FLC OF AN LTT ACR TURBOPROP RETURNED TO LAND AFTER NOTICING THAT THEY HAD INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO COMPLETE THEIR PROPOSED TRIP. THE FO FAILED TO CHK TOTAL FUEL QUANTITY ITEM ON THE BEFORE ENG STARTING CHKLIST PROC DURING PREFLT WITH THE CAPT OUT OF THE COCKPIT DOING OTHER COMPANY TASKS.

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DEPARTED RDU AT XX40 LCL BOUND FOR BNA. AT APPROX 5000 FT I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGES SHOWED A TOTAL OF 1300 LBS (RELEASE FUEL WAS 1900 LBS; TOTAL FUEL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 2000 LBS). I RETURNED TO RDU FOR ADDITIONAL FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: AT PRESENT; OUR PROC IS TO HAVE 1 PLT DEAL WITH PAX LOADING; BRIEFING AND MANIFEST COMPLETION WHILE THE OTHER PLT GETS THE CLRNC; COMPLETES THE BEFORE START CHKLIST; AND OFTEN TIMES STARTS THE #2 ENG. ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION; I WAS DOING THE MANIFEST; MY FO WAS DOING THE CHKLIST IN THE COCKPIT. WHEN I GOT INTO THE COCKPIT; THE #2 ENG WAS STARTED AND I CALLED FOR THE SINGLE ENG AFTER START CHKLIST (WE OFTEN TAXI SINGLE ENG). THE CHKLIST THAT DEALS WITH CHKING THE FUEL QUANTITY IS THE BEFORE START CHKLIST WHICH WAS COMPLETED BY MY FO. IT IS ALWAYS THE CAPT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE FLT; HOWEVER THE CHKING OF THE FUEL CAN BE OVERLOOKED IF THE CAPT DID NOT PERSONALLY ACCOMPLISH THE CHKLIST. TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE; I HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT WE CONDUCT THE 'BEFORE START' CHKLIST WHEN BOTH PLTS ARE IN THE COCKPIT; IN A COMMAND RESPONSE FASHION.