Everquip: quality equipment aids compliance
Vehicle workshop solutions provider Everquip has outlined the importance of equipment such as roller brake testers as a means of complying with increasingly stringent Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) expectations.
The company highlights the DVSA’s recent focus on the importance of vehicles being loaded when undergoing brake testing procedures, as outlined in the latest edition of its Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness for commercial goods and public service vehicles.
With limited exceptions, the agency has been requiring that vehicles and trailers are appropriately laden when presented for annual test since January; and the guide states that: “From April 2025 there will be an expectation that a laden roller brake test or EBPMS will be the only accepted methods to assess brake performance,” unless this is impractical due to basic design limitations or restrictions caused by the type of cargo normally carried.
Fleet operators and workshop managers should consider investing in brake testers that are specifically designed for commercial vehicles, Everquip says, which should be able to accurately measure the braking force of a fully loaded vehicle and produce a report that shows whether the vehicle meets the required standards.
“Testing a vehicle when it is in a loaded condition is important because it ensures that the vehicle meets the required safety standards in the conditions it is expected to operate in,” said the company.
“A vehicle that is tested when empty or partially loaded may meet the required standards under those conditions, but may not be safe when fully loaded.”
The DVSA has included further information on the presentation of laden vehicles for testing in its Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness; and Everquip advises that fleet operators and workshop managers should follow this guide to ensure that vehicles are tested in a safe and appropriate manner.
Everquip managing director, Stuart Everard, said: “The new roadworthiness specification from the DVSA represents an important step forward for the industry.
“It highlights the need for investment in high-quality equipment such as brake testers and mobile column lifts, as well as the implementation of robust systems and processes to ensure compliance. Ultimately, this will help to improve road safety and protect the reputation of the commercial vehicle sector.”
Everquip, a manufacturer and installer of commercial vehicle pits, also supplies a range of brake testers, mobile column lifts, and commercial garage equipment.
The company has developed an approved commercial brake tester lift-bed specifically designed for the UK testing market.
“This innovative brake tester lifts the axle with the chassis securely strapped down, eliminating the need to load the vehicle to simulate a loaded weight,” said Everquip.
“The design of this lift-bed brake tester caters to vehicles that are difficult to load, such as tankers, certain trailers, and concrete mixers. It also significantly reduces labour time required for loading the vehicle.
“Compared to the traditional loading of concrete blocks, Everquip’s new lift-bed brake tester saves an average of 30 minutes per test.
“Loading tankers with water and purging them before carrying loads like cocoa and whiskey can take hours, but this new brake tester eliminates the need for this time-consuming process.
“The lift-bed brake tester not only saves time, but also improves the testing process by ensuring that vehicles are tested when fully loaded and meets the required safety standards.”
