R&J Coaches of Ashford has reported good results from Wheely-Safe Connect after the real-time monitoring system prevented the operator from sending a vehicle on tour with an underinflated tyre.
Wheely-Safe was trialled on five Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses by the business, which is now in the process of rolling it out across its wider fleet of 16 large coaches and two buses.
The product combines what Wheely-Safe describes as intelligent tyre pressure monitoring with wheel loss detection and wheel rim temperature monitoring. In its latest iteration, the platform enables data to be transmitted to both the driver and the operator’s management team.
R&J Coaches Compliance Manager Leigh Swan says that the business began its deployment with minibuses because of the difficulty in monitoring tyre pressure on their inner rear wheels. “It worked out so well that we quickly took the decision to roll it out to all our vehicles, and we are very happy that we did,” he continues.
“We have had a couple of instances now where we have been notified overnight that a tyre is losing pressure. 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 it before the vehicle went out.”
The supplier notes how real-time monitoring allows quicker identification of issues to improve fleet management, reduce downtime, and enhance vehicle safety.
Adds Mr Swan: “We have it set up so the email alerts come into a few of us on the team. As a passenger transport operator, safety is always foremost in our decision making, and the 24-hour monitoring gives us huge peace of mind.
“It is 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 while they are out on the road will be a great boost to our compliance and the efficiency of our operation.”
