Thamesdown adopts ‘drive-over’ tyre pressure monitoring system
Swindon bus operator Thamesdown Transport has adopted a new ‘drive-over’ tyre pressure monitoring system, developed in the UK by Oxford-based WheelRight.
WheelRight claims the new system could save operators thousands of pounds in fuel costs and improve the safety of passengers, bus drivers and depot engineers alike. It uses algorithms to process the data as the tyre rolls over it to calculate pressures, thus doing away with the need for manual checking.
Thamesdown, which won Bus Operator of the Year at the 2011 UK Bus Awards, operates a fleet of 80 buses from its Swindon depot, and has adopted the remote monitoring system due to its now proven ability to spot poorly inflated tyres and even identify slow punctures before they become a problem. The WheelRight solution is also suitable for goods vehicle and car fleets, the company says.
To check tyre pressures, Thamesdown’s maintenance team simply drive the buses over a flush mounted device embedded into the road that contains highly sensitive, yet robust sensors. The WheelRight sensor is installed at the Swindon depot between the fuel bay and the bus wash, enabling pressures to be checked quickly and without the need for any additional equipment.
Within seconds of driving over the monitoring strip, a series of calculations is carried out, with the real-time pressures being sent directly to the fleet manager, via text or email.
During a seven month, full-scale trial at its Swindon depot, Thamesdown reported significant benefits from the WheelRight system. Taking into account the cost of tyre pressure checks, puncture avoidances as well as fuel and tyre savings, WheelRight estimates savings of approximately £33,000 per year for the operator. This figure does not include unquantifiable benefits such as improved safety, environmental impact and enhanced service, the company adds.
Thamesdown head of engineering Dave Spencer said: “With this new technology, our passengers can be assured of even greater safety on the road. 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.
“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.”
John Catling, CEO of WheelRight, added: “Having conducted a full scale trial lasting seven months, we have some really robust data on the practical implementation and performance of our technology. Clearly, the management team at Thamesdown has seen the benefits that our solution can bring to their business.
“It’s satisfying to see our partnership with Thamesdown come to fruition and make a real difference to the day to day operation of this pioneering bus company. Their ethos of continuous improvement and willingness to embrace new ways of working has contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the WheelRight system at the Swindon depot.”
