Skid Steer Inspection Checklist: Daily Walkaround and Rental Inspection
Last updated: November 2026
A skid steer inspection checks the engine, hydraulics, lift arms, attachment coupler, tires or tracks, operator cab and safety interlocks before the machine goes to work. Operators do a short walkaround and function check at the start of each shift, and mechanics do a deeper inspection at service intervals and when a machine comes back from rent.
This guide includes a daily skid steer inspection checklist, the safety systems to test, a rental return inspection form, OSHA rules for skid steers, and maintenance intervals to watch. For other machines, see our heavy equipment inspection checklist.
In this guide:
Daily Skid Steer Inspection Checklist
Do the walkaround with the lift arms lowered, the attachment flat on the ground and the engine off. If you must work under raised lift arms, engage the lift arm support device first. Then start the machine and run the function checks from the operator’s seat.
Walkaround (Engine Off)
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Leaks | No oil, fuel, coolant or hydraulic fluid under the machine, around the cylinders or in the engine compartment |
| Engine oil and coolant | Levels in range; radiator and oil cooler fins clean of dirt and debris |
| Hydraulic oil | Level in the sight glass with the arms lowered |
| Air filter and fuel | Air filter indicator not in the red; drain water from the fuel filter or separator if required |
| Belts and hoses | No cracks, fraying, chafing or kinks; hydraulic hoses not rubbing |
| Lift arms and cylinders | No cracks or bent parts; pins and retainers in place; pivot points greased |
| Attachment and coupler | Bucket or attachment in good shape; quick-attach levers or pins fully engaged; auxiliary hydraulic couplers clean |
| Tires or tracks | Tires: no cuts, correct pressure, lug nuts tight. Tracks: tension, wear, damaged lugs, rollers, idlers and sprockets |
| Cab and ROPS | ROPS and FOPS undamaged; side screens and door intact; glass not cracked; steps and grab handles secure |
| Seat, seat belt and seat bar | Seat belt latches and is not frayed; seat bar moves freely |
| Decals and manual | Safety decals readable; operator’s manual in the cab |
| Lights and battery | Lights clean and working; battery cables tight with no corrosion |
Function Check (Engine Running)
| Control or system | What should happen |
|---|---|
| Start-up and gauges | Starts normally; no warning lights; gauges in range |
| Seat bar and seat switch interlocks | Lift, tilt and travel functions will not work with the seat bar raised or the operator out of the seat |
| Parking brake | Holds the machine on a slope and stops travel when engaged |
| Drive and steering | Smooth travel forward and reverse; steers both ways; machine does not creep in neutral |
| Lift and tilt | Smooth lift, lower and tilt with no drift, jerking or noise |
| Auxiliary hydraulics | Turn on and off as designed with the attachment |
| Horn, alarms and lights | Horn, backup alarm and lights work |
If anything fails, tag the skid steer out of service and report it before anyone uses it. Many manufacturers list engine oil, hydraulic oil, coolant, air filter, tires, seat bar and lubrication of lift arm pivots as items to check every 8 to 10 hours of operation; follow the schedule in your operator’s manual.
Skid Steer Safety Systems to Test
- Seat bar and interlocks: the seat bar (operator restraint) and seat switch lock out lift, tilt and drive when the operator is not seated with the bar down. Never bypass them.
- ROPS and FOPS: the cab is a rollover and falling object protective structure. Do not drill, weld or modify it, and replace it if damaged.
- Seat belt: wear it every time; the ROPS only protects an operator who stays in the seat.
- Lift arm support device: use it whenever you work under raised lift arms for maintenance.
- Parking brake: set it before leaving the seat, with the attachment flat on the ground.
OSHA Rules for Skid Steers
Skid steers are earthmoving equipment under OSHA’s construction rules. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.602 covers seat belts on equipment with rollover protection, brakes, and reverse signal alarms on machines with an obstructed view to the rear. OSHA 1926.20(b)(3) also requires frequent and regular inspections of equipment by a competent person. In practice, that means a documented pre-shift inspection that follows the manufacturer’s checklist.
Skid Steer Rental and Condition Inspection
Rental yards inspect each skid steer when it comes back from rent, and buyers and sellers use the same checks on a used machine. Record the make, model, serial number, hours, fuel type, engine make, work order number and date of the last preventive maintenance, then mark each item acceptable, needs repair, not applicable or future repair.
| System | Items to check |
|---|---|
| Engine | Oil level, air filters, cooling system, charging system, belts |
| Hydraulics | Hydraulic oil level, all cylinders, hoses and fittings, pumps and motors |
| Frame and chassis | Cab condition, chassis condition, warning and safety decals, attachment mounting |
| Drive train | Steering linkage, undercarriage and track units, track tension |
| Cab | Seat and seat belt, cab switches and accessories, alarms and indicators, manuals and decals, emergency boom lowering |
| Operation | All functions, parking brake, safety interlock system |
| Tires or tracks | Percent remaining and pressure on each tire, foam-filled tires noted; percent remaining on left and right tracks |
| Notes | Parts used, labor, recommended repairs, inspected by, date |
Below is FleetNow’s skid steer rental inspection form. You can build the same form in FleetNow Inspect.
Shopping for a used skid steer? Read about Cat skid steers, the Toro mini skid steer and the Vermeer mini skid steer.
Inspection Records and the FleetNow Inspect App
Paper inspection forms get dirty, lost and hard to read. FleetNow Inspect lets operators and mechanics complete daily and rental return inspections on a tablet or phone, add photos, and save every report to the machine’s history. At OHR Rents, mechanics completed 73% more inspections in a month after switching from paper to the app, while the fleet grew 31%.
Shop Skid Steers on FleetNow
Browse used skid steers and track skid steers (compact track loaders), or shop by brand: Bobcat, John Deere and Kubota.
Need help? Contact the FleetNow team or call 1-216-973-5124. Have a skid steer to sell? List your equipment on FleetNow.
Skid Steer Inspection FAQs
A skid steer inspection checklist should cover leaks, engine oil, coolant and hydraulic oil levels, the air filter, belts and hoses, lift arms, cylinders and pins, the attachment and quick coupler, tires or tracks, the cab and ROPS, the seat belt and seat bar, decals and lights, plus a running check of the interlocks, parking brake, drive, steering, lift, tilt, auxiliary hydraulics, horn and alarms.
Operators should do a walkaround and function check at the start of every shift. Many manufacturers also list daily service checks every 8 to 10 hours of operation, and mechanics inspect the machine at each preventive maintenance interval and whenever it returns from a rental.
The seat bar is the operator restraint. With the seat switch, it locks out the lift, tilt and drive functions unless the operator is seated with the bar lowered. Test it during every inspection, and never bypass or disable it.
OSHA 1926.20(b)(3) requires frequent and regular inspections of equipment by a competent person, and OSHA 1926.602 sets rules for earthmoving equipment such as seat belts, brakes and reverse signal alarms. A documented pre-shift inspection that follows the manufacturer checklist is the usual way to meet these rules.
The lift arm support device is a brace that holds the lift arms up so a mechanic can work under them safely. Engage it any time you service the machine with the lift arms raised.
A rental return inspection records the hours and work order number and checks the engine, hydraulics, frame and attachment mounting, drive train and tracks, cab and safety interlocks, all functions and the parking brake, and the wear on tires or tracks, then lists any repairs before the next rental.
