A very interesting comment....

Keeping in touch with existing and potential customers is proving to be just as important and informative during the Covid-19 crisis as during more “normal” times.

Finding out customers plans for the future, and there will be a future, is extremely helpful for our forward planning so that in the coming months, when a semblance of normality returns,  we will best be able to help our customers.

One conversation with a customer threw up an interesting observation.

Axtec OnBoard Axle Load Indicator

He called to check how our plans were progressing regarding installing his system. The sooner the better according to him as he felt his drivers saw the current crisis as a good excuse to try and, in his words “get away with murder.”

What was concerning him was the number of vehicles he saw leaving his site which he was convinced were overloaded.

And currently he has no means of checking them.

Working in an industry that relies heavily on sub-contractors, a large number of which are currently not operating, his own staff were having to pick up the extra workload and this was leading to additional weight being put on vehicles.

Very difficult to be too critical of the drivers as they are just trying to do their best in very trying circumstances.

But it is well known that overloading has an adverse effect on many major parts of a vehicle, but what is less widely known is that if a vehicle found to be overloaded is involved in an accident, the insurance may be invalidated.

There are other hidden costs too – overloading wears out tyres, clutches, steering and braking components before their time – meaning an increase in maintenance costs.

And an overloaded vehicle uses more fuel too, one of the major costs of running any transport operation.

As for our customer, plans are well in hand to get his system installed quickly but just as importantly safely for both his staff and ours.

So that he can be confident his drivers are doing their job legally, not risking his O-licence and keeping his maintenance and running costs down.

Staying home can be time well spent.

Spending less time out on the road and more time working from home provides an opportunity to take stock and discover long lost items.

One thing we’ve discovered is a batch of old photographs showing systems, installations and indeed some people from the earliest days of Axtec.

The accompanying picture shows axle weighbridge serial number 30001, the very first axle weighbridge we ever manufactured, ready for installation.

Axtec Dynamic Serial number 30001 from 1991

Many of the design features of that first machine were so good that we still incorporate them today; the corner pockets and load cell mounting positions for instance.

Not everything about that system was perfect though, but from the lower reaches of this learning curve we have now accumulated more knowledge about the specialist field of axle weighing than anyone else.

Learning how vulnerable the load cell junction box is when located in the weighbridge pit, how vital the approach levels are and how important it is to have our own purpose designed test equipment and were all crucial lessons along the way.

As was learning that attention to what may appear minor details is actually crucial for ensuring accuracy and reliability.

One very important lesson was establishing that having in-house staff to design, write software, manufacture, install, calibrate and maintain are essential if quality and accuracy are to be maintained.

The result is that the Axtec Dynamic Axle Weighbridge is now the most accurate system of its type in the world.

And the only one which achieves the required standard to be offered as a public weighbridge – twice the accuracy requirement of a standard machine.

All Axtec products have benefited from extensive testing, experimentation and learning over many years with that vast fund of knowledge going into every Dynamic, Static, Portable or OnBoard system we manufacture.

The very latest product is the third generation Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator. Using state of the art technology to make it clearer, improve accuracy, reduce power consumption and offer far more features, it wouldn’t be the product it is without nearly thirty years of learning behind it.

What do Red Forge customers do now that company has ceased trading?

Well, Axtec, has stepped forward to offer a rescue package to existing Red Forge customers.

The incentive comprises a £500 trade-in for any Red Forge system upgraded to an Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator. Moreover, the new Axtec OnBoard Axle Load Indicator for 2020 offers enhanced reliability and even better accuracy than before.

The £500 trade-in offer applies to anyone with a Red Forge load indicator system and means that some customers may even find themselves financially better off.

Red Forge customers - get a £500 trade in on Axtec OnBoard

Axtec’s market leading OnBoard Load Indicator features a simple colour numeric and graphic interface, plus the cost-saving customer reset facility to help keep service costs down.

And why keep your vehicles in the yard waiting for an engineer to arrive when you can do the reset yourself at a time that suits you?

Weight data can be saved automatically and downloaded via USB for analysis.

Unlike other systems Axtec OnBoard rarely, if ever, needs a full calibration. Customers can perform a very simple system reset themselves, which goes a long way to keeping service costs to an absolute minimum.

All management functions are password protected, while no manual controls are accessible by the driver or crew, preventing tampering. Importantly, Axtec OnBoard requires no additional driver training.

Axtec OnBoard displays axle weights in an intuitive traffic light configuration; green for legal weights, amber as maximum limits are approached and flashing red to indicate an overload.

Outputs to tracking devices are provided as standard, while enhanced functionality allows for more detailed information to be obtained via telematics rather than simply overload alert.

And then there are the numerous camera connectivity options as well.

So Red Forge customers – why not take advantage of this unique trade in offer and upgrade your system?

You would have a high accuracy system that is future proofed and could save some money as well.

Do not automatically trust declared weights, invoices or delivery notes..

Such is the advice from DVSA in trying to prevent overloads.

They also make it clear that the operator holds the responsibility for overloading not the customer.

It is though perfectly acceptable to drive to check weigh on a local weighbridge and also to drive somewhere practical to remove any excess weight.

There may not be a suitable weighbridge locally, certainly readily available axle weighbridges for public use can be hard to find, and it may not always be practical to leave the yard to weigh.

A state-of-the-art solution is the Axtec OnBoard Axle Load Indicator.

Fitted on site usually in only a couple of hours, Axtec OnBoard shows all the axle weights and gross weight on a simple colour display.

Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator

Legal weights are shown in green, anything over 80% in amber and any overloads in flashing red.

Instant overload protection for your vehicle regardless of where it is being loaded.

No leaving the site, no weighbridge fees and no dispute as to whether the vehicle is overloaded or not.

Uniquely, Axtec OnBoard can be reset onsite by the customer.

So no expensive service routine visits, no keeping the vehicles in the yard waiting for an engineer to arrive and total control of how and when you keep the systems withing specification.

There are no manual controls for the driver to fiddle with or break and by connecting to a tracking device, real time information on any overloads can be made available.

And the latest version of Axtec OnBoard even offers a high accuracy version for those who need it.

Taking responsibility for ensuring your vehicles are not overloaded when loading at customers’ premises has never been simpler.

Keeping the vehicles safe by not overloading also has benefits in cost savings.

An overloaded vehicle will use more fuel and wear out the clutch, brakes steering and suspension quicker too.

So no need to rely on those declared weights, invoices or delivery notes anymore – Axtec OnBoard will tell you exactly what you weigh

It's not only vans that can be overloaded.

Whilst light vans are often the most vulnerable to weight issues, larger vehicles need to be protected from overloading too.

So there are versions of Axtec OnBoard to suit those vehicles as well.

Two examples of operators of larger vehicles who may have issues with overloading are scaffolding and tool hire companies.

It should be relatively easy not to overload a scaffolding vehicle with poles and boards when leaving for a job. But what about when they come back?

Those nice clean boards may now be covered in mud and dried concrete. As might the poles. And all heavier than they were when they left the depot.

Axtec OnBoard - also protects larger vehicles from overloads

And what if a different, smaller vehicles does the pick up to the one that delivered them in the first place?

Tool hire operators can have similar issues, some possibly caused by helpful drivers.

Again it is relatively easy to ensure a vehicle leaves the depot legally laden. But time and again we hear tales of drivers being sent to collect plant who are asked to take items in addition to those they were expecting.

A driver being helpful to the customer may find that he has inadvertently overloaded his vehicle.

Overloading affects some of the most safety critical components on the vehicle - brakes, steering, clutch and suspension are all adversely affected.

Axtec OnBoard is a cost effective solution to anyone delivering or collecting items such as scaffolding or plant. Even the biggest rigid vehicle can be fitted on site in a day.

Axle and gross weights are displayed as soon as the ignition is switched on. No driver training or input is required and weights are shown on a simple colour display with all overloads shown in flashing red.

And connectivity to a tracking device comes as standard.

Axtec OnBoardrarely if ever needs recalibrating. A simple customer function to reset the zero if necessary is usually all that is required to keep the system in tolerance.

If some of the issues described above sound familiar, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to arrange a chat to see if we can help.

Van Overloads and How to Avoid Them.

Scrolling through the DVSA Twitter feed turns up some shocking incidences of overloading.

Vans that were up to 46% overloaded have been stopped and the operators prosecuted.

Overloading has a negative effect on all the major components of the vehicle. The brakes, steering and suspension are all adversely affected and pose a serious safety risk.

So serious is overloading that one removals firm was fined £48,000.00 for persistent offending.

A frequent claim is that there are not enough public weighbridges around anymore. That may be true but there are plenty of other options available especially if your work takes you to numerous loading points.

A cost effective option for 3.5t vans is Axtec OnBoard. Fitted on site in less than half a day, it shows all the information a driver needs all the time. Axle and gross weights are displayed as soon as the ignition is switched on. A full colour screen shows legal weights in green, anything over 80% is shown in amber and all overloads in flashing red.

Overloads can be reported by connecting the system to a tracking device or they can be stored in the onboard memory for later downloading.

Axtec OnBoard - Avoid Overloading YOUR Van

The system rarely if ever needs recalibrating but there is a simple customer function to reset the zero if necessary.

So no expensive visits by service engineers or taking the van to a workshop to be checked.

And if you change the van it can be de-installed and re-installed.

It’s a great way of avoiding a day in court and a hefty fine.

Are your vans running legally laden?

If you are unsure then contact us and we may be able to arrange a free on site survey or discuss your requirements in detail.

It’s a much cheaper option than an appearance in court.

We don’t have a problem….

Sometimes the people on the front line have difficulty persuading management that there is a concerning issue.

It’s something we encounter often where those on the ground actually operating vehicles on a daily basis are aware of an issue but those with the decision makers fail to see what the problem is.

Ignorance though is no defence.

Recently we were approached by a transport manager worried about potential overloads. The nature of their business meant drivers frequently worked away from base and thus responsible for their vehicles without any checks on their behaviour.

Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator

He sent a report to his senior management expressing his concerns. When he got a response form them it was - we don’t have a problem.

Frustrated at the negative feedback he asked if we could help. So we provided some weighpads to run some trials. And the results were astonishing.

Far from there not being a problem, several overloads were discovered. In fact one 3.5t van weighed in at an alarming 5.5t.

That’s more than 50% overloaded.

An overloaded vehicle causes significantly more damage to the road surface than a legally laden one. Damage that we all pay for through our taxes.

But a vehicle that badly overloaded is seriously dangerous too.

The consequences of that vehicle being involved in an accident could have been catastrophic with the brakes, clutch and suspension all affected by the excessive weight.

Vehicle weighing systems should not just be seen as an unnecessary expense to avoid prosecution. The savings in tyre, brake and clutch wear and the reduction in repair costs to the suspension will all mitigate the cost.

And in many cases over the years, operators have found they can actually increase the load on their vehicles, improve efficiency and reduce costs.

As for our client, armed with some real-life information from some of his own vehicles, he has resubmitted his report and is planning to fit the fleet with onboard load indicators.

Helping to gather evidence for hard pressed operators is all part of the Axtec service.

Showtime!!

April is the time of year everyone who  is anyone in transport heads to the NEC for the CV Show.

Axtec have been supporting it in all its formats since day one and this year we’ll be on stand 5J102 in hall 5.

With just about everything available on the internet these days, are trade shows still relevant?

Surely buying everything these days is just a simple job of looking online, finding the cheapest price and clicking the order button?

Whilst that might be true of all manner of things, some products are more technical and require professional advice if they are to work at their best.

And that usually starts with a chat with a specialist – and where best to meet specialists in the transport industry than its premier industry event?

See you on stand 5J102 at the CV Show 24-26 April

Many show visitors come to see a specific product or supplier but it’s also a great way to pick up new ideas and find new solutions to old problems as well.

Technology in the transport industry does keep moving on after all.

We upgraded an axle weighbridge with some new software for one customer. He was having issues determining who was using the system and when but a brief chat about what he needed suggested that the Fleet Management Program would help.

Recording every tractor and trailer that weighed in date and time order with a report available whenever he wanted meant that he got exactly the information he needed.

And can now look out for efficiencies in his operation by knowing what his vehicles weighed and when.

Not every detail about a product or its options can be easily listed on a website.

Taking a day out of a busy schedule to visit the NEC may seem a wasted day but talking to an expert about a highly technical installation may well be the most productive thing to do that day.

So make a note of the dates – April 24^th,25^th and 26^th and we’ll see you there.

And the cost of routine maintenance is....

Any device for measuring loads will need checking possibly adjusting occasionally to bring it back into specification.

And with Axtec OnBoard the cost is nearly always nothing.

We have a customer who has many hundreds of our OnBoard Load Indicators installed at branches all over the country.

One of the branches queried the accuracy on a couple of their systems and wondered whether it might be beneficial to have them routinely checked by one of our engineers.

This is a service we gladly provide. But as with all service work, it comes at a cost.

Axtec OnBoard. Routine resetting costs nothing.

We calculated how much it would cost to do visit the site and do a routine reset twice a year and estimated it would be in the region of £250.00 per visit. There would be hidden costs as well in terms of keeping the vehicles in the yard ready for a service engineer’s visit.

However, the system is designed so that customers can do this simple reset themselves. At no cost and at a time to suit them.

Axtec OnBoard has no manual controls. Not only does this make it simple to use requiring no training but also means none of the settings or calibration can be changed. It is not possible to make the system display what you want thus potentially fooling drivers, loaders or the authorities.

What it does have though is a simple reset procedure which takes about twenty seconds to bring the system back within specification when the accuracy has drifted out.

Training someone to do it takes minutes, no special tools or technical knowledge is required and each vehicle can be reset in a matter of seconds.

And then that vehicle is back out on the road earning its keep.

No expensive service engineer to visit, no keeping the vehicles in the yard, no specialist tools or training.

So the cost of routine resetting Axtec OnBoard really is zero.

Sometimes a standard product won’t quite do what the customer needs.

We were approached a while ago by a major fleet operator running a mixture of standard artic trailers, double deck trailers and rigids. 

They had an issue with getting them loaded correctly first time to improve efficiency.

Pulling a vehicle off the loading bay, getting it weighed then returning it for the whole load to be redistributed if an overload was discovered was time consuming and expensive. With no guarantee it would be done right the second time either.

Vehicles might need to be loaded, weighed, reloaded and reweighed a number of times.

With several agency staff working in the loading bay during peak periods, training them to get it right first time wasn’t always easy.

A means of alerting the loaders to a potential overload at an early enough stage to make it quick and easy to correct would offer considerable benefits.

Standard Axle Weighbridge - not always right for the job.

But to serve all of the vehicles in their fleet no one system would suffice. A mixture of fixed axle weighbridges and onboard loadindicators would be needed to resolve the issue.

Even so, standard product wouldn’t offer the best solution. So our ability to design, write software and manufacture in-house meant we could offer a bespoke solution.

After taking the time to fully understand what the issue was, a number of potential solutions presented themselves, all of which involved enhancements to the basic products to do the job properly.

Rigids fitted with onboard indicators and axle weighbridges installed at the loading points both with alarm features to alert loaders to the state of the vehicle would go a long way to making sure loading was done right first time. Or at least flag up a problem early enough so that the load could be adjusted before the vehicle was fully laden.

Axtec’s ability to tailor a solution to a very a specific axle weighing problem will mean improved efficiency and big cost savings for one operator at least.

Overloading could be very serious

We had a very interesting conversation with a client recently, one who takes vehicle overloading very seriously.

Recognising the potentially catastrophic effects of overloading his vehicles, of which he has many hundreds around the UK, he took some portable weighpads from us to conduct trial weighings around the country.

But some of his firm’s drivers couldn’t see how important it is to run their vehicles legally laden and couldn’t see the worth in the exercise.

One example though seemed to bring the message home.

Axtec Portable Weighpads - Useful for Weighing Trials

Whilst weighing one vehicle, a typical 3.5t flatbed, the driver was asked to bring his vehicle up and place the front axle on the pads – and overshot them by about 1.5m.

The excess load on the vehicle caused the brakes to function less efficiently.

What if he had been trying to stop his van with a child in the road at a zebra crossing instead of just taking part in a weighing exercise in his yard?

The consequences could have been severe.

As our client said to his driver – do you want that on your conscience?

A lot of the time, the drivers are just trying to do their jobs and the van is just a mobile toolbox.

Sometimes it’s not only drivers that need convincing about overloading but senior management as well.

Which is why we often offer to help with surveys, loans of weighpads even free trials at the premises of customers with axle weighbridges.

Armed with information cleaned using their own vehicles in a working environment, it can often be much easier to convince the powers that be that there is a serious problem there to be solved.

So if you think you have concerns about vehicle loading and think doing some trials might be helpful, feel free to contact us and we’ll certainly be able to help.

Usually at no cost.

And as for that client, we’re now in the process of installing axle weighbridges at his major depots around the UK.

See you at the NEC in October?

We’ll be making our debut at FleetManagement Live at the NEC in October.

The decision to exhibit is a logical step and recognises the increasing number of van operators in the UK. And we have systems that are extensively used by van operators.

Axtec’s OnBoard Load Indicator for instance is ideal for multi-drop or diminishing load operations. Overloading has a detrimental effect on many major components of a van – tyres, brakes, steering, clutch, suspension – and can lead to prohibitions, prosecutions and, if you run larger vehicles, may even affect an ‘O’ licence.

Axtec OnBoard - Preventing Overloading on Vans.

With more new vans registered each year joining already heavily-congested roads, driver and road-user safety has never been more important for fleet operators.

But, with DVSA figures showing 93% of 10,000 vans stopped in 2015 were overloaded, it seems the safety implications of carrying additional weight are not always fully realised.

The Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator can help solve that problem though.

With a simple colour display that shows all the axle and gross weight information all the time and no manual controls so no driver training is involved. Axle and gross weights are all displayed the second the ignition is switched on.

The colour display allows information to be displayed graphically. Legal weights are shown in green, loads over 80% in amber and overloads in flashing red. There’s even an audible alarm selectable by management if required.

And outputs for connection to a tracking device are included as standard. So incidences of overloading can be recorded and reported back to base.

And the customer calibration facility means that keeping the system accurate can be done quickly and simply by our own people.

No expensive service visit is requird.

So if you're operating vans that you need to keep legal, come and see us at the NEC. We’ll be on stand P62 on 3^rd and 4^th of October.

Looking to maximise payload? A case study below.

Food to go supplier Adelie Foods has installed Axtec’s OnBoard Load Indicator across its fleet of 200 multi-temperature, refrigerated-body Mercedes Sprinters.

The maintenance-free system, which requires no training for Adelie Foods’ drivers, has been specified primarily, ‘to maximise payload potential across the fleet’. Axtec OnBoard Load Indicators will virtually eliminate accidental overloading, while maximising vehicle efficiency and ensuring vehicles remain within axle- and gross-weight limits.

By installing Axtec’s OnBoard Load Indicator, Adelie stands to maximise payload potential, making significant savings through improved fuel economy, and reduced wear-and-tear on safety critical vehicle components such as brakes, clutch, steering and suspension.

Adelie Foods - Maximising payload with Axtec OnBoard

Sean Glover, Head of Distribution at Adelie Foods said, “We deliver Food-to-Go to a broad range of clients in a variety of locations, and with most of our multi-drop deliveries taking place in a very short space of time – before 11am – we need to be as efficient as possible to ensure best possible customer service.

“The Axtec system gives our drivers a safe and simple means to see the fullest possible load information,” he said, “so they do not have to worry about accidental overloading, while ensuring each delivery is utilised to its maximum potential.”

The Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator gives drivers clear visual and audible warnings of potential or actual overload situations which may arise inadvertently as goods are progressively loaded or unloaded – even when the vehicle is still within its legal gross limit.

Axtec can fit the OnBoard Load Indicator in around two hours. The system is also maintenance-free, with the only routine upkeep involving resets which can be carried out by the customer, eliminating expensive routine service visits.

The Axtec system is activated when the ignition is switched on and it cannot be disabled or tampered with. It delivers information in the form of a vehicle infographic using a traffic light system – green, amber and red – as an overload situation approaches. An audible warning is also provided to alert the driver to a potential problem.

The Adelie Foods fleet deliver more than 3m freshly prepared sandwiches and snacks in 1,400 varieties to sites across the UK, from its network of five distribution centres. With around 3,500 daily deliveries of chilled, frozen and ambient temperature foods, and 98% of deliveries made before 11am, the company rely on accurate planning and vehicle efficiency.

What's the Cost of Weighing System Calibrations?

A question that gets asked time after time is, how much is the calibration cost? Especially in regards to the Axtec OnBoard System.

It’s an important consideration if you have a large number of vans in your fleet. Having to pay for a routine calibration once or twice a year could prove to be a costly exercise.

But with Axtec OnBoard, there is no need for an expensive service engineer to visit.

A unique feature of the system means that checking the calibration can be done by the customer on site and at no expense.

It’s a task that normally takes seconds and requires no specialist tools or training.

Axtec OnBoard - With Customer Calibration Facility

Imagine the irritation of an engineer turning up on site, being there a matter of minutes to be followed by a significant bill for the work.

A hidden cost of course is the inconvenience.

Having to keep vans in the yard awaiting a visit by a service engineer means they aren’t on the road doing the job you bought them for.

And who can afford that?

And what if the van is away from the depot or can’t be calibrated for some other reason?

Does the engineer have to make another expensive visit?

Because Axtec OnBoard can be reset by the customer, the routine maintenance cost is eliminated. And you can keep the vans out on the road working and earning their keep. And calibrate them when it bests suits you.

If a van is out and about, you can catch up with it another day.

Nothing can be guaranteed to never break. But because Axtec OnBoard has no manual controls, there is nothing for a driver to fiddle with or break.

And there’s no junction box on the chassis vulnerable to moisture ingress.

And if there is little to break, maintenance costs are kept to a minimum.

So, if you don’t use Axtec OnBoard, how much does it cost to maintain your onboard systems? 

The CV Show at the NEC will open it's doors on 25th April for arguably the most important three days in the transport calendar.

And we'll be on stand 5A79 by the way so come along and chat about all things axle weighing.

Even in this electronically connected world, exhibitions are still excellent for learning new ideas and discussing new ways of doing things. There's still nothing quite like a face to face meeting and getting a real feel for a customer’s operation and needs.

And the people who attend an exhibition and visit our stand have made a conscious decision to take time out of the office to come to the show, to see what's new and talk business.

Many have a specific problem and have to come to talk directly with people like us who have the experience and knowledge to offer a cost effective solution.

One such customer came to tell us that he was operating around 50 box bodies 7.5 tonners and that he’d been advised to fit load cells to them. The costs though were astronomical and although the problem remained, getting a budget to solve it would be an issue.

Axtec OnBoard find out if its right for you at the CV Show

At the CVShow we discussed his needs in detail. And whilst OnBoard system would have done the job a better solution was a Single-Axle Static weighbridge in his yard. Total cost around £7,500.00 and a far cry from the £250,000.00 he had been quoted.

More importantly, he bought the right system for his needs. Fully loaded 7.5 tonners taking products from his factory to his customers' sites with no multi-drop work really only needed to be check weighed before they left his site.

So if you need advice on what is the best system for your needs, make sure you visit the CV Show this year. Even if it's not an axle weighing system you're looking for, there will almost certainly be an expert there with a solution that could save you money.

Don't just take our word for it!

In this blog we’ve made numerous mentions of how important it is not to overload your van. But we’re not the only ones that think so.

The FTA do as well and this week produced an article with their thoughts on the subject.

We frequently run a 3.5t vehicle at maximum weight to test out new software so we have first hand knowledge of how a heavily laden vehicle handles. And our drivers, some of them qualified Class 1 HGV drivers incidentally, report that they frequently feel unsafe driving the vehicle with that much weight on even though it is legally loaded.

Overloading  a van affects so many of the major components of the vehicle that it is hardly surprising it would feel unstable, handle poorly and could be extremely dangerous.

An accident involving an overloaded van could also conceivably invalidate any insurance. And make any new insurance difficult, and expensive, to obtain.

Many professional van operators have invested in axle weighing systems, either a permanent installation, portable or onboard.

Axtec OnBoard Protecting Against Van Overloads

A permanent system is ideal if the van is leaving the yard loaded and coming back empty. Drivers can check their axle and gross weights without leaving the cab in most cases.

Portable weighpads are ideal for infrequent weighing and spot checks but do have limitations and advice should be sort before buying them for regular high throughput use. Maybe even try a set out?

The most frequently specified system, and the best option for vehicles on multi-drop work, is the Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator.

With a simple monitor showing axle and gross weights in colour, green for legal, amber for approaching maximum and flashing red for an overload, the driver gets a clear indication of how heavy his van is.

No manual controls, so the driver can’t change any of the settings or be in the wrong mode and a unique customer calibration facility so no expensive routine service visits are needed.

With modern technology, overloading a van can be easily avoided.

Van registrations are up but overloading needs to come down.

Whilst it is good news that LCV registrations for the year just past were at record levels, the sheer number of vans on our roads could cause problems. 

As Nigel Base, the SMMT’s Commercial Vehicle Manager recently stated, “ ...overloading rates are far too high and rectifying this is a key priority for the coming 12 months.”

Overloading a van can have serious consequences as it affects most of the major components on the vehicle – the ability to brake, wear on the suspension and tyres, clutch life etc.

All of these add to the cost of operating the vehicle. More fuel is used and repairs and replacement parts are not cheap.

And we have in the past been asked to determine how heavy vehicles were that have been involved in accidents to establish if the weight had been a factor.

One of those accidents proved fatal.

 There a range of systems available to make sure that vans are not overloaded, the correct one will depend upon the application. Weighpads for occasional weighing or spot checks or a fixed axle weighbridge for those vehicles delivering full loads to a single point.

The system most commonly specified however is an OnBoard Load Indicator.

Axtec OnBoard Prevents Overloading of Vans

Axtec OnBoard shows front, rear and gross weights permanently on a simple to read colour display. Both the actual numbers and a graphical display are shown so there can be no confusion.

And drivers do not have to remember what their legal weights are as the system will do it for them

Legal weights are shown in green, anything over 80% is shown in amber and overloads are automatically highlighted in flashing red.

There are no knobs, buttons or switches which makes the system simple to use. No training is needed and drivers cannot say they don’t know how to use it. They simply have to look at it.

And for the fleet operator who wants to know what is happening out on the road, outputs for connection to a tracking device are provided as standard so that overloads can be reported back to base.

If avoiding overloads on your vans is a priority for you this year, then we have a range of systems and software to help.

Changing rules?

One of the results of Brexit maybe that the rules governing goods vehicles could potentially change. 

Whilst not all EU rules are applied in every country, most member states have incorporated a good many of them into their own legislation.

Whilst some of what was decreed in Brussels might be removed, there doesn’t seem a lot to be gained going back to legislation that harks back to the 60’s. Roads, vehicles and technology have changed immensely over the years.

Plus the fact that rewriting the rules would be immensely complicated and probably take years, it seems a reasonable assumption that most of what currently applies will continue to do so.

National governments though have always been able to set their own internal rules when it comes to weights. The UK limit of 44 tonnes is lower than that applied in Ireland for instance.

In the UK there are already trials of longer artic trailers underway. These could be of huge benefit to operators who carry light but bulky materials although they come with their own potential problems; not all distribution centres can readily cope with bigger vehicles.

Axtec Dynamic will weigh any size of vehicle

Whatever changes there may be to size or weight, all Axtec systems are already able to cope.

The Axtec Dynamic Axle Weighbridge will weigh any current or projected road going vehicle regardless of size. One of the reasons the system is so extensively used is that whatever you are weighing the procedure is the same. 

Whether it’s a car derived van or one of the longer trailers currently being trialed, they can all be weighed on the Axtec Dynamic.

Similarly, Axtec OnBoard, which will fit to any 2-axle rigid and most multi-axle rigids is programmed specifically for the vehicle it is being fitted to which means that any changes in vehicle size or weight will have no effect on how it works.

All Axtec systems are effectively future proof then. So whatever the post-Brexit world throws up in terms of weight legislation, there will be an Axtec system able to ready to deal with it.

And the cost of having your van stopped is...

Estimated at £4,000.00 per day.

That's the figure estimated by DVSA as published in their Guidance notes. You can access these notes by clicking this link. 

The DVSA stops more than 15,000 vans a year. And of those stopped, almost 84% of them were found to be overloaded. In fact, overloading was the single biggest fault found with vans by some considerable margin.

Unlike Large Goods Vehicles, that is anything over 3,500kg gross weight, vans can be operated by anyone. No special licence or training is required and yet there are estimated to be around 3.6 million of them on our roads.

Many of them are obviously making deliveries, supermarket home delivery vans and parcel delivery vans but often they are seen as a mobile toolbox.

Axtec OnBoard - prevents van overloads

In those cases the driver of the van is employed as something else – a service engineer or installation engineer – and little thought is given to the van they drive with the emphasis being on how many physical tools or equipment they can get in the back rather than the weight of it.

The design weight of the van though must not be exceeded. The design gross weight includes the van, the driver and any passengers, fuel, the load and anything else that happens to be in the van.

And these days, most drivers and passengers will be kitted out with safety boots, hard hats, hi-viz jackets etc all of which add weight to the vehicle.

The cost of having a van stopped is far in excess of any fine that may be applied. Finding another van and driver and then sending them possibly miles to the prohibited vehicle is very costly.

Or how about the time and effort that might need to go into preparing a case and attending court?

And with your van prohibited you’re not getting to the job. That delivery isn’t being made. The vital piece of equipment isn’t being serviced. Your customer is being let down.

The bad will that a late delivery or missed service call generates could cost your company considerably.

Overloading a van is something that is costly and needs to be avoided so Axtec offer a range of systems to prevent it with prices starting under £1,000.00

So which could you afford more?

I would guess it’s certainly not the £4,000.00 the DVSA estimate it could be costing you.

Weighing Waste? See you at the RWM!

Only three weeks until the biggest exhibition for the waste and recycling industry takes place at the NEC.

And once again we’re delighted to be at the RWM, stand 5P151 from 13-15 September if you’d like to come and chat.

There isn’t much waste handled these days that isn’t weighed at some stage and if it’s bulk weighing or material that needs weighing on the vehicle, we’ve probably dealt with it before.

No one system can serve every requirement though which is why the RWM is such a good opportunity to chat about your requirements. The right system for keeping caged tippers legal probably won’t be the right system for monitoring throughput at a recycling centre.

And our customers include both those applications and more.

If you have an issue with keeping collection vehicles legal when out on the road, then the Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator will monitor weights throughout the round.

If it’s maximising loads on bulk vehicles taking waste for processing or monitoring throughput for statistical purposes, then the Axtec Dynamic Axle Weighbridge will provide the information you need.

But both of those systems are capable of much more than just weighing axles.

Axtec OnBoard can output detailed information to a tracking device – individual axle weights, gross weights, overload alarms – which may then be reported back to base.

The Dynamic Axle Weighbridge can be Stamped as a Public Weighbridge, the only one of its type which can, which means you can offer it to other hauliers and legally charge them for the use of it thus adding a revenue stream to your operation.

Latest Touch Screen Technology on show at RWM

This is the same system that is the choice of the government body DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) for its national network of vehicle weight enforcement weighbridges and is certified as the most accurate system of its type in the world.

Both these systems make use of the latest touch screen and wireless technology making them simple to use, reliable and difficult to break. Vital when working in the harsh world of recycling.

The RWM is an excellent opportunity to discuss the latest thinking and technology in recycling and we’ll be there with the latest products in our range.

So if your shopping list includes vehicle weighing equipment come and see us, stand 5P151 remember, and let’s talk.