Pallet truck inspection checklist – DGUV-compliant & free as PDF
All inspection points according to DGUV Regulation 68 and BetrSichV – for manual pallet trucks, electric pallet trucks, and stackers. Download once, use immediately.
Ready to use immediately
What you get
A practical template for documented inspection.
DGUV-compliant
Free of charge
Available as PDF immediately
No account required
Classification
Why this inspection must be documented
Pallet trucks and electric pallet trucks are the backbone of every warehouse operation – and at the same time, work equipment whose inspection is easily overlooked in everyday life. Blocked swivel casters, hydraulic leaks, bent forks, or a lift that lowers automatically are typical defects that arise from daily use and go unnoticed until an accident occurs. DGUV Regulation 68 requires regular inspections by a qualified person – annually for power-operated industrial trucks, and also at least annually for manual pallet trucks according to the BetrSichV. Our checklist provides safety officers and warehouse managers with all inspection points in a structured format – for manual and electric pallet trucks, immediately printable, without registration.
Classification
Why this inspection must be documented
Pallet jacks and electric pallet trucks are the backbone of every warehouse operation – and at the same time, work equipment whose inspection is easily overlooked in everyday life. Blocked swivel casters, hydraulic leaks, bent forks, or a lift that lowers on its own are typical defects that arise from daily wear and tear and go unnoticed until an accident occurs. DGUV Regulation 68 mandates regular inspections by a qualified person – annually for powered industrial trucks and also at least annually for manual pallet jacks in accordance with the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV).
Our checklist provides safety officers and warehouse managers with all inspection points in a structured format – for manual and electric pallet trucks, ready to print immediately, no registration required.
Checklist content
What is in the checklist?
Inspection data header, OK/defect fields, comments column, and result field – print-ready on one page.
Forks for cracks
Forks for cracks, bending, and uneven height offset
Hydraulics for leaks
Hydraulics for leaks, lifting and lowering function, and automatic lowering
Wheels and swivel casters for damage and free movement
Wheels and swivel casters for damage and free movement
Drawbar / controls for function and damage
Drawbar / controls for function and damage
Type plate with max. load capacity present and legible
Type plate with max. load capacity present and legible
Advantages
Why this checklist?
Complete and field-tested
All inspection points according to DGUV Regulation 68 and BetrSichV, categorized by forks, hydraulics, chassis, and labeling
For all common types
Manual pallet trucks, electric pallet trucks, and stackers, with type-specific inspection points
Ready to use directly
With inspection data header, OK/defect fields, and signature line
No account, no subscription
Enter email address once, download file immediately
Risk
What happens if pallet trucks are not inspected?
In the event of a workplace accident
– for example, due to a lowering lift under load or a fall accident caused by a blocked swivel caster – professional associations and supervisory authorities check whether the equipment was properly maintained and inspected. If inspection records are missing, the operator is personally liable.
During an inspection
Inspection protocols for all industrial trucks in the company must be presented. If these are missing for even one device, requirements and re-inspections follow – at the company's expense.
During ongoing operation
An undiscovered hydraulic defect or a damaged fork means a growing accident risk for every employee who operates the device daily. The duty to inspect lies with the operator – not the user.
Target group
Who is this checklist for?
Warehouse managers and logistics managers
The checklist covers all inspection points of the regular pallet truck inspection – for every pallet truck in stock, clearly arranged on one page.
Safety officers and occupational safety specialists
Are you coordinating the inspection of an entire fleet of industrial trucks? The checklist can be printed out individually for each device and filed in the inspection folder.
External inspection service providers
As a protocol basis for the annual inspection at the customer's site – complete, compliant with standards, and ready for filing immediately.
Download
Download for free now
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Legal basis
Trust & legal basis
The inspection of pallet trucks and other industrial trucks is mandatory according to DGUV Regulation 68 and the Industrial Safety Regulation (BetrSichV §14). Power-operated industrial trucks must be inspected annually by a qualified person. Manual pallet trucks are subject to the general inspection obligations according to BetrSichV. This checklist provides a structured basis – it does not replace the qualification of the inspecting person.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Manage digitally
Manage pallet truck inspections digitally – with PrüfExpress
Five pallet trucks in a warehouse are still manageable with a paper list. Anyone managing an entire fleet of industrial trucks across several halls or locations quickly loses track with traditional methods: Which device was last inspected? Which pallet truck is out of service due to a hydraulic defect? When does the next annual inspection for device no. 7 expire?
In PrüfExpress, every pallet truck receives its own digital data record – with device type, load capacity, location, inspection history, and next due date. This is how a pallet truck inspection works:
- Scan device– QR code or NFC chip on the pallet truck, inspection form opens automatically on the mobile phone
- Record inspection points– Forks, hydraulics, wheels, drawbar – all points in the app, photo for defects
- Generate report– legally compliant PDF with inspector, date, and result, stored immediately in the system
- Keep status up to date– locked devices are immediately visible to everyone as "out of service" until the defect is rectified
Anyone operating multiple locations can see at a glance which devices are in use where, which have been inspected, and which are overdue – without phone calls, without folders, without manual tracking.
PrüfExpress scales from small businesses with a few dozen pieces of work equipment to companies like Daimler Truck AG with over 100,000 assets. Getting started begins at€149 per month.
→ [Test PrüfExpress for 14 days for free](/) – no credit card required
*Legal bases: DGUV Regulation 68, BetrSichV §14, TRBS 1203*