Fowler Welch reduces driver handling with ‘fail-safe’ fifth wheel
Supply-chain operator Fowler Welch has reported safe coupling across its fleet since using the latest fifth wheel and coupling solutions from Fontaine Europe.
With such a high distance travelled by the fleet – approximately 63 million kilometres each year – Fowler Welch required a method of tractor-trailer coupling which was as close to ‘fail-safe’ as possible, and guaranteed to keep driver handling to a minimum.
“We operate around the clock from eight key depots in the UK,” said Paul Allera, head of fleet, “and every day we experience a high drop and pick-up rate. The TechLock fifth wheel couplers we use from Fontaine have a unique jaw mechanism with a height sensor that will not allow the fifth wheel to close if the kingpin enters at the wrong height or position.
“Basically, this ensures 100 per cent connection and takes away the need for drivers to check that the king pin is engaged. In other words, no contact-no couple – which means the days of miscoupling are gone.”
Furthermore, Paul Allera points to the fact that other fifth wheels can appear to be connected when in fact they are not and in such cases, trailers can easily be dropped and with potentially disastrous consequences.
The TechLock system also has a 360-degree kingpin contact surface which negates the requirement for wear-ring replacement – which is said not only to help from a safety point of view but also to extend the life of the kingpin.
Fowler Welch manages over 900,000 sq ft of controlled warehousing, and in addition to its fresh produce, flowers, chilled and ambient transport services, also provides cross-docking, picking, container destuffing and packaging.
Of the 307 tractors operated by the company, currently 43 per cent are Euro 6. This will rise to 61 per cent in December 2015 which, adds Paul Allera, is testament to the company’s commitment towards maintaining a modern and clean vehicle fleet.
As the European arm of Fontaine International, Warrington-based Fontaine Europe provides a wide range of specialist fifth wheel and trailer coupling solutions which are certified to QS900 and accredited to ISO/TS 16949, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
