Breaking safe

SETTING THE STANDARD

GOUGH TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH TROUT RIVER AUSTRALIA TO MAKE ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEMS A STANDARD OFFERING IN ITS TRUCK AND TRAILER FLEET.

While there’s been a steady rise in Electronic Braking System (EBS) fitment to heavy trailers over the past decade or so, the uptake is set to ramp up under new Federal Government legislation.

The Federal Government plans to mandate Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for heavy vehicles and Roll Stability Control (RSC) for heavy trailers later this year.

In the construction sector, it’s particularly important for multiple applications, including ensuring contractors can move materials or linemark safely.

Likewise, tight access sites may pose various safety risks and therefore having the confidence to navigate potential blind spots is crucial.

Embodied by the respective Australian Design Rules ADR 35/06 and 38/05 – the potentially life-saving technology will be standard on trucks and trailers in the months to follow.

ADR 35/06 is set to be implemented to require ESC for new prime movers greater than 12 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). ADR 38/05 to require anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for new trailers greater than 4.5 tonnes Gross Trailer Mass (GTM), with the addition of RSC for new trailers greater than 10 tonnes GTM.

Implementation dates for trucks are 1 November 2019 for new model vehicles and 1 November 2021 for all other vehicles.

As part of its strong relationship with Gough Transport Solutions, Trout River Australia has made WABCO trailer EBS a standard offering in its builds.

Rodney Wells, General Manager at Trout River Australia, says that all truck and trailers built from November 1 will comprise EBS as standard.

In the lead-up to this year’s Australian Design Rule ADR 38/05 mandate of electronic braking systems on heavy trailers, Gough Transport Solutions has adapted a function within the WABCO EBS that emits a soft green hue in the cab to indicate it is functioning.

To ensure the safety of operators at all times, an EBS warning light on the dash of the truck illuminates when a fault is detected.

ANOTHER BENEFIT WHEN THE NEW ADR 38/05 BECOMES LAW LATER THIS YEAR IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WILL BE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN EBS OPERATION DURING REGULATION DRIVE-THROUGH WEIGHING PROCEDURES, FOR EXAMPLE.

Typical examples of EBS not being operational are when an EBS cable is not connected during trailer coupling or becomes dislodged during the trip. When this happens the braking system defaults to the standard air operation which renders the vital safety features like Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) and Roll Stability Control (RSC) inoperative. This can also lead to severe brake imbalance with trailer wheel lockup causing undue wear on tyres and brake components.

Other recently adapted safety features that rely on operational EBS include WABCO TailGUARD where during a reversing procedure the brakes are autonomously applied when a sensor detects an object close behind the trailer.

With the GTS ‘green light’ system, the driver can clearly see each green light of the combination in the rear-view mirror and therefore has peace of mind that EBS is functioning on all trailers. Similarly, it provides visual confirmation for the likes of operations managers as the vehicle leaves the depot.

Another benefit when the new ADR 38/05 becomes law later this year is that law enforcement officers will be able to ascertain EBS operation during regulation drive-through weighing procedures, for example.

Mr. Wells says that the new generation WABCO EBS includes ignition and power circuits wired into the computer so if any circuits are broken a green light will go out, indicating it is not working.

He says that it works in a similar way to the green light on the front of fridge vans that continuously glows to signal normal operation of the refrigeration plant.

“We see it as an important safety feature that assures the truck operator that the EBS is working on the whole combination, be it semi-trailer, B-double or road train,” Mr. Wells says.

Apart from the obvious safety benefits for the driver and other road users, functioning EBS is also a necessary part of the system that enables recording of operational incidents such as heavy braking or roll stability activation for subsequent downloading by fleet managers in order to monitor driver behaviour.

That’s not to mention the added safety benefits of EBS such as WABCO’s TailGUARD, which automatically brakes the trailer if it comes too close to an object when reversing.

While the EBS offers Trout River Australia trailer combinations multiple benefits, the strong relationship with Gough Transport Solutions is a value add.

Fast Fact Gough Transport Solutions (GTS) is a prominent supplier of quality truck and trailer equipment including hydraulics, braking systems, tail lifts, concrete pumps, plants, agitators and equipment. The company has a nationwide network of modern, well equipped workshops and field service divisions to capably manage the installation and servicing of the products it sells. EBS has a variety of benefits, including roll stability support required by ADR38/05 to reduce the risk of trailer roll overs. Anti-lock braking offers improved directional control and reduced tyre flat spotting. Brake-by-wire technology provides faster brake apply and release times to reduce the stopping distance.