The Automotive Blog

Kuehne and Nagel Ltd who recently purchased the product said “The product showed an increase in MPG and any air loss in the tyre,  we had a slow puncture on one of the tyres and the product highlighted this which saved us a breakdown / callout. Overall the product does what it says on the label “AirAlert”.

Waitrose have also seen the benefits of this simple and effective device and have purchased 1,000 Air Alerts to use across it’s fleet of vehicles.

To find out more about Air Alert follow Tyre Pressure Monitoring and get all the facts and product information

As britain is going through The Big Freeze maintaining vehicles becomes more important  to ensure that everything is working correctly. Employers don’t need stranded vehicles in cold wintery conditions because of issues such as flat batteries. Similarly in winter weather it’s vital to ensure that their vehicles are in top condition, regularly checking the condition of brakes and tyres can prevent accidents in icy conditions. There are a numberof  products on the market that assist through the winter.

If a company driver is stranded because the battery will not start the vehicle or simply batteries need charging to avoid them not working Check out these links to help fix battery issues

• SOS Battery Booster restores Flat Batteries starting a battery from cold or dead.
• Midtronics Battery Tester confirms a vehicle’s battery efficiency.
• Battery Charging prolongs the life of a battery by keeping it fully charged at all times

To ensure your workforce are driving a safe vehicle in wintery conditions, tyres and brakes should be legal.

• Brake Testing with BrakeCheck the brake tester for commercial vehicles .
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring to ensure your tyres are the correct vehicle PSI

Company bosses and owners need to give careful consideration to the corporate manslaughter bid. Companies should ensure they are collating evidence to demonstrate they are doing everything necessary to monitor health and safety standards. This Evidence is needed to  demonstrate driving standards are monitored and RTA’s (road traffic accidents) are reported for claims and data needed in courts.

The X-Driven Driving Recording System is a hand held portable camera system for any vehicle which acts as a witness for crime, theft or third party RTA’s. This device records will the time and location of any incident, displays video footage of the view through the windscreen and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

The X-Driven has two great uses it acts as a recorded witness in insurance claims, and is also the ideal method for observing the driving standard of fleet drivers.

I just purchased this excellent product from aide automotive, I’m so impressed with the information it provides me that I intend to purchase one for each of my entire fleet! Dave Webber, Webber Transport

Follow this link for full product details In Cab CCTV device

We purchased from aide automotive after several incidents of mis fueling, for the cost of one of these incidents we have been able to fit diesel keys to our entire Mercedes fleet meaning we never have an issue again! The teams response to me was brilliant answering all my questions and supplying a really simple and effective product!” Dan Pardoe Group Purchasing Manager, Joedan Holdings Group

However for those companies that purchase anti-fuel theft devices for their vehicles this shouldn’t be an issue.

We offer a range of fuel theft devices that cover a range of different vehicles. Just click fuel theft devices and check out our product pages to see which is the relevant one for you.

These high quality devices prevent the theft of fuel from vehicles potentially saving companies thousands of pounds in stolen fuel, the cost of refilling vehicles once it’s stolen and vehicle downtime while the problem is resolved.

aide automotive offers a range of anti-syphon devices.

A Grimbsby Haulier has been fined £2,000 for having illegal brakes on a vehicle after one of their lorries crashed into a vehicle and causing a fatality two years ago. The company had originally pleaded not guilty but a change in plea was lodged last year.

Faulty brakes can cause serious accidents if not checked on a regular basis. BrakeCheck is a battery powered device that can be used to test and report on vehicle braking efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA and MOT approved. In a situation like the above it will be easy to demonstrate from print outs that the brakes have been tested on a regular basis

Click BrakeCheck for full product details

aide automotive have seen an increase in sales on the ABS Tester for trucks and trailers in the last 2 months.

Commenting on this Matthew Burke said “A lot of operators do not have any truck diagnostic tools, so the ABS Tester is an ideal cost effective tool to clear ABS or EBS faults on trucks and trailers. This product is easy to use and is 100% universal with all sensors.”

To Read more about the ABS Tester click on the link.

• For Brake Testing try BrakeCheck the Brake Testing device for commercial vehicles
• For flat batteries use SOS Battery Booster. This product can start heavy plant engines up to 1500HP which have been stationary for long periods, in extreme weather conditions and without batteries.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring is simple to assess with PressurePro.

aide automotive would like to promote Roadtransports top 10 tips for commercial vehicle operators to avoid being stranded.

1. Use the Highways Agency and Met Office websites for primary reference and get regular feedback from any drivers already out in affected areas.

2. Transport managers should make alternative plans to get trucks moving, and if a truck is stranded keep customers informed of vehicle movements.

3. Make sure drivers are well armed with night-out stuff or at least have the basics: a torch, food and drink, and a mobile phone. A truck’s night-heater should ward off the cold but blankets are also important.

4. Get drivers to do a thorough check of their vehicle, checking all light bulbs, topping up washer fluid and de-icer/scraper and making sure tyres are properly inflated.

5. Truck drivers need to double their usual stopping distance from the vehicle in front; don’t be afraid to travel slower.

6. When you are trying to slow the truck down, employ the engine brake and/or retarder before the service brakes. This will slow the vehicle before applying the brakes. Most trucks will have ABS but that is no guarantee of stopping inside the usual stopping distance for a truck. Articulated truck drivers should avoid braking procedures on corners – a sure way to jack-knife.

7. Take your time. Keep to the main roads; they are more likely to have been gritted. On motorways and dual carriageways use the clearest lane and keep away from slush and ice.

8. Don’t use the cruise control – this is no time for efficient running. Keep the truck in high gear as it will slow the vehicle more quickly once you take your foot off the accelerator.

9. Concentrate. Avoid, if possible, poorly lit roads and shortcuts through country lanes. There is a greater risk of ice where the road changes elevation or is exposed to the elements, where it passes under a bridge, and where the sun is blocked out and the surface doesn’t melt.

10. Tune into the local radio station – its traffic updates will be more regular, comprehensive, and up to date compared with national radio.

aide automotive promote various products that could help with the tips above:

Air Alert is an excellent product to identify low tyre pressures.

Brake Light Check makes it easy for the driver to check his or hers lights.

Using BrakeCheck on a commercial vehicle inspection sheet will keep brakes working to the VOSA standard.

Two partners in 1-4-You Coaches of Burntwood, Staffordshire, have been jailed after the brakes failed on an elderly Bova Futura coach on Staxton Hill near Scarborough, causing it to hit a car, killing the car’s two occupants. Robert Ouhgton (53), who was driving the coach, was sentenced to five years and three months. His partner John Lote (61) was sentenced to three years. The accident happened in September 2008.

Oughton and Lote had both admitted manslaughter due to gross negligence at a previous hearing. Oughton also admitted causing death by dangerous driving.”

With reference to the outcome with 1-4-You coaches Matthew Burke of aide automotive says: “With latest corporate laws in the UK no business can afford to skip on maintenance or paper work.

aide automotive are always promoting good maintenance to bus and coach companies and with the BrakeCheck or EBS/ABS Sensor Tester these companies have affordable good test tools for brake testing and maintenance.

With regard to paper work aide automotive have simplified the system required for company owners and managers to advise employees and drivers what is required when driving on company business, Route Safe tells each driver daily to drive responsible and check the vehicle is road worthy.”

Go to aide automotive for full product details.