Bus operator picks up new tyre pressure monitoring system13 November 2013

Swindon-based bus operator Thamesdown Transport is using a new automatic tyre pressure monitoring system, after a seven-month trial revealed significant time and performance benefits that could save the business up to £33,000 per year, in terms of tyre pressure check costs, puncture avoidances and fuel and tyre savings.

The system, from WheelRight, has a flush-mounted device set into the road, containing robust sensors. To check tyre pressures, Thamesdown's maintenance engineers simply drive the buses over the device, which is installed between the fuel bay and the bus wash.

The system uses algorithms to process the data as the tyre rolls over it, doing away with the need for manual checking. Within seconds, a series of calculations is carried out and real-time pressures are sent directly to the fleet manager, via text or email. The system enables engineers to spot poorly inflated tyres and identify slow punctures before they become a problem.

"More consistent tyre pressure monitoring will improve braking performance on our buses, reduce the time needed for tyre maintenance and improve the efficiency of our fleet," states Dave Spencer, Thamesdown's head of engineering.

"This smart piece of kit has also been proven to spot punctures before buses even leave the depot, thus enabling us to change or repair tyres before they become a problem on route. This has reduced the number of instances where we've had to attend buses in the event of unexpected tyre failures, which in turn has reduced disruptions to our services.

"Adopting the WheelRight system also reduces our impact on the environment, saving fuel, cutting CO2 emissions and reducing the number of tyres sent to landfill early."

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
WheelRight Ltd

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