The Automotive Blog

Trailer Management Using VOR Trailer Locks

Europa Logistics Order Trailer Air Coil Red Line Locks from aide automotive

Europa Worldwide Logistics is one of the largest privately owned Transport and Logistics companies in the United Kingdom, delivering cost-effective freight solutions since 1966.

With a strong presence in 100 countries across six continents, plus an unrivaled land service to the whole of Western and Eastern Europe. Employing over 400 people in the UK and operating over 475 scheduled departures per week, Europa delivers over 500,000 consignments a year across 30 European and Scandinavian countries.

When Europa Logistics required a system to prevent unauthorised trailer movement Craig Roberts scouted the world web and locating supplier aide automotive ltd.

Purchasing 6 Trailer Air Coil Locks from aide automotive Europa Logistics now can implement a system to keep trailer management for VOR or loading.

The Trailer Air Coil Trailer Lock is a simple to fit trailer movement deterrent made from stainless steel incorporating an integrated lock. The Trailer Air Coil lock unit provides a key protected barrier to prevent coupling and restrict unauthorised trailer movement.

Benefits
Prevents unauthorized trailer movements
Easy to apply and remove with key control
Robust stainless steel manufacture
Fits most standard trailer formats
Individual or keyed alike variations

Trailer VOR Locks provide both an easy visual with physical barrier indication against the movement of trailers particularly for yard management of the trailer fleet. Its ease to operate and install onto the trailer coupling provides a quick, clean method to protect VOR (vehicle off road) trailers from unauthorised movement particularly when maintenance issues are at stake. It also provides a very simple and cost effect deterrent against opportunistic theft.

Call 0115 8456471 Or Click on www.aideautomotive.com

VOR Trailer Lock – VOR Lock

Protect From Truck Fuel Theft

As Thieves Steal Fuel From Lorries Parked in Rotherham

Lorry drivers in South Yorkshire are being urged to be on their guard against thieves stealing fuel.

Diesel worth more than £1,000 was stolen from lorries parked at an industrial estate on Meadow Way, Swinton, Rotherham, while drivers slept overnight on Sunday into Monday.

Another lorry, parked at Kilnhurst Road, Rawmarsh, was also targeted between 6pm on Sunday and 3.25am on Monday.

Police said the driver of that lorry heard a noise at the back of his vehicle and climbed out of the cab to find a siphoning hose near the tank.

Protecting Truck Fuel Tanks can be as simple as fitting an Anti Siphon Device, anti siphon devices are simple to fit, taking no more than a few minutes, with no drilling or gluing to a fuel tank.

TP Anti Syph can be fitted to all types of tank: bayonet, screw type & bus /coach.

Truck Manufacturers include, Volvo, MAN, DAF, Iveco, Scania, Renault, Foden, Hino & Mercedes.

Also contact aide automotive to discuss Fuel Protection with Anti Siphon Devices or Tank Fuel Theft Alarms.

Click on Truck Diesel Theft to enquire via email.

Call 0115 8456471 to talk to aide automotive now!

TP Anti Syphon Devices fits into the neck of a bus and coaches with clip caps and to coaches with the standard bayonet cap.

With fuel theft a growing problem, many bus and coach operators are now taking pro-active steps to prevent them from becoming victims of a crime that is already costing millions of pounds a year.

Following a speight of fuel siphon thefts over Christmas and New year Moffat & Willamson a company with 65 years experience in the coaching industry decided to protect against fuel theft by fitting anti siphons.

Moffat & Williamson Limited was formed by the amalgamation of James Moffat & Sons of Cardenden and Williamsons of Gauldry.

The two companies, founded in 1945 joined forces in 1978 to operate from offices in Gauldry & Glenrothes in Fife.

Relatively easy to fit Anti Syphon Devices are a payback investment against stolen diesel fuel.

To review how Anti Fuel Theft Products like Anti Siphon Devices can help your business, contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471.

JM Carpentry in Nottinghamshire installed Dash Cams to all vans following a trial by the owner.

Dash Cams provides invaluable evidence when defending staged accidents or incidents involving third parties and significantly reduces the amount of management time required in investigating such events.

Mr Morris sated “We looked at options of reducing costs and vehicles were sounded out as being a sector we could save money, We decided to trial a incident camera to see if vehicle damage could be reduced. We found that vehicle damage by our drivers may well be reduced as well as third party claims, these issues can be concluded quickly for blame. Also as the business owner I kept hearing about corporate manslaughter, with this concerning me I believe Dash Cams integrated correctly can help owners like myself to conform. Thanks to aide automotive for advise, support and service!”

On Board recording cameras are becoming an essential tool in vehicle incident evidence for vehicle operating companies.

Ideal for all applications such as Truck & Bus/Coach operators, Law Enforcement, Hauliers, Taxi, Private Cars and much more.

To review how a Dash Cam can help your truck, Coach or Van fleet, contact aide automotive by clicking on “Dash Cam.”

How to Use A Decelerometer For Trailer Brake Tests

Trailer maintenance requires to be as professional as truck maintenance, Carrying out a inspection brake test on trailer doe not mean an expensive Roller Brake Test.

Research has concluded that using a product like BrakeCheck to test trailers brakes is beneficial but will not indicate a below par efficiency on a particular wheel or brake, although using an Infra Red Thermometer as well will increase your awareness of a faulty brake or a low efficiency brake.

VOSA’s Mark Pattison has stated “A decelerometer is not the ideal method to test the braking of a vehicle and trailer combination. However it is of some use. You are correct that the checking of individual wheels would not show up in a test result. The way to use a decelerometer is to first test the drawing vehicle on its own. Then connect the trailer and the deceleration rate should be similar i.e. the trailer is doing its fair share of work. This is not an exact science but would be enough to give you confidence the trailer brakes were working.”

This system is ideal for commercial operations to improve maintenance records for trailers and increase awareness of a trailers brake performance between the annual roller brake tests. Offering a print out of the combination tractor and trailer performance with brake temperatures will improve quality procedures and health & safety paper work. It is often said in today’s age paper work to protect directors and managers from the corporate manslaughter or health and safety law is essential.
aide automotive have designed an inspection sheet for trailers using the BrakeCheck and thermometer, if you require a copy email info@aideautomotive.com with subject heading Trailer Inspection Sheet.

aide automotive also recommend to test the pressure on brake chambers, this will increase your past rate for trailer parking brakes.

To discuss trailer brake testing further call aide automotive on 0115 8456471.

Brake Testing In Ireland

Irish Sales Of BrakeCheck Soar As Truck Inspections Brake Tests

Ireland Brake Tester Sales Soar!!

Since 2011 Irish Operators have been advised to carry out regular brake testing when inspecting a commercial vehicle.

Now two years on we have seen the word passed round and with a high amount of interest we supplied over 20 BrakeCheck Printer Kits to Ireland in December 2013.

BrakeCheck has been proven to be an excellent inspection sheet brake tester for all commercial vehicles with over 11000 testers sold since 2002. With many commercial operators and repairers using the BrakeCheck to conduct a VOSA accepted brake test on every inspection, BrakeCheck is the number 1 decelerometer on the market today!

Richard Lee Compliant and Enforcement Manager of the DOE in Northern Ireland has recently accepted the use of a decelerometer for heavy goods inspection sheet brake testing. Richard states “I can confirm that a decelerometer may be adequate for checking brake efficiency on some vehicles especially if it is linked to a printer and a record of the brake test can be recorded. This would be consistent with our Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness which has a section (5) detailing safety inspection and repair facilities.”

The DOE are now advising commercial vehicle operators, commercial repairers and in house workshops to complete regular inspection sheet brake test, The BrakeCheck is the tester! BrakeCheck will conduct a Service, Secondary & parking brake test with ease and store in its memory for later printing via PC or portable printer.

Simple and quick to use review this product further at www.brake-tester.co.uk

Brake Tester

Unstuck Is Revolutionary Product To Free Vehicles From Snow Or Ice Stucks

Unstuck®   – Keep Your Vehicle Moving This Winter!

aide automotive are pleased to release a new product in the UK.

Unstuck®    is a compound of materials to help a vehicle quickly removed from a Stuck snow or ice situation.

When a vehicle gets STUCK by ice or snow, the impact begins, the cost to the fleet operator can run into hundreds of pounds in lost hours, late delivery fines and if a tow truck is called, a call out charge can be in the region of £300!

So between the logistics time lost, delivery fines, and the check written to the towing company, a Vehicle STUCK could run into hundreds of pounds!

K winters have shown a change in recent years with prolonged periods of minus temperatures and sporadic snowfalls.

A recent Daily Express article reported.The 2013/14 UK winter is reported to be record breaking! Forecasters are warning the entire country is set for a horror freeze which will bring brutal winds and fierce blizzards.

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said: ‘We are looking at a potentially paralysing winter, the worst for decades, which could at times grind the nation to a halt.”

So be prepared with Unstuck!!!

UnStuck is designed from the ground up for increased traction than traditional sand, salt or grit will offer. UnStuck is able to work in temperatures as low as -60 to a positive 32 degress.

UnStuck is environmentally friendly and will actually reverse the decades of acidity that has been inflicted on the environment.

For the low cost of a bag of UnStuck each truck should be equipped and ready for the winter!

With limited stock available for the 2013/14 winter, contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 or email shoponline@aideautomotive.com to enquire.

Read More by clicking on UnStuck CV.

Unstuck Truck Quick Release From Snow & Ice

Incident Camera Footage Of Bike Collision

Truck Camera Footage Shows The Importance of On Board Cameras

aide automotive market On Board Incident Cameras for commercial vehicles.

On Board recording cameras are becoming an essential tool in vehicle incident evidence for vehicle operating companies.

Recent footage from an In Cab Camera filmed through the windscreen of a truck you see an apparently quiet country lane. Then a motorbike travelling in the opposite direction comes around the corner ahead and drifts into the path of the HGV.

The biker, who survived with just a broken shoulder, swore blind that the truck was on the wrong side of the road and speeding. The lorry driver denied both. Backing that up, he had the camera that took the footage in his cab, The biker’s claims were instantly discounted.

If you’re the victim of an insurance scam, a Incident Camera will show it. The latest ‘flash for cash’ trick in which drivers invite you to proceed when it’s their right of way before crashing into you and claiming it was your fault is one example. Another is where drivers tamper with their brake lights so you can’t see when they’re stopping and collide with them. Again, a On Board Camera system will reveal the crime.

Contact aide automotive to review camera options for your truck fleet. Call 0115 8456471 or click on Incident Camera.

Dashboard Camera "Seeing is Believing"

Load Security Purge By Vosa

Vosa Pays Greater Attenetion To Truck Loading and Securing

VOSA & the Health & Safety Executive are pressing hard to prevent trailer unsecured loads. Although most operators think of the goods within the trailer, the Pallet Truck could be classed as an Unsecured Load.

Here at aide automotive ltd we have a simple lock for the pallet truck that will stop goods and curtain damage from a runaway pallet truck!

Also with VOSA & the HSE fining drivers and operators for unsecured loads the Lee Lock will cover the pallet truck’s security.

Lee Lock is designed to lock the pallet truck in place at all times, hence reducing any chance of the truck slamming into other pallets, slashing the curtain side and as the pallet truck slots into the lock, also there’s no chance of any back injury from lifting as a common practice is to lift a truck into a tyre.

Lee Lock has been installed in the Heygates Ltd ‘s trailer fleet, Stuart Lobley commented “With today’s high standards of road safety we have installed the Lock for a few years now, a simple but effective product.”

Richard Cannon of Abacus Transport Ltd Said “With the Lee Lock in place I have peace of mind that if stopped by VOSA we will be compliant, as we are a hazardous product transporter safety is our priority.”

The Pallet Truck Lock – Lee Lock can easily be retro fitted to any trailer, the T Bar Lee Lock Handle is used to secure the Pallet Truck under the floor mounted plates.

Click on Pallet Truck Lock to enquire about prices!

Pallet Truck Lock