Calling All Road Transport Operators To Save Costs

8th December 2007

Road transport, including haulage and private use, is a major emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.K., and is set to remain so in the foreseeable future. However, typically, tyres are 10% under-inflated which uses an extra 2% in fuel. This inefficiency is costly; under-inflated tyres wear faster (8% more quickly at 10% under-inflation), and the combined cost of wasted fuel and more rapid tyre wear costs the typical HGV operator £1000 per vehicle per year. Clearly, under-inflated of tyres are wasteful, but ensuring correct pressures are maintained can be time consuming if checked manually.

WheelRight's RightStrip technology is a simple remote monitoring device that is ideal for quickly checking tyre pressure even for very large vehicle fleets. A single RightStrip device monitors vehicles that drive over it, magnetically detecting vehicle approach and recording the impact of each wheel on the strip. Simultaneously, a thermal sensor measures tyre temperature. Raw data are processed and transmitted wirelessly to a central office via the internet from where managers can utilise their particular tyre management software system for an integrated ongoing assessment. Alarm reports can be generated automatically and the driver alerted via SMS or a mobile phone. A card report, also automatically generated, allows maintenance to identify which specific tyres require pressure adjustment, leaving the requirement for only visual inspection on others for mechanical damage hence saving time.

Individual vehicle recognition is possible in a number of ways. Whilst visual identification and manual data entry is possible, recognition using an optical number plate recognition system or, alternatively, utilising RFID (radio frequency identification) electronically tagged plates provides a fully automated system.

Logged data can be used to build an accurate picture of fleet and vehicle performance records. Slow punctures and problems with tread wear and wheel alignment on vehicles can be identified. The RightStrip device periodically checks its own functions using inbuilt diagnostic systems. Any malfunction automatically flags a service request over a dedicated network and WheelRight offer a service response between 2 and 8 hours of notification.

Data collection is not limited to tyre pressure assessment. Vehicle weight can be calculated, and load distribution across axles can be monitored. Future enhancements to the systems will allow wheel alignment and tread limits to also be derived.

The RightStrip remote pressure monitoring system offers many benefits. Since the device is fitted to the road, an unlimited number of vehicles can use the system, and the vehicles themselves do not require specialist equipment to be fitted. Data generated can be formatted in various ways to suit individual businesses and their existing software systems. As each vehicle prepares to leave the depot, overloading can be identified and alerted and load distribution can be assessed. Tyre inflation can be rapidly measured and efficiently corrected, saving an average 2% on fuel, reducing tyre wear, and reducing lost time and missed delivery targets as tyre-related breakdowns such as blow-outs and shredded tyres are minimised.

In addition to the improvements in road safety, reductions in the environmental impact of HGV vehicle fleets using RightStrip systems will be significant. Customer fiscal savings are coupled with other improvements for society in a win-win situation. Fuel savings directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, along with other emissions which adversely impact on air quality such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulates (PM10). Road wear will also be decreased reducing disruptive, expensive and polluting repair frequency. This simply implemented technology from WheelRight offers genuine environmental improvements for a sector which is, and will remain, one of the more significant polluters in the U.K., and provides a straight-forward method for reducing the national carbon emission inventory.

Notes
RightStrip technology works through the collection of impact data as vehicles roll over the strip. Fully automated vehicle recognition is possible. Collected data are transmitted to office management systems, whilst SMS alerts and tyre maintenance needs are automatically generated.
The RoadStrip is attached to the road. Tyre pressure and other data are collected from any number of vehicles which do not require specialised equipment to be fitted. Correct tyre inflation saves fuel and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

WheelRight website: www.wheelright.co.uk

Aerticle by -
John Catling is managing director at WheelRight Limited. Contact via the website above.