On a two- or three-shift site the same truck is driven by different people all day. Faults that developed on the morning shift are inherited by the afternoon shift, and the truck's history gets lost between them. A short handover fixes that.
The outgoing operator
- Park correctly: forks down, mast forward, brake on, key out.
- Complete the check sheet for the shift and note anything that happened: knocks, warning lights, a hydraulic function that was slow, a tyre that looks low.
- Tell the incoming operator, face to face if possible, or through the supervisor if shifts do not overlap.
- Report any defect that makes the truck unsafe, and tag it out. Do not leave it for the next person to find.
- For electric trucks, put the truck on charge if the battery will not last the next shift.
The incoming operator
- Read the previous check sheet and any defect notes before touching the truck.
- Do your own full pre-use check. The previous operator's check was for their shift, not yours. See the pre-use inspection guide.
- Confirm the battery or fuel level is enough for your shift.
- Adjust the seat, mirrors and seat belt.
- Sign the check sheet as the operator for this shift.
Why it matters
When an investigation asks who was driving the truck when the fork cracked, or when the reversing alarm stopped working, a shift-by-shift record answers the question. Without one, every operator who drove the truck that week is under suspicion, and the employer cannot show that the truck was being checked at all.