Shell launches rollover warning device for tankers 25 August 2011

Shell Chemicals' early rollover warning device (RWD), developed with Bertocco and Studio Merli, is now available to fleet operators world-wide, following trials in Europe, Asia and the Middle East,

Jack Eggels, Shell's general manager for global land logistics, explains that the system is designed to alert road tanker drivers to the risk of rollovers before it's too late.

"We took the initiative to collaborate with our business partners to develop the RWD, because we want to do all we can to reduce the risk of road tanker rollover," comments Eggels.

"We did not do this just for ourselves, but also to help customers and other transport operators across the globe make roads safer. Safety is a top priority for Shell and we recognise it has a direct impact on our customer service," he adds.

Eggels agrees that rollovers are rare, but states that reducing the chance of incidents is a major safety and supply chain priority for Shell.

Since the most common cause of a rollover is the driver misjudging his or her vehicle's rollover threshold when negotiating a bend or roundabout, the RWD provides an early visual and audio alarm as the threshold approaches, enabling the driver to take corrective action.

In 2010, the RWD was recognised for its valuable contribution to safety, and Shell and Bertocco were awarded a EuroTra Safety and Innovation Award by the Freight Transport Association.

Shell is promoting the RWD with its contractors and encouraging them to adopt the device for their fleets. Tristar Transportation, a transport operator working with Shell and other companies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, is fitting the devices into its Shell-contracted vehicles in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and plans to extend it to its wider fleet.

Tristar CEO Eugene Mayne says: "We trialled the rollover warning device in our fleet last year and I am really convinced of its benefits. Our drivers said they feel safer, because they have greater awareness of the rollover threshold of their vehicles."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Shell Chemicals
Shell UK Ltd

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