TIP, leading provider of trailer and truck hire, has taken a proactive approach to upcoming changes to guidelines regarding heavy goods vehicle and semi-trailer braking system assessment by equipping 20,000 trailers with its Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS), BrakePlus. The company is ensuring all of its trailers on long-term hire are fitted with an EBPMS and has accelerated the rate at which BrakePlus is being fitted in order to accommodate the change.
The initiative will ensure the trailers are ‘compliant’ with the new guidelines set out in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publication, a ‘Guide to maintaining roadworthiness’, which come into effect in April.
Under the new guidelines, trailers must either undergo at least four laden roller brake tests, albeit with some exemptions applicable, or utilise an EBPMS in order to demonstrate continuous brake performance monitoring. TIP has been preparing for the change over the last 24 months by continually ramping up the implementation of BrakePlus to help its fleet operator customers to stay ‘ahead-of-the-curve’ whilst, at the same time, enhancing road safety.
TIP’s established EBPMS system, launched back in 2021, provides operators with a cost and efficiency saving alternative to having to perform regular roller brake tests in order to comply with the guidelines. By continuously monitoring braking performance, using BrakePlus can avoid the need for trailers to visit a workshop at least four times a year just to have a roller brake test. In doing so, it offers a considerable cost saving, not least related to operational ‘downtime’, with those savings made even more obvious given that tests need to be performed with the trailer in a laden state. The latter requirement, which does make roller brake tests more aligned with braking performance on the road, in itself adds to the downtime and to the overall roller brake test cost.
TIP plans to have EBPMS fitted to much more of its fleet of trailers in addition to fitting the technology to many others that it manages on behalf of its customers. The significant investment underscores TIP’s commitment to safety, cost-saving efficiencies and regulatory compliance for its customers.
As the industry moves towards stricter safety and compliance standards, TIP remains at the forefront, offering innovative solutions that keep fleets moving efficiently and safely.
Mark Carlin, TIP Fleet & Engineering Director, said: “Our goal is to make compliance as seamless as possible for our customers while enhancing road safety. By implementing EBPMS, TIP is ensuring that its customers not only meet the guidelines, but also benefit from the obvious operational efficiencies and cost savings that the technology enables.”
Mike Furnival, TIP Managing Director added, “Continuous monitoring of a trailer’s braking system, made possible by EBPMS, can only be a step forward in improving road safety and TIP has been an instrumental player in industry discussions and its adoption since the start. With our proactive approach towards implementation of EBPMS, TIP is demonstrating a strong commitment to compliance and best practice in fleet management.”
