Essential industry guide aimed at improving wheel security

Monday 16 November 2009

There were nearly 400 instances of wheel loss from lorries in 2006, according to analysis undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory. Wheel Security: a best practice guide, is available from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and will highlight to maintenance staff and drivers the tell-tale signs associated with poorly secured wheels and provide industry best practice linked to wheel maintenance.

The guide has been published by a working group comprising FTA, ATS Euromaster, IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) - a professional sector of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) - and SITA UK Ltd.

Mark Forster, Fleet Compliance and Auditing Manager for SITA UK Ltd, said:

”It is important that organisations have a clearly defined wheel security procedure in place that has been comprehensively publicised to its drivers and service providers, and it is essential that all relevant personnel play their part in strictly adhering to that procedure. The guide's advice goes to the heart of road safety standards, therefore helping to protect a company's O-licence.”

Martyn Edwards, Technical Service Advisor for ATS Euromaster, agreed:

“Effective wheel loss management requires robust processes ranging from drivers' daily checks to comprehensive service provider training plans. Maintenance staff must be correctly trained to recognise the signs of component wear and damage whilst fully understanding wheel re-fitment and re-torque procedures.”

Andy Mair, FTA’s Head of Engineering Policy, said:

“Wheel security is a serious issue for all commercial vehicle operators and this comprehensive guide, which is aimed at both maintenance staff and drivers, will help reduce the risk of wheel loosening, or worse still, wheel loss.”

Wheel Security: a best practice guide is available from Shopfta and IRTE at £3.00 and has been extensively issued to members of both organisations. To order a copy go to www.shop.fta.co.uk or call Shopfta on 08717 11 11 11 or contact the IRTE technical department via email at technical@soe.org.uk or by calling 0207 630 1111.

Also available from Shopfta are wheel nut indicators, tyre pressure gauges and other wheel accessories.

The subject of wheel security will feature at the forthcoming FTA Fleet Engineer seminar, when the Transport Research Laboratory will offer advice on how to prevent wheel loss and a copy of the guide will be distributed to all delegates.

Notes to editors

FTA Fleet Engineer, which is sponsored by Iveco, Pullman Fleet Services and TruckProtect, takes place on Thursday 1 December at Ascot Racecourse, Ascot. For further information and a full programme go to www.fta.co.uk/services/conferences-and-events/2009/fleet-engineer or call the FTA Member Service Centre on 08717 11 22 22.

Further media information or a review copy of the guide is available from FTA’s media team on 01892 552255/01892 552253 or, out of hours, on 07985 874248 or 07818 450425.
 
FTA Press Office
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