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Posts Tagged ‘braking efficiency’

Interpreting Truck / HGV Roller Brake Tests

June 28th, 2021 Comments off

Can this help !! ??
Interpreting HGV Roller Brake Tests !!!!!
Transport Engineer Feature on reading Roller Brake Tester Results

A vehicle’s roller brake test leads to an overall verdict – pass or fail – but that’s not the full story. John Challen examines the importance of looking at the results in detail.

Read more at the Transport Engineer here – https://lnkd.in/dziCUyV

If you would like to learn more about decelerometer brake testing and learning the results we can email you our user guides and explanation of results diagram, DM for a email.

aide automotive on 0115 8456471 or info@aideautomotive.com Our product range – HGV Brake Testers – Caliper Pot Tester – Trailer EBS Testers – HGV Truck Trailer EBS / ABS Sensor Tester – Truck /Trailer Diagnostic Tools – Midtronics Battery Testers – Anti Siphon Devices – ISOCheck – Trailer Locks – Auto Braking Reversing System – HGV Diesel Tank Alarms – Plus More

#trailers#logistics#transportation#trucking#freight#fleetmanagement#fleetmaintenance#freight#transportation#logistics#supplychain#Volvo

HGV Roller Brake Tester
Results from a Truck RBT Or Decelerometer – Understand them !!

Commercial Vehicle Brake Testing 2020

March 18th, 2020 Comments off

HGV Brake Testing Top Of TC’s Agenda For 2020


England’s Commercial Vehicle traffic commissioners report emphasising the importance of competent #brake #testing procedures for heavy vehicles.

Acknowledging that operators had been investing in roller brake testing, the TCs were pleased to note that this was improving brake performance at annual test.

“In 2017/18, there were almost 10,000 fewer failures for service brake performance at commercial vehicle annual tests than in 2013/14,” said the report.

“The biggest improvement we have seen is for trailers – in the same period, an extra 5,500 passed their brake performance test the first time.” However, while the TCs praised these “really encouraging” results, they insisted that there was “more to achieve” – not least because “brake failures are still dominating the top ten reasons for MOT failure”. There were 22,000 failures for service brake performance in 2017/18; and the TCs highlighted a range of commonly recurring issues relating to brake tests. One such issue was that of periodic maintenance inspection (PMI) brake checks being conducted on unladen vehicles and trailers with wheels locking at very low brake efforts; another was test printouts saying ‘pass’ where it was clear one or more brakes were not working properly. Operators and transport managers failing to understand the information on the printout was a further bugbear, as was the issue of technicians conducting brake tests failing to identify potential serious safety concerns. TCs also highlighted a general failure to grasp that the standards applied at PMIs should actually be higher than minimum annual test requirements.

Also, there are a great number of commercial workshops who are still of the misconception that all of the aforementioned brake tests have to be performed on a roller brake tester. This is not the case! The Traffic Commission has allowed the use of a DVSA-approved brake tester, like a decelerometer / BrakeCheck, for all non-MOT brake tests.

Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 or info@aideautomotive.com Our product range – HGV Brake Testers – Trailer Testers – EBS/ABS Sensor Tester – Diagnostic Tools – Midtronics Battery Testers – Anti Siphon Devices – ISOCheck – Trailer Locks – Auto Braking Reversing System – HGV Diesel Tank Alarms – Plus More

Truck Brake Tester

Portable Brake Testing Using a Bowmonk BrakeCheck

HGV Brake Testing Using A Decelerometer

December 5th, 2019 Comments off

HGV Brake Testing – As Per The DVSA

As you have purchased or are a user of a decelerometer, detailed below is the status of required testing of HGV’s as taken from the DVSA’s “Guide to maintaining roadworthiness” November 2018.

As within the industry we at aide automotive hear varied opinions of what is required when brake testing commercial vehicles, we have detailed the requirement as per the DVSA’s guidance.

No 1 – The current law could still be the fact that ONE annual MOT roller brake test (RBT) is the requirement.

No 2 – As the Health & Safety standards of the UK are of a high standard, duty of care laws could leave an operator open to the fact that high risk practices requires more testing.

No 3 – The DVSA’s “Guide To Maintaining Roadworthiness” should be used as the bench mark for all maintenance standards and be the minimum best practice.

So what does the Guide (For Brake Testing) say?

Safety inspection facilities
Facilities should include: • undercover accommodation for the largest vehicle in the fleet. This is required to ensure that safety checks can be conducted satisfactorily in all weathers (depending on fleet size the building may need room for more than one vehicle at a time) • tools and equipment appropriate to the size and nature of the fleet – access to brake test equipment (eg a roller brake tester, decelerometer)

As per the annual test, every safety inspection must assess the braking performance of the vehicle or trailer. It is STONGLY ADVISED that a calibrated roller brake tester (RBT) is used at each safety inspection to measure individual brake performance and overall braking efficiencies for the vehicle or trailer to the annual test standards. However, it is also acceptable to use an approved and calibrated decelerometer to measure overall brake efficiency values for vehicles without trailers.

Brake testing should be undertaken with the vehicle or trailer in a laden condition in order to achieve the most meaningful results; however, due to basic design limitations or restriction caused by the type of cargo normally carried, this is sometimes not possible

A printout of the brake efficiency test from either the RBT or decelerometer should be attached to the safety inspection record. If the brake test equipment cannot produce a printout, efficiency results must be recorded by the inspector on the safety inspection report. To help operators arrange a brake performance assessment with safety inspections, it is acceptable for a satisfactory brake performance assessment to be carried out within the same week of the planned safety inspection. Brake efficiency testing can be carried out by either an approved RBT or decelerometer test.

The conclusion! An O Licence operator should carry out a brake test on every inspection (to meet the DVSA guidance as above, although further detailed text does state “it is therefore normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout the year in addition to the annual MOT test), this can be achieved using an RBT or Decelerometer, the test should be printed out and attached to the safety inspection sheet. With regard to decelerometer tests, if the user decided to carry out the test laden, he/she should write on the printout as so: Laden / Un Laden.

If you are unsure about any of the above text or details, please do not hesitate to contact aide automotive.

Purchasing a Bowmonk BrakeCheck could not be any easier, just click on Purchase A BrakeCheck to review prices and buy!

Brake Efficiency Tester

Brake Tester Using Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

HGV Brake Testing, Why A Pass Is Not A Pass!

November 19th, 2019 No comments

Operators need to scrutinise and interpret the results of roller brake-testing, and not just rely on seeing the word ‘pass’ on the bottom line of the generated report.

That was a key message from the first of this year’s FTA Transport Manager conferences, which was held at the Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset.

Western area traffic commissioner Kevin Rooney provided the keynote address for the conference, and explained that roller brake testing had been used in the industry for at least 50 years, but was not the be-all and end-all of assessing brake condition.

While the annual test focussed on performance, he pointed out that the Construction & Use Regulations (C&U) which every vehicle had to conform to every day it was on the road were actually stricter. C&U stipulated that every part of the braking system had to be in “good and efficient order”.

“This means it must be to the manufacturer’s standard,” he said. ”A detailed brake test needs to cover every part of the system.

“But unladen testing is meaningless.” He showed the results for a Volvo tractor unit that had been tested unladen. It had passed the test in terms of service brake performance, but the brake on the second axle had locked up having generated only 650 kg of braking force, as there was insufficient weight on the wheels.

“This is not representative,” he said. “During heavy braking, most of the trailer weight will transfer to the tractor, so testing things empty is a waste of time.”

Reputable testers either use loading-beams to transfer force onto the vehicle to simulate a load, or used water-filled intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) or similar to create one.

“Roller testing an unladen vehicle nullifies the inspection,” he warned.

Later in the conference, Phil Lloyd, head of engineering and vehicle standards at FTA (pictured, right), added more detail.

“Operators take false comfort from the word ‘pass’ at the foot of a brake test report,” he said. “It’s a piece of evidence that says everything is alright when really it isn’t.”

Operators were normally required to put every vehicle and trailer through four equally-spaced brake tests, one of which could be the annual test, every 12 months.

“Annual tests and periodic maintenance inspections both have the same objective: making sure the vehicle is in safe, roadworthy condition.”

He warned operators that every line of the printed paper report generated by the brake test should be scrutinised, starting at the top.

“Look for the DTp number at the top of the report. This identifies the vehicle, its specified brake performance, and plated weight. Check it against the number on the vehicle’s plating certificate. If this number is wrong, then the report is worthless.”

It was necessary to understand how the brake tester worked if the results it generated were to be understood. Vehicles were tested one axle at a time, and each wheel was positioned in a pit which contained two driving rollers coated in a high grip material to drive the wheel, and a single sensing roller between and beneath them which sensed the wheel’s rotation.

The wheel was rotated by the driving rollers, with the tyre driving the sensing roller beneath. During the brake test itself, the brake is strongly applied to create resistance between the tyre and the driving rollers, and the sensing roller measures the amount of resistance being offered by the brake in kg force.

Overall brake efficiency is calculated by adding the braking force generated by each wheel and dividing the total by the weight of the vehicle (GVW for rigids, GTW for tractors and TAW for trailers). The resultant figure is then multiplied by 100 to give a percentage efficiency.

However, this calculation can only be meaningful if there is a reasonable force acting on the tested axle to maintain traction between tyres and driving rollers. Each axle should be loaded to between 50 and 65 per cent of its design weight, and the brake tester will measure this.

However, if the axle is not sufficiently laden, then grip will be lost and the wheel locked before maximum efficiency is recorded. The system will record a wheel lock as a pass, but the report will give no indication of the brakes’ actual efficiency.

Mr Lloyd cautions: “If you want a meaningless brake test, put the truck on the rollers unladen and bang the brakes on; if the brakes lock up, then you’ve passed!”

He pointed out other deficiencies with the brake test.

Drum ovality (or rotor run-out in the case of discs) was only tested on the front axle. The test rig picked up variations in braking effort as the wheels rotated slowly with the brakes only marginally applied.

Wheels were each tested individually, but the effort generated on each side of a single axle could show an imbalance of up to 30 per cent and still pass.

“There is a potential issue with steering control under braking at this point,” he said. “It should at least be an advisory.”

He urged operators to take advantage of the data generated by the electronic brake performance monitoring systems fitted on most new trailers.

“It gives an indication of brake performance in real-time and can also indicate braking problems with the towing vehicle,” he said.

More details are contained in the Brake Test Report, published by the FTA last month, and given to each delegate at the conference.

Brian Beacon, director of roller brake testing equipment specialist VL Test Systems (VLT), commented: “VLT always carry out full in-depth training when installing our brake testers, covering the full printout and explanations for each section.

“Our recommendation is that the vehicle/trailer is loaded to 65 per cent minimum for a meaningful test, and if it is not then a warning is shown on the screen and the printout stating ‘insufficient load on axle’.

“We are aware of items that could be improved but to gain DVSA approval for the equipment in automatic mode, we have to follow DVSA rules setting out the full test as it is at present, including the ‘locks rule’.”

He added: “All our brake testers also have different modes whereby the tester can carry out full checks on each wheel or axle including individual brake force, bind, ovality, imbalance etc – and even draw graphs to visually compare these figures.

aide automotive offer the simple tool of a Infra Red Gun for Truck & Trailer Brake Checks.

DVSA Guidance states The Use Of a Temperature Tool Is Good Practice For Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Routines. Extract From Guide to maintaining roadworthiness (11.2018) “The use of brake temperature measurement can improve the effectiveness of a road test and is an established method to assess if individual brakes are operational. Brake disc/drum temperature readings should be compared across an axle after a laden road test or by in-service monitoring, using a brake temperature sensor, which can be a simple handheld device or using a more sophisticated remote monitoring system. Brake temperature readings would need to be well above ambient temperature with relatively consistent readings taken for each brake across an axle. Brakes which are cold (ambient temperature) or showing an inconsistent reading from the brake on the opposite side on the same axle, should be investigated further.” Simple & Hand Held !

Buy A Temperature Gun From aide automotive For Just £15.95 + post & VAT! Buy Online https://bit.ly/33kRGAw

DVSA Brake Tests

HGV Brake Checks With A Temp Gun

DVSA Suggests More HGV Brake Tests ??

September 11th, 2019 Comments off

aide automotive explains why its portable Bowmonk BrakeCheck solution is a viable alternative to roller brake testers when carrying out a non-MOT brake test.
Regular brake tests are currently being requested by the DVSA on all commercial vehicles of 7.5 tonne and over, as part of an interim safety inspection. At the absolute minimum, the agency is asking for a quarterly voluntary brake test to be carried out in addition to the annual MOT test.

Fortunately, most commercial operators have taken heed of this request and are having their brakes checked more frequently, as it is a means of monitoring braking efficiency more closely. However, in some cases, it would appear that this frequency of testing is still not enough, as the level of deterioration is a cause for concern.

In most cases, the DVSA would prefer this test to be carried out as part of the six-weekly inspection. This would have thebenefit of highlighting a decrease in braking performance considerably sooner than those performed once every three months, and in doing so, afford more effective preventative maintenance opportunities.

Evidently, there are a great number of commercial workshops who are still of the misconception that all of the aforementioned brake tests have to be performed on a roller brake tester. This is not the case! The Traffic Commission has allowed the use of a DVSA-approved brake tester, like Bowmonk’s BrakeCheck, for all non-MOT brake tests.

Aside from the mandatory requirements, there is also the upsell opportunity. Workshops providing a brake overhaul service, where components are in need of replacement, can offer a ‘before and after’ brake test report; an opportunity to show their customers the level of efficiency achieved prior to and following any necessary repair work.

A user guide to BrakeCheck

Position the BrakeCheck unit on a level surface, such as the passenger side foot well. Switch the unit on by pressing and holding the ‘Menu’ button until ‘Sbr’ appears in the display.
Confirm Service Brake choice by pressing ‘Enter’.
When the unit is level enough to start the test, a symbol (pictured left) will be shown on the display. Once the symbol is displayed, press ‘Enter’.
The unit is now ready for the test. When the test area is clear, accelerate the vehicle to an appropriate test speed (e.g. 20 mph).
Once the vehicle is travelling at an appropriate test speed, check for traffic approaching from behind. If safe to do so, apply the footbrake as a controlled emergency stop, without skidding.
Once the vehicle has been brought to a complete stop, the unit will generate and display a braking efficiency value.
Once the Service Brake test is complete, change to Hand Brake mode by pressing the ‘Menu’ button (so that the hand brake test LED is illuminated). As before, confirm this choice by pressing ‘Enter’, which will take you to the levelling display. Press ‘Enter’ when the level indicator is shown.
As before, accelerate the vehicle to the test speed, this time applying the hand brake to stop the vehicle. Note: please check with your vehicle manufacturer if this type of procedure is acceptable.
Once the vehicle has come to a complete stop, the display will show the braking efficiency of the hand brake.
To view the service brake test report, press the ‘Menu’ button until the last test result and service brake test LEDs are illuminated. Then press ‘Enter’ to display the result, which can now be printed using the optional wireless printer.
With the BrakeCheck unit positioned approximately 2 to 3cm in front of the infra-red printer, switch on the printer and press the ‘Print’ button on the BrakeCheck to print the test result.
To view or print the hand brake test, carry out the same procedure, but use the ‘Menu’ button to illuminate the hand brake test and last test result LEDs.

Buy Online Bowmonk BrakeCheck Decelerometer

HGV Brake Tester

Buy Online Bowmonk BrakeCheck Decelerometer

HGV  / Commercial Vehicle Brake Testing 

September 3rd, 2019 Comments off

Although the DVSA states a preference for roller brake testers during safety inspections, it does allow the use of portable decelerometers. What are their advantages and limitations of using portable decelerometers?

Every safety inspection must assess the braking performance of a vehicle or trailer. It’s a key part of any maintenance regime and demonstrates that operators are running their fleets in a compliant manner and protecting other road users. The DVSA’s Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness states that using an approved and calibrated decelerometer is acceptable to measure overall brake efficiency values for vehicles as part of the yearly maintenance scheme.

We do hear that testers are “strongly advised” to use a calibrated roller brake tester (RBT) at each safety inspection to measure individual brake performance and overall braking efficiencies for the vehicle or trailer according to the annual test standards.

Why is this? And when should each type be used?

There are two main types of portable decelerometer: digital and mechanical. Both are straightforward to use, although care has to be taken: “To use a decelerometer, the vehicle must be driven on the road, or in a yard with enough space. This should be a good surface, which is suitable in wet or dry conditions, with little traffic.

As the guidance states the use of an RBT or calibrated decelerometer can be used, it is obvious to most that a roller brake tester is far better way of determining brake efficiency. Very true would be an educated response although a combination of Roller Brake Tests and regular decelerometers test is as good a record of brake tests as possibly can be offered.

So is a portable decelerometer vulnerable to mis-testing?, a DVSA spokesman explains: “Anecdotally, the DVSA is aware of potential risks due to user error, although the DVSA has no data on this. Also, roller brake testing provides a more consistent test, whereas decelerometer use may involve some environmental variations such as test speed, road surface, weather, or gradient of the road.”

Speaking about the restriction on using decelerometers with tractor-trailer combinations, the spokesman adds: “Assessing different parts of a tractor and trailer combination can be difficult with only a decelerometer. For this reason, rigid vehicles such as buses and non-articulated lorries are more acceptable uses of decelerometers.”

The DVSA spokesman says that manufacturers provide guidance on the use of decelerometers. Risk assessments need to be in place where decelerometers are being used for brake testing, and the tests must be carried out under controlled and safe conditions.

Another decelerometer supplier is Bowmonk. Its portable brake testing kit, BrakeCheck, is also approved by the DVSA. Bowmonk says RBTs are not more accurate, but are preferred for annual tests because they “provide a means of recording each individual brake performance, whereas a decelerometer records the overall braking performance”. He adds: ”DVSA allows all operators to use a BrakeCheck for all of their interim brake tests that form part of their scheduled safety inspections.”

Bowmonk’s equipment was approved because it was able to demonstrate that the readings of overall braking efficiency and percentage of braking imbalance recorded by the device were within a specified level of tolerance, compared to that of an RBT. “BrakeCheck records the rate of acceleration from vehicle rest to the point where the brakes are applied. At this point it detects the forces being shifted forward, and then records the rate of deceleration to the point where the vehicle comes to a complete stop. From this, BrakeCheck then calculates the stopping distance, test speed and ultimately the braking efficiency.”

Any competent vehicle technician can use a BrakeCheck decelerometer without training, although training can be offered.

Adds Dave Wood, DVSA enforcement policy manager: “Under controlled and limited situations, decelerometer testing still has a place. As electronic braking performance monitoring systems gain popularity, we would like to encourage operators to use such systems as part of their vehicle defect monitoring and maintenance regime.”

FIXED BRAKE TESTERS

DVSA says it strongly advises calibrated RBTs “because this is the method of brake testing used by the MOT and is supported by legislation“.

Steve Coles, head of MOT operations at the Retail Motor Industry Federation, confirms that an RBT measures a greater number of elements of brake performance than a decelerometer. He states: “Performance efficiency, binding, fluctuation, increase and reduction of brake effort can all be measured, whereas a decelerometer can only check efficiency and a very rudimentary check of imbalance, which is subjective rather than measured.”

One reason DVSA prefers RBTs is road safety: “Having vehicles conduct emergency stops on public roads using a decelerometer carries a certain risk to other road users that is alleviated if the vehicle is tested in a workshop using an RBT.”

Approved MOT stations must have a fixed brake tester, either roller brake (pictured above) or plate brake tester. Boston’s Tabor says: “Roller brake testers are the most commonly used, since they require less space. The only exception to a fixed brake tester may be a remote part of the country, for example some Scottish islands, but this is rare, if not now a discontinued practice.”

To meet DVSA criteria, all equipment used in the test lane – fixed or otherwise – has to be approved by, for example, the Garage Equipment Association (list of approved equipment: ). Explains Tabor: “The reason for this is to make sure that regardless of where the vehicle is tested and on what make of equipment, the result will be the same. To maintain accuracy, fixed brake testers must be calibrated every six months and certificates to prove accuracy are issued to the test station. Decelerometers must meet mandatory standards and also need calibrating every two years. The longer period between calibrations is because they are only there for temporary use.”

FURTHER INFORMATION

For a meaningful brake test, DVSA recommends that the vehicle should be at least 65% loaded, where possible.

BOX: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

In 2017, the boss of Grittenham Haulage and its mechanic were jailed after one of their tipper trucks crashed, killing four people, due to faulty brakes. The judge at Bristol Crown Court said Matthew Gordon and Peter Wood had a “cavalier“ attitude to vehicle maintenance at their firm before the incident in 2015.

Gordon told the court that he had been unaware brake checks had to be carried out every four months and admitted that he didn’t have a transport manager in place. Gordon was jailed for more than seven years; Wood for more than five.

After the sentencing, DCI Richard Ocone said: “Detailed and complex investigations showed many of the faults on the vehicle were longstanding – highlighted by the fact that the brakes on the lorry at the time of the crash were totally inadequate, having an overall efficiency of just 28%.”

Bowmonk BrakeCheck Purchase Online

Or call 0115 8456471 to discuss your HGV brake maintenance requirement

 

Bowmonk BrakeCheck Decelerometer

BrakeCheck is DVSA (VOSA) accepted & MOT approved.

Re Calibration BrakeCheck MOT Bowmonk

August 8th, 2019 Comments off

If you require your Bowmonk BrakeCheck to be recalibrated or if its in need of repair, please follow the information below:

 

If you require your Bowmonk BrakeCheck to be tested for calibration, please see below instructions & relating charges for the calibration check.

With all tools in your workshop, you need to know they are working correctly and in test situations supplying the correct information. With this, we advise that your BrakeCheck is recalibrated.

We will aim to complete the recalibration of your BrakeCheck within 48-72 hours of receipt of the unit.

Option 1 – BrakeCheck Recalibration (ONLY)

Price
BrakeCheck Re calibration – £82.00 per unit
Carriage Options – £6.45 per unit by Signed for Royal Mail Or £9.95 by next day courier. (Not including Ireland)
Also:
New Batteries Are Recommended Every 4-6 Years, if required – £55.00
Need Any Paper For the Printer ? – Box of Paper Rolls – £30.00 If ordered the return carriage would be £14.50

For BrakeCheck recalibration (ONLY), you will need to return the BrakeCheck only. Please note chargers, cases, printers are not required.
It is suggested that you use a royal mail recorded delivery service / special delivery or courier to ensure that the unit(s) reach us safely.

Returns address: –
aide automotive Limited
Service Dept
Foxhall Business Centre
Foxhall Road
Nottingham, NG7 6LH

Option 2 – BrakeCheck recalibration with Service and test

Price
BrakeCheck Recalibration – £82.00 per unit
If your Kit is Older Than 4 years, You May Require & Service & Test – £55.00
Service & Test Checks All Items As preventive Maintenance & Cleaned To A Best Possible Standard

If you have lost or found to be faulty, you may require:
New BrakeCheck Or Printer Charger – £24.95
New BrakeCheck Batteries Are Recommended Every 4-6 Years, if required – £55.00
New Printer Batteries Are Recommended Every 4-6 Years, if required – £14.50
Box of Paper Rolls – £30.00
Return Next Day Courier – £14.50

All prices exclude VAT.

For BrakeCheck recalibration, service & test, you will need to return your BrakeCheck, Case, Printer & Accessories such as Chargers.
It is suggested that you use a royal mail special delivery service or signed for courier to ensure that the unit(s) reach us safely

Returns address: –
aide automotive Limited
Service Dept
Foxhall Business Centre
Foxhall Road
Nottingham, NG7 6LH

Please be so kind as to provide a full postal address so that we can return your tester efficiently!

Payment, once the required work is completed, our accounts dept will email a proforma invoice with options of online payments, card / PayPal / BACS.

If you would like to book your Bowmonk BrakeCheck in, please replay to this email.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office on 0115 845 6471

Prices are correct as 08.08.19, for latest prices please confirm before returning your Bowmonk BrakeCheck to us.

 

BrakeCheck Bowmonk Calibration

Bowmonk MOT Calibration Check

Do You Know What Brake Testing You Should Be Doing?

June 19th, 2019 Comments off
Since April 2014 the DVSA have been recommending commercial vehicles undertake 4 brake tests per year!

This is a recommendation based on the DVSA’s guidance paper.

So as this is a recommendation, what is the law? Is the law is one RBT as a MOT per year?

Well it is if the DVSA is a guidance paper, or is it?

If the guidance set out by the DVSA isn’t followed and the operator is inspected by the DVSA or addressed by a traffic commissioner. The guidance set out by the DVSA is used as the standard an operator should meet, does this now make it law?
Well the operator has to make this call; do you follow the guidance or not? Keeping a fleet roadworthy and safe must be a high priority for any management team, after all the with laws around corporate manslaughter all risks need to be seriously considered.
Many operators have moved with the guidance but still 5 years has passed with some commercial vehicle operators still unaware of the law and guidance.

So, regarding commercial vehicle brake testing, the guidance states:

Document :Guide to maintaining road worthiness
Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles (Revised 2014)

Section 5: Safety inspection and repair facilities

Extract –
“Therefore, it is normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test.”

An operator can take the decision to carry out brake tests using roller brake tests or a decelerometer.

As the consequences of non-compliance with the required standards can be very severe and include prohibition, fines or prosecution, operators are advised to ensure that they are familiar with all the changes within the DVSA guidance.

Following The Bath Tipper Incident Inquiry, HGV Brake Testing is Essential!!

The inquiry showed the Bath tipper truck to have been poorly maintained which resulted when tested to have a very poor brake efficiency.
aide automotive recommend the use of roller brake testers and decelerometers within a 12-month maintenance and testing policy.

Also, the use of an Infra-Red Temperature Gun, Infra-Red Temperature guns are an excellent way of individual brake testing of wheel disks or drums to determine brake activation. With the ease of just pointing the Infra-Red Light at the wheel hub from the outer edge of a trailer or truck and without removing wheels, an infra-Red Temp Gun can indicate if a wheel is not braking efficiently as compared to the other wheels on the vehicle.

aide automotive market a range of Brake Testing, Servicing & Diagnostic Tools for commercial vehicle workshops.

With the Bowmonk BrakeCheck Portable Decelerometer Printer kit, a workshop can meet the 3 additional required brake tests with minimum fuss. For Trailer Servicing & Diagnostics, aide offer a complete Trailer Electrical (ABS Light & EBS CAN Line Test), Light and Air Brake Tester with Diagnostics interface for Trailer ECU Code Reading / Clearing and management data viewing. EBS/ABS Sensor Master testing can be conducted with the Sensor Master, while Battery Diagnostics Tests with a Midtronics MDX Battery Tester.
aide automotive offer a range of products to help with DVSA Guide To Roadworthiness. Contact us via our website www.aideautomotive.com
HGV DVSA Truck Brake Tester

 

Brake Tester, Diagnostics, Battery Testers

aide auto Market Truck & Trailer Workshop Test Tools

Commercial Vehicle Brake Testing Up To Standard?

May 18th, 2018 Comments off

Brake performance testing should be a key part of your maintenance

The Governments Moving On Blog recently posted the below press.
Brake performance testing should be a key part of your maintenance regime that needs to happen at every safety inspection.
And, if you find any braking performance problems while the vehicle or trailer is in use, you’ll need to get a measured brake efficiency test before you use the vehicle again.
For most of you, this is standard practice and shows that you’re committed to running your fleet compliantly and protecting other road users.
Tragic consequences
But unfortunately some licence holders don’t meet the minimum standards and the consequences can be devastating.
In 2015, DVSA examiners investigated a road traffic incident involving a 32-tonne tipper vehicle. Four people, including a four-year-old girl, were killed when the vehicle’s brakes failed on a steep hill.
Our investigation found the operator’s brake testing was far below the required standards. The company’s approach to brake testing was nowhere near thorough enough, and on 5 out of 13 safety inspection records, the brake test section had been left blank.
In the other records, the comments were too limited for anyone to understand what they meant.
Successful court convictions
Two individuals from the company were each convicted of four counts of manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court.
The company director was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison and the mechanic was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison.
The Traffic Commissioner revoked the company’s operator’s licence and both the company and its director were disqualified from holding or obtaining another operator’s licence for two years.
Even if nothing this catastrophic happens, our vehicle examiners  will still take your vehicle off the road and can issue you with a fixed penalty if they find dangerous problems with your brakes. This could lead to an investigation and referral to the Traffic Commissioner.
Following best practice
You should carry out routine safety inspections of your vehicles on a regular basis. Annex 4 of the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness provides tips for you to work out how often a vehicle needs to be inspected.
A braking test needs to form a part of each safety inspection. If possible, you should always brake test a vehicle or trailer laden. You should also use a calibrated roller brake tester (RBT) to measure:
?    individual brake performance
?    overall braking efficiency
You should undertake brake testing with the vehicle or trailer laden in order to get meaningful results. If this test shows the brakes aren’t working properly, then the vehicle or trailer isn’t roadworthy.
You could also use an approved and calibrated decelerometer to measure overall brake efficiency if you’re testing vehicles without trailers.
And you should always try and obtain a printout of the brake test from either the RBT or decelerometer and make sure it’s attached to the safety inspection record. If you can’t get a printout, the inspector should record the results on the safety inspection report instead.
If you can’t carry out a brake test during a safety inspection, the vehicle’s braking performance must be assessed using a road test.
This needs to be carried out under controlled and safe conditions. The safety inspection record should also say that the brake performance was assessed by a road test.
You can use an Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) to assess trailer braking performance using data collected while the vehicle is in use.
aide automotive market decelerometer brake testers for commercial vehicles, the Bowmonk BrakeCheck is a known quality product for the UK’s truck, bus & coach market as well as around the world.
The latest addition to the BrakeCheck range is the BrakeCheck GEO, with a built in GPS receiver this decelerometer will provide a GPS location to each brake test.
Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 or email info@aideautomotive.com

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Bowmonk BrakeCheck + GPS

April 30th, 2018 Comments off

Portable Brake Tester Now Incorporates GPS Data

The Bowmonk BrakeCheck is probably the best known portable MOT & Commercial Vehicle Brake Tester around.

With over 20,000 brake testers sold, the Bownonk BrakeCheck is a valuable tool for many transport / haulage workshops and MOT stations in he UK & around the world.

With this and to increase the products quality we can now release a new addition to the BrakeCheck family of products – BrakeCheck Geo

BrakeCheck Geo includes a built-in GPS receiver. When combined with the optional wireless printer, BrakeCheck Geo includes the latitude and longitude of the brake test finish point on the receipt, thereby providing a record of the brake test location.
The GPS facility can be turned on or off by the user as required and an indicator LED shows the GPS status. If the GPS facility is enabled, the unit will not conduct a brake test until a GPS fix has been obtained.
Decelerometer testing of commercial vehicles can now be proven further with this device, GPS location and time & date will 100% prove a test has taken place.
BrakeCheck Geo stores 99 Service Brake Tests & 99 Hand Brake tests within its memory capacity.
With a price of £499.00 + vat the Bowmonk BrakeCheck Geo is still a cost effective brake test for commercial vehicle inspection sheet tests.
Contact aide automotive for sales support, purchasing or just to have a chat!!

 

 

BrakeCheck Bowmonk

Bowmonk GPS added to Brake Tester