Construction equipment management software › Equipment inspection app
Equipment inspection apps: daily checks that reach the shop
An equipment inspection app replaces the paper walk-around: the operator checks each item on a phone, photographs a defect, and the app sends it to the shop as a repair. Fleetio, Simply Fleet, GearJoT, HCSS Equipment360, Tenna and Clue all run inspections; check that a failed item becomes a work order without retyping, and that the app works without signal.
What the rules ask for
| Rule | Covers | What it asks |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2) | All construction equipment | Frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials and equipment by competent persons the employer designates |
| 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(3) | All construction equipment | Equipment that isn't in compliance is tagged or locked out, or removed |
| 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(14) | Vehicles on an off-highway job site | A check at the start of each shift of brakes, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, controls and safety devices; defects fixed before use |
| 29 CFR 1926.602(a) | Earthmoving equipment | Seat belts, service brakes, a horn on bidirectional machines, and a backup alarm (or a signal person) when the rear view is blocked |
| 29 CFR 1926.1412(d) | Cranes | A visual inspection by a competent person before each shift, covering controls, hoses, hydraulic fluid level, hooks, wire rope, tires and ground conditions |
| 49 CFR 396.11 | Commercial trucks | A written driver report at the end of each day's work when a defect is found, signed; the motor carrier repairs the defect and certifies it before the vehicle runs again |
A daily heavy equipment checklist
A starting list for an excavator, loader or dozer. Add your maker's daily items from the operation and maintenance manual.
| Area | Check | Fail means |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-around | Leaks under the machine, cracked welds, loose or missing bolts, damaged guards | Photo and repair request |
| Fluids | Engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, DEF | Top up; a fast drop is a leak |
| Undercarriage or tires | Track tension and pads, rollers, or tire pressure and cuts | Repair request |
| Hydraulics | Hoses and fittings for rubbing, bulges, wet spots; cylinder rods for scoring | Tag out if spraying or bulging |
| Work tool | Bucket teeth, cutting edges, pins and bushings, quick coupler locked | Repair request; coupler not locked means don't run |
| Cab and safety | Seat belt, horn, backup alarm, lights, mirrors or camera, fire extinguisher, steps and handholds, ROPS | Fix before use: seat belt and brakes; the horn on bidirectional machines; the backup alarm where the rear view is blocked and no signal person is used (1926.602) |
| Start-up | Gauges and warning lights, any fault code on the display, brakes and steering | Write down the code (SPN and FMI) and look it up |
| Record | Hour meter reading, operator, date | Feeds the service schedule |
The apps compared
| App | Inspections | Failed item to repair | Works offline | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleetio | Mobile and web forms, FMCSA-approved templates; schedules from Professional | Issues on every plan; automated workflows from Professional | Yes | $4 to $10 a vehicle a month |
| Simply Fleet | Custom forms, history and schedules; photos and driver signatures on paid plans | Issues from inspections, on Free too | Not listed | Free for 5; $3 or $5 a vehicle |
| GearJoT | Templates, shared inspection proof | Failed inspection to issue to task | No offline capture is on its roadmap | Free for 10; then from $7.50 a piece |
| HCSS Equipment360 | Inspections | Inspections open work orders automatically | Not listed | Quote |
| Tenna | Inspection logs and DVIRs | Within its maintenance add-on | Not listed | Quote |
| Clue | Inspections from any job site | Work orders | Not listed | Quote |
What to test before you pick
- Time one inspection on a real machine. If it takes longer than the paper form, operators will pencil-whip it.
- Fail an item on purpose. Does it reach the shop as a work order with the photo, or as an email someone retypes?
- Turn the phone's data off. Job sites lose signal; Fleetio lists offline inspections, and for the rest, ask.
- Check what the operator needs. A login per operator, or a shared phone? Per-user pricing makes a difference here.
General form apps such as SafetyCulture and Fulcrum also run equipment checklists; if you pick one, check how a failed item reaches the shop's maintenance records.
Dozer isn't an inspection app today, so it isn't in the table. Its free pre-trip page walks through a truck DVIR and a machine walk-around without sign-up, and the Machines app keeps hours, service due and repair tickets. Dozer's pre-trip page
Also read
- Heavy equipment maintenance software: where the work order goes next.
- All ten tools compared.
About this page
Published by Winding AI, Inc., the company that makes Dozer, one of the tools named here. Winding AI earns money when customers pay for Dozer, and nothing from links to other tools; links to Dozer carry a tag so Dozer can count visits from this page. Something wrong? Write to support@winding.ai.