Langdon Industries believes it has made a major investment in safety by retrofitting its entire fleet of 140 articulated trucks with Jost Fleetmaster extended fifth-wheel handle assemblies.
The Somerset-based logistics service provider also says that all new tractor units will also be equipped with the enhanced safety device.
Langdon fleet engineer Graham Millard explains that the Fleetmaster safety handle assembly is 250mm longer than a conventional fifth-wheel handle, and moves the safety clip further away from the coupling – providing the driver with greatly improved access to the safety clip, especially on 6x2s.
"We regard thsi as an important extra safety aid, which is particularly beneficial considering the number of trailer couplings and uncouplings we perform every day," says Millard.
"Also, we run a low fifth-wheel height of 1,250mm, to comply with European height restrictions, meaning that access space for the driver is even more limited than on a conventional rig."
