# Stretcher Inspection Checklist: A Free Shift, After-Ride, and Monthly Form for Stretcher Vans

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/templates/stretcher-inspection-checklist/ · Updated 2026-10-02

A stretcher inspection checklist is the check a stretcher van crew runs on the cot, its straps, and its mount before the first stretcher ride of each shift. Test the wheels, locks, legs, rails, every strap and buckle, the mount latch, and the oxygen bracket. Change linens and disinfect after every rider, run the maker's periodic checks, and search FDA recalls.

- Check the cot, every strap, and the mount before the first stretcher ride of each shift, and both crew members confirm the lock before each trip.
- Change the linens after every rider and disinfect contaminated surfaces before the next one gets on, as Virginia requires.
- A wheeled stretcher is an FDA Class II medical device, and Virginia and New York tie its use and upkeep to the maker's standards and instructions.
- Search the FDA recall database for product code FPO, the code for wheeled stretchers, every month.
- A failed strap, latch, lock, or mount takes the stretcher out of service until it is repaired and signed off.

A stretcher van's daily walk-around gives the stretcher one line. This form checks the stretcher itself, its straps, its mount in the van, and the patient compartment around it, before the first stretcher ride of each shift, after each rider, and every month or on the maker's shorter schedule.

Your state and your brokers set the stretcher van rules, and [stretcher van requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/stretcher-van-requirements/) lines them up state by state. Most of those rules ask for a wheeled stretcher locked to a crash-stable mount, rider straps, and inspections once or twice a year, so this form names the rule behind each check instead of repeating that guide.

## How to use this template

1. **Fill in Part 1 once per stretcher.** Copy the model, serial number, rated capacity, and the service interval from the maker's manual. Write the mount's maker and model, and keep its install and crash test papers in the van file.
2. **Do Parts 2 to 4 before the first stretcher ride of each shift.** Do them in the van, with the cot locked in the mount, in good light. The driver and the attendant check together, and each initials the form.
3. **Fill one line of Part 5 for every rider.** Before you move, both crew members confirm every strap is fastened and the cot is locked in its mount. Virginia requires exactly that check from the driver and the assistant, as of its May 26, 2026 requirements.
4. **Check the rider's weight against the cot's rating.** Virginia requires vehicles to be run within the maker's safe operating standards at all times (May 26, 2026). MTM Health's Virginia manifests list each rider's weight, including mobility devices or medical equipment (handbook approved August 10, 2026). If the rider is over the rating, call dispatch before you load. See [bariatric transportation](https://nemtguide.com/guides/bariatric-transportation/).
5. **Clean between riders.** Change the linens and disinfect every surface the rider touched before the next rider gets on. Use the [vehicle cleaning checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-cleaning-checklist/) for blood, vomit, and other spills.
6. **Do Part 6 once a month, or more often if the maker's manual says so.** Write the manual's own steps into the blank lines, and search the FDA recall database while you are at it.
7. **Stop on any failed check.** Take the stretcher out of service, tag it, and fill in Part 7. A stretcher with a bad lock, strap, or mount carries no rider.
8. **File the form with the van's daily inspection.** This form does not replace the [vehicle inspection checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-inspection-checklist/), which covers brakes, tires, lights, and safety gear, and lists how long to keep each record.

## The template

### Part 1: Stretcher and mount details

| Field | Write the entry here in pen |
|---|---|
| Van or fleet number | |
| Stretcher maker and model | |
| Stretcher serial number | |
| Cot length and width at the metal frame (inches) | |
| Manual or powered cot | |
| Rated weight capacity (from the cot's label or manual) | |
| Maker's periodic check interval (for example, monthly) | |
| Maker's service visit interval and next due date | |
| Maker's stated service life and the date it ends | |
| Mount maker, model, and type (side, center, or powered) | |
| Mount install date and installer | |
| Mount crash or pull test paperwork on file (yes or no) | |
| Oxygen bracket maker and model, one per cylinder | |
| Scoop, Reeves, or stair chair carried (type and serial) | |

### Part 2: Stretcher check (before the first stretcher ride of each shift)

| Item | What to check | OK | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | No cracks, bends, or broken welds. No loose or missing bolts or pins. | | |
| Wheels and casters | Roll and swivel freely, no flat spots, nothing wrapped around the axles | | |
| Wheel locks | Each lock holds the cot still on the van floor and on pavement | | |
| Legs and height | Raise and lower through every position, lock at each one, release handles spring back | | |
| Loading wheels and safety hook | Front loading wheels turn, the safety hook or bar catches | | |
| Head section and foot section | Backrest raises, lowers, and locks. Foot section locks. | | |
| Side rails | Raise, lower, and lock in the up position on both sides | | |
| Mattress | At least 3 inches thick, cover not torn, cracked, or taped, so it can be disinfected | | |
| Body straps | Three across the chest, hips, and knees, plus shoulder straps at the head end. Webbing not frayed, cut, burned, or stiff. | | |
| Buckles | Every buckle latches with a click and releases with one hand | | |
| Oxygen bracket | Mounted solid, quick release works, one bracket for each cylinder you carry | | |
| IV pole, if your cot has one | Folded and locked in its holder | | |
| Battery, if the cot or mount is powered | Charged, charger works, no warning light | | |
| Labels | Capacity and warning labels readable | | |

### Part 3: Mount, floor, and loading (before the first stretcher ride of each shift)

| Item | What to check | OK | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount bolts | Tight, with no gap under a bolt head, shiny wear marks, rust streaks, or metal shavings around them | | |
| Mount latch | Cot locks in with a click. Lift and push the locked cot: it does not move. Quick release opens. | | |
| Head-end hook or post | Engages the cot and is not bent or loose | | |
| Floor | Flat, non-skid, clean, with no tripping hazard where the cot rolls | | |
| Hardware near the door | Any track or fitting that trips when the cot is out is painted a bright color | | |
| Loading light | Lights the ground around the loading door | | |
| Loading door | Opens fully, stays open, and latches closed | | |
| Lift or ramp, if used for the cot | Passes the [wheelchair lift inspection log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/wheelchair-lift-inspection-log/) check | | |
| Attendant seat and belt | Belt latches and releases. The attendant can see the rider's face from the seat. | | |
| Loose equipment | Every bag, tank, and chair stowed or strapped so nothing flies in a crash | | |
| Two-way communication | Phone or radio charged, reaches dispatch | | |

### Part 4: Linens and supplies on board (before the first stretcher ride of each shift)

| Item | What to check | OK | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean sheets and pillowcases, or disposable ones | Enough for every stretcher rider on today's schedule | | |
| Pillows and blankets | At least two of each, clean and intact | | |
| CPR mask with a safety valve | Sealed, in reach of the attendant | | |
| Disposable gloves | Full box | | |
| Red biohazard bags | On board, with a closed container for used linens | | |
| Waterless hand cleaner | On board | | |
| Disinfectant and wipes | On board and not expired | | |
| Spill kit | Absorbent, gloves, waste bags, brush, disinfectant, deodorizer | | |
| Fire extinguisher (5-pound ABC) and flashlight | Charged gauge, flashlight works | | |
| Scoop, Reeves, or stair chair | On board when a rider on today's schedule needs one | | |

### Part 5: Every rider (one line per trip)

| Trip number | Rider weight within the cot's rating (yes or no) | All straps fastened, both crew checked | Cot locked in mount, both crew checked | Linens changed after drop-off | Mattress, straps, and rails disinfected | Crew initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |

### Part 6: Monthly check (or the maker's interval, if shorter)

| Item | What to check | Done (date and initials) |
|---|---|---|
| Maker's periodic checks | Every step the manual lists (write the manual's section here) | |
| Every bolt on the cot and mount | Hand-check each one. Look for gaps, wear marks, rust streaks, or metal shavings. | |
| Lubrication | Points and product the manual names | |
| Hydraulics or motor | No leaks, holds its height, runs smoothly through every position | |
| Wheels, bearings, and wheel locks | No wobble, locks still bite | |
| Straps and buckles | Replace any strap that is frayed or cannot be cleaned, and any cracked buckle | |
| Mattress | Replace a cracked cover or flattened foam | |
| Oxygen bracket and IV pole | Bolts tight, latches work | |
| FDA recall search | Searched product code FPO. Write the date and any recall that matches your model or serial number. | |
| Service visit | Next date set with a maker-trained technician, on the maker's interval | |

### Part 7: Out of service and repair record

| Field | Write the entry here in pen |
|---|---|
| Date and time removed from service | |
| What failed (describe it) | |
| Removed by (name) | |
| Dispatch told (time and name) | |
| Maker's service line called (date and case number) | |
| FDA MedWatch report filed (yes or no, date) | |
| Repair made (what, by whom, date) | |
| Repair checked and stretcher returned to service by (name, signature, date) | |

### Part 8: Sign-off

| Field | Driver | Attendant |
|---|---|---|
| Printed name | | |
| Date | | |
| Signature | | |

## The rule behind each check

No one rule covers every item here. This table shows where six states with written stretcher van rules require each item, as of October 2026. Compare it with your own state's rules and each broker contract, and add anything they ask for.

| Item | Where it is required |
|---|---|
| Follow the maker's instructions and maintenance standards | Virginia (vehicles and all components meet the maker's maintenance standards); New York (cot, straps, and retention device used strictly as the maker directs); Minnesota (vehicles kept on the maker's schedule) |
| Wheeled stretcher at least 75 by 22 inches | Illinois; Virginia (two cot styles taken from federal specification KKK-A-1822E) |
| Mattress at least 3 inches thick with a non-porous cover | Virginia |
| Rider straps on the cot | Illinois (three sets plus over-shoulder straps); Virginia (chest, hip, and knee, plus upper torso restraints); Minnesota (shoulder harnesses, through the state's ambulance equipment law); California (upper and lower straps) |
| Straps at least 2 inches wide with metal-to-metal quick release buckles | Virginia |
| The maker's own straps | New York |
| A mount that holds the cot in a crash | Illinois (crash-stable quick-release three-point fastener); Virginia (crash-stable side or center mount with a quick-release latch, 2,200-pound pull test under AMD Standard 004); California (holds the gurney if the van overturns) |
| Mount made by the cot's maker | New York |
| Both crew confirm straps and mount before moving | Virginia |
| Rider strapped in while loaded, unloaded, and moved | California |
| Rider and cot both secured | Wisconsin |
| One bracket for each oxygen cylinder | Illinois (crash-stable, quick release); Virginia (self-administered oxygen secured to AMD Standard 003); New York (tanks secured) |
| No IV in use, so the IV pole stays folded | Virginia (no rider with an IV line or saline lock in place); Illinois (no IV fluids during transport) |
| Bright finish on hardware that trips when the cot is out | Virginia |
| Flat, non-skid floor and surfaces that can be sanitized | Illinois |
| Loading light | Illinois |
| Attendant seat in the patient compartment, rider in view | California (attendant seat); Virginia and New York (assistant seated in back while moving); Illinois (direct observation) |
| Everything stowed so it is crash safe | Illinois; Wisconsin (secure storage to prevent projectile injuries) |
| Two-way communication | Illinois; Minnesota (hands-free if a phone) |
| Two pillows, sheets, and blankets, a CPR mask, red biohazard bags, and gloves | Illinois |
| Clean linens changed after each use, and blankets, pillows, and mattresses kept intact and clean | Virginia |
| Waterless hand cleaner, cleaning supplies, and red or orange bags for regulated waste | Virginia |
| Contaminated surfaces cleaned and disinfected before the next rider | Virginia (by a CDC-recommended method) |
| 5-pound ABC fire extinguisher and a flashlight | Illinois |
| Scoop, Reeves, or stair chair when a rider needs one | Virginia |
| Daily check of the stretcher securement device | Minnesota |

For what each course should teach your crews about these parts, see NEMT stretcher training. For what a stretcher van is and who rides in one, see [stretcher van](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/stretcher-van/).

## How often stretcher vans are inspected, by state

Your own checks run every shift. State and broker inspections come on top of them, on these schedules:

| State | How often | Who inspects, and the rule |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Daily, plus at least once a year | Provider's daily check, including stretcher securement (8840.5950). MnDOT inspects yearly, with or without notice (8840.5700). |
| Wisconsin | At least every 7 days | Assigned driver or mechanic, written down, covering restraint systems (DHS 105.39) |
| Virginia | Before first use, then twice a year | The fee-for-service broker, which places a pass, provisional, or fail sticker (DMAS, May 26, 2026) |
| New York | Twice a year | NYSDOT inspects ambulette vehicles (policy manual effective August 25, 2023) |
| Illinois | Every year | The Department of Public Health. No added van goes into service before it is inspected (515.835, amended November 1, 2024). |
| California | Every year | Brake and light certificate from Consumer Affairs, sent to Medi-Cal within 45 days of renewal (22 CCR 51231.1) |

Fixes come before riders. Minnesota requires a defect that might interfere with safe operation to be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service. Wisconsin requires every deficiency corrected before any rider is carried, documented by the driver, and the records kept at least 12 months. Virginia's broker can pull a van from service until the problem is fixed.

Brokers also count securement problems against you. MTM Health's Virginia handbook (approved August 10, 2026) gives 2 points for each substantiated complaint about a stretcher or wheelchair securement issue, and it can add driver retraining, a new vehicle inspection, or loss of payment for the trip. Points stay on your record for a year, and 3 points suspend you from its trip marketplace until they come off.

## Why the maker's manual sets the schedule

Federal law treats a wheeled stretcher as a medical device. Under 21 CFR 880.6910, it is a platform on a wheeled frame built to move patients lying flat, and it may have side rails, supports for IV equipment, and patient straps. It is Class II, which puts it under FDA special controls. The maker's manual is where its checks, lubrication points, and service intervals live.

The state rules point back to the manual too. Virginia requires vehicles and all their components to meet state, federal, local, and maker's safety, operating, and maintenance standards, and to run within the maker's safe operating standards at all times. New York requires the cot, the maker's straps, and the retention device to be used strictly as the maker directs. Minnesota requires vehicles to be kept on the maker's recommended maintenance schedule or a better one. Log every service visit in your [vehicle maintenance log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-maintenance-log/).

### Check for recalls every month

The FDA's recall database lists wheeled stretcher recalls under product code FPO, which also covered a powered stretcher mount recalled in 2026. Search it each month and compare model and serial numbers. Recent class 2 recalls show what can fail:

- **Mount hardware.** In September 2025, a maker found that hardware on a cot's fastening post could loosen and let the post detach. It told owners to look for gaps, missing fasteners, shiny wear marks, rust streaks, or metal shavings around each fastener, and to remove any cot with loose or missing hardware from service until repaired.
- **Powered mounts.** In June 2026, a maker found that rollers in a powered fastening system could wear and deform until the rail jammed, so the stretcher could not move along it, powered or by hand.
- **Legs.** In May 2023, a maker found that a powered cot's base legs could bend, making the cot hard to lock into or release from its mount, load, raise, or lower.

## When a stretcher or mount fails

1. **Stop using it.** Tag the stretcher or the van "Out of service" and write the time in Part 7.
2. **Call dispatch.** Every stretcher trip on that van moves to another van, or back to the broker if you have no other stretcher van.
3. **Call the maker's service line.** Use a maker-trained technician for repairs on the cot and mount, and keep the work order.
4. **Report serious problems to the FDA.** Mandatory reports come from makers, importers, and device user facilities (21 CFR 803.1). User facilities are hospitals, surgery centers, nursing homes, and outpatient diagnostic and treatment facilities, a group that names ambulance providers (21 CFR 803.3). A stretcher van company is not named, so its report is voluntary, through MedWatch on Form FDA 3500. The FDA encourages voluntary reports of serious adverse events, use errors, and product quality problems. If your company also runs ambulances, it counts as one, and 21 CFR 803.30 gives you 10 work days to report a death a device may have caused to the FDA and the maker, and a serious injury to the maker.
5. **Fill in an incident report if a rider was on board.** Use the [incident report form](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-incident-report-form/), and tell the broker as its contract requires. MTM Health's Virginia handbook (approved August 10, 2026) puts a failure to report an incident or accident in its most serious level: 3 points and an immediate suspension of at least 5 days.
6. **Return it to service only after a signed check.** Write the repair, who made it, and who checked it, then run Parts 2 and 3 again before the next rider.

## Frequently asked questions

### How often should a stretcher be inspected?

Check the cot, straps, and mount before the first stretcher ride of every shift, and confirm the straps and lock before every trip. Run the maker's periodic checks on the interval its manual sets, and send it for service on the maker's schedule. On top of that, as of October 2026, Minnesota requires a daily vehicle inspection that includes stretcher securement, Wisconsin an inspection at least every 7 days, and Virginia's broker inspects stretcher vans twice a year.

### Who sets the maintenance schedule for a stretcher?

The maker does. A wheeled stretcher is a Class II medical device under 21 CFR 880.6910, and its manual sets the checks, lubrication, and service visits. Several states tie you to it. Virginia requires vehicles and all their parts to meet the maker's maintenance standards (May 26, 2026), and New York requires the cot, its straps, and its retention device to be used strictly as the maker directs.

### What do I do if the stretcher or mount fails the check?

Take the stretcher out of service, tag it, and tell dispatch so the day's stretcher trips can move to another van. Minnesota requires a defect that might affect safe operation to be fixed before the vehicle goes back into service, and Wisconsin requires deficiencies fixed before any rider is carried. Call the maker's service line, write the failure in Part 7, and report a serious problem to the FDA through MedWatch.

### How do I find out whether my stretcher has been recalled?

Search the FDA medical device recall database for product code FPO, which covers wheeled stretchers, and compare the model and serial numbers to your own. Recent class 2 recalls under that code covered loosening hardware on a cot's fastening post (September 2025), worn rollers that could jam a powered mount (June 2026), and base legs that could bend and make a cot hard to lock in (May 2023).

### Can I use a stretcher mount from a different maker than the cot?

Not in New York. Its Medicaid transportation manual (effective August 25, 2023) requires the cot retention device to be made by the same company as the stretcher. Virginia requires a crash-stable side or center mount with a quick-release latch, tested to a 2,200-pound pull under AMD Standard 004. Buy the cot and mount as a matched set and keep the test paperwork in Part 1.

### Does this checklist replace the daily vehicle inspection?

No. It covers the stretcher, its mount, and the patient compartment. The van itself still needs its walk-around for brakes, tires, lights, and safety gear. Minnesota's daily inspection list includes both the vehicle items and the stretcher securement device, so fill in both forms each day you carry a stretcher rider.

## Official resources

- [FDA: Medical device recall database (search product code FPO)](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRES/res.cfm)
- [FDA: MedWatch voluntary reporting (Form FDA 3500)](https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program/reporting-serious-problems-fda)
- [Virginia DMAS: NEMT Driver, Attendant, and Vehicle Requirements (stretcher van pages)](https://www.dmas.virginia.gov/media/1sdhbgj4/dmas-nemt-driver-attendant-and-vehicle-requirements-05-26-2026.pdf)
- [Illinois: 77 Ill. Adm. Code 515.840 (stretcher van equipment)](https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/077005150F08400R.html)
- [Minnesota Rules 8840.5950 (daily inspection, including stretcher securement)](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/8840.5950/)