observe warning lights clear at startup, confirm oil pressure and temperature gauges read normal, and test backup alarm and LMI display.
- Test brakes and steering: at slow speed in a safe area, test parking brake, service brake, and confirm steering mode selector operates correctly.
- Test boom operation: with forks lowered and stabilisers deployed if required, cycle the boom through raise, lower, extend, and retract to confirm hydraulic response and LMI alarm function at rated capacity limit.
- Complete the form: mark P (pass), F (fail), or N/A for every item. Record notes for any fail. Sign and retain the form. Do not operate if any fail item has not been rectified or escalated to the supervisor.
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 telehandler pre-start checklist as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
A telehandler pre-start check must be completed before first use at the start of each shift or each working day. If multiple operators use the same machine across shifts, each operator must complete their own inspection before taking control. As a high-risk work plant, telehandlers have strict documentation requirements under Australian WHS Regulations. In addition to daily checks, follow the manufacturer's scheduled service intervals (typically at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 hours). Boom wear pad clearances and hydraulic filter condition should be checked at the intervals specified in your machine's service manual. LMI calibration should be verified as part of any annual certification or after repair work to the boom or weighing system.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- WHS Regulations 2017 (Part 5.1 Plant)
- WHS Act 2011 (Section 19 - Primary duty of care)
- AS 1418.10 (Elevating work platforms, where telehandler is used as EWP)
Telehandler pre-start checklist preview
The numbers behind this telehandler 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.
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<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;">Telehandler 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;">Cab &amp; ROPS: ROPS/FOPS structure condition, seatbelt and operator restraint bar, mirrors and rear camera, horn, backup alarm, gauges and warning lights, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Boom &amp; Hydraulics: boom sections for cracks or deformation, wear pads condition and clearance, telescope cylinder and hoses for leaks, boom pivot pins and retaining hardware, boom extension chain or cable condition, hydraulic oil level and system pressure.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Forks &amp; Attachment: fork blades for bends or cracks, fork heel wear, carriage locking hooks and retaining pins, attachment coupling secure, load chart displayed and matched to fitted attachment, quick coupler engagement.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Stabilisers &amp; Outriggers: stabiliser legs for cracks or damage, pins and retaining clips, foot pads condition, stabiliser cylinder hoses, level indicator operation.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Engine &amp; Fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel level, DEF/AdBlue where applicable, air filter restriction indicator, battery terminals, belts, hoses, and fluid leaks.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Tyres &amp; Brakes: tyre pressure and condition (cuts, bulges, chunking), wheel nut torque check, parking brake function, service brake response.</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/telehandler-pre-start-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Telehandler 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 telehandler pre-start checklist contains 38 checks across 7 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Telehandler pre-start checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/telehandler-pre-start-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Telehandler pre-start checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/telehandler-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/telehandler-pre-start-checklist.
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