Real-time Tyre Monitoring System Prevents Tour Departure with Underinflated Tyre

R&J Coaches has credited Wheely-Safe Connect with averting what could have been a serious safety incident after the real-time monitoring system detected an underinflated tyre on one of its vehicles hours before it was due to depart on tour.

The Ashford-based public transport operator initially trialled the technology on five Mercedes Sprinter minibuses but has now committed to fitting the system across its entire fleet following the successful pilot programme.

Leigh Swan, compliance manager at R&J Coaches, explained that the decision to begin with the minibuses was driven by practical considerations. "We started with the minibuses, largely due to the difficulty of keeping track of the pressures on the inner wheels, which are traditionally very hard to monitor. It worked out so well that we quickly took the decision to roll it out to all our vehicles, and we're very happy we did."

The system proved its worth over the Christmas period when an overnight alert revealed a significant pressure loss in a coach tyre. "We've had a couple of instances now where we have been notified overnight that a tyre is losing pressure," Swan said. "One of the alerts came in over Christmas, when no one was in. The coach was due to depart on a big tour and there had been a significant loss of pressure in one of its tyres. In the past we would have been totally reliant on the driver turning up for duty and noticing the issue. But with the connected Wheely-Safe kit fitted we were able to safely deal with the issue before the vehicle went out."

Wheely-Safe technology combines intelligent tyre pressure monitoring with wheel loss detection and wheel rim temperature monitoring. The latest generation system transmits data not only to the driver in the cab but also to the transport management team at base, enabling quicker identification of issues and reducing downtime.

R&J Coaches has configured the system to send email alerts to multiple team members. "As a passenger transport operator, safety is always foremost in our decision making, and the 24-hour monitoring gives us huge peace of mind," Swan noted. "It's an intuitive dashboard display, which gives valuable data on the health of the tyres, wheels, hubs, and braking system. Long range tour work is a big part of what we do, so to have that connectivity with the vehicles now whilst they are out on the road will be a real boost to the compliance and efficiency of our operation."

The family-run operator manages a diverse fleet comprising five Mercedes Sprinter minibuses, 16 coaches, a mix of Mercedes Tourismo and Van Hool vehicles, and two service buses. The company undertakes school contracts, private hire and tours throughout the UK and into Europe.

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Tagged with: Wheely-Safe Connect, tyre pressure monitoring, wheel loss detection, hub temperature monitoring, coach safety, DVSA compliance, fleet telematics, passenger transport, underinflation alerts, remote diagnostics, tour operations, preventive maintenance

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