The Automotive Blog

IRU’s Guidance to Prevent Transport Fuel Theft

TP Anti-Syph, Fuel Theft Device

Crash Camera

aide automotive are now an official distributor of the Smart Witness Camera product range.

In a recent press release the effectiveness of a camera is explained below.

When two cars collided in a city centre resulting in a £5,000 insurance claim being easily settled.

A silver Skoda Fabia drives straight into a Volkswagen Tiguan – shunting it 90 degrees to the side at a junction in Glasgow.

Police arrived at the accident scene and when told about the SmartWitness in-car camera requested that a copy of the video recording be produced as evidence.

When they saw the vehicle CCTV they used it as evidence to prove the Skoda driver was at-fault.

The Skoda driver, a Russian national who was fully insured, was subsequently prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.

John Brown, a former IT business analyst, was thankful he had invested in the On Board Camera – and had irrefutable proof of who was to blame.

He said: “Obviously I knew that I had done nothing wrong but it was good to view the footage later and see that I had been driving responsibly, within the speed limit and could be seen clearly going through a green light.”

“The other driver hit me at between 20mph and 25mph miles an hour. It was a quite a big impact because my VW was shunted around by 90-degrees.”

The damage to John’s car was extensive and cost an estimated £5,000 to repair.

The wheel arch, sill and a rear door were badly damaged and one of the tyres needed to be replaced.

There was further damage to the rear suspension and tracking, taking the car was off the road for four weeks.

He said: “I was driving up Hope Street in central Glasgow, one of the main routes through the city centre. I went through a green light where Hope Street meets Cowcaddens Road (a T-junction) when the Skoda came from nowhere and crashed straight into me.

“Thankfully the other driver was co-operative and admitted at the scene that he had been at fault.

“A taxi driver following the Skoda saw what had happened and agreed to be a witness.

“Nevertheless, the police were called and when I told them I had a Incident Camera they immediately requested a copy of the footage so that it could be added as evidence to the charges they would be bringing against the other driver.

“A few days later, when they reviewed the footage they said it was clearly proof of careless driving.”

Brown said that he was relieved he had invested in the SmartWitness camera.

He said: “The footage caught on the camera was excellent. The images were clear and showed exactly who was to blame.”

“It gives you real peace of mind as a motorist to know it is there and if there is an accident you will have clear proof of exactly what happened.”

“Ironically, accident cameras are very popular in Russia where the other driver was from. I can see them becoming increasingly popular here, too, after my experience.”

Crash cameras have been used by hauliers and fleet managers to cut insurance premiums and guard against bogus insurance claims.

Tristar Worldwide, a chauffeuring company based in Middlesex, saved £60,000 a year on its insurance after fitting SmartWitness cameras in its 460-strong fleet.

Matthew Burke commented “admitting liability isn’t usually a common aspect at a road collision, but that doesn’t matter when you have a camera.”

“Motorists will often try to blame the other driver even when they are at fault, and if there are no witness to the accident you never end up with a satisfactory solution.

“It’s why more motorists are investing in vehicle cameras – it removes all the worry and doubt in the event of an accident.

“Insurance is so expensive and even minor claims can add thousands to motorists’ premiums.”

 

In Cab Driver Recorder

Trailer Pallet Truck

Lee Lock Secures A Load As VOSA makes load security a top issue! Load security is one of the top issues when Paul Walker, VOSA’s Industry Liaison Manager, talks to Operators and Drivers across the country.

Paul says: ”During my meetings with the road haulage sector I am often asked about load safety. I always underline the importance of the driver walk around check to ensure that the load is safe and secure. If there are any doubts, you should not drive the vehicle until you are satisfied that it is safe.” “We want hauliers to go safely about their business without interruption. But if you are stopped by VOSA enforcement officers and there are concerns about load security then we will take robust action.” “Unsafe loads are a risk to all road users, so I would strongly urge operators and drivers to make time for the driver walk around check.” Make sure your load is safe All drivers of goods carrying commercial vehicles have a legal responsibility to ensure the load is secure to the vehicle. As part of the driver daily walk round check the load security should be checked as a matter of course. Even when a driver collects a pre-loaded vehicle they are responsible for making sure the load is secure. Ask yourself if: · the load can slide or topple forward or back? · the load can slide or topple off the side? · the load is unstable? · the load securing equipment is in good condition? · there is anything loose that might fall off the load or vehicle? · the load security or stability presents an immediate risk of injury? If the answer to any of these questions is yes or you have any doubt, then reconsider the securing of the load to the vehicle. These are the type of questions VOSA enforcement officers will ask themselves when assessing the load security of your vehicle. So for those that carry a Pallet Truck the need to secure it professionally has never been more prevalent.

Pallet Truck Lock 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 there’s no chance of moving or falling from a trailer.

aide automotive have seen more an more companies review the Lock in the last few months, with the ideal time to fit the lock at a trailer build many companies use a body builder to add the Pallet Truck Lock to a trailer or rigid truck. You can read more by clicking on Pallet Truck Lock.

Lee Lock secures Pallets whilst in transit

Transport Operator’s annual Brake Testing feature in Truck & Bus Product Focus went out on 6th Of March this year.

With three Brake Testing Product adverts added by aide automotive, the email focus is am ideal marketing platform for transport related products.

Truck & Bus Product Focus is live and online for a full 12 months. Now having an 11,500 email database compared to 7,500 when we launched. Truck & Bus Product Focus is achieving an average open rate of 22.3%. The average for business to business is 5%-15%.
Our average click thru rate to company websites is 107 clicks per entry, which again is above average for business to business.

aide automotive advertised the BrakeCheck portable brake tester, approved by VOSA for many vehicles; in the commercial sector VOSA accept BrakeCheck for testing all commercial type vehicles on every inspection.

Also advertised under the focus as the EBS/ABS Sensor Master. Easy truck & trailer brake faults repaired with this excellent cost effective tester.

Finally Trailer Brake Testing using the TrailerCheck product range, testing of the ABS or EBS CAN Lines of a trailer.

You can see the Product Focus by clicking on Brake Testers.

Contact aide automotive to review and price any of our brake testing products.

Brake Tester Using Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

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.