1926.601(b)(14): Daily Vehicle Checks at Start of Shift
Employers must check all construction vehicles in use at the start of each shift to make sure brakes, parking brake, emergency brakes, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, operating controls and safety devices are in safe working order and free of damage. All defects must be fixed before the vehicle goes into service, and the checks also cover needed items such as lights, reflectors, wipers, defrosters and fire extinguishers.
Key takeaways
- 1926.601(b)(14) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 29 times in the last 3 years, in 29 inspections, with $36,301 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (11), IL (5), ME (3).
- Related part: 1926.601(b) General requirements (92 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.601(b)(14) is one requirement inside 1926.601 Motor vehicles, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart O). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(14) All vehicles in use shall be checked at the beginning of each shift to assure that the following parts, equipment, and accessories are in safe operating condition and free of apparent damage that could cause failure while in use: service brakes, including trailer brake connections; parking system (hand brake); emergency stopping system (brakes); tires; horn; steering mechanism; coupling devices; seat belts; operating controls; and safety devices. All defects shall be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service. These requirements also apply to equipment such as lights, reflectors, windshield wipers, defrosters, fire extinguishers, etc., where such equipment is necessary. 29 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.601.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.601(b)(14).
At 10:00 a.m. on December 9, 2024, an employee working as a truck driver for a trucking company was delivering caliche for back-fill to a work site. The site was a graded, rolled and compacted well drilling patch site. The truck-trailer became stuck so a…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: MI (11), IL (5), ME (3), TX (2), NY (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| HUTCH PAVING INC | WHITMORE LAKE, MI | $7,000 |
| OWEN J. FOLSOM, INC. | OLD TOWN, ME | $6,641 |
| TEXAS MIXER TRUCKS LLC | FRISCO, TX | $6,250 |
| BRADLEY FRAMING LLC. | CINCINNATI, OH | $4,965 |
| VICTOR A COLUNGA | PECOS, TX | $3,333 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.601(b)(14), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.601(b)(14).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.601(b) General requirements 92 citations
- 1926.601(b)(4) 39 citations
- 1926.601(b)(4)(i) 13 citations
- 1926.601(b)(5) 10 citations
- 1926.601(b)(3) 8 citations
- 1926.601(b)(4)(ii) 5 citations
- 1926.601(b)(9) 2 citations
- 1926.601(b)(6)
- 1926.601(b)(8)
- 1926.601(b)(10)
- 1926.601(b)(11)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How often must vehicles be checked?
At the beginning of each shift for all vehicles in use.
What must be checked?
Service brakes including trailer brake connections, parking and emergency brakes, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, operating controls and safety devices, plus items like lights and wipers where needed.
Can a vehicle with a defect be used?
No. All defects must be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.601 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-19
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.