As we all know, an MOT (Ministry of Transport) test is an annual safety inspection legally required for most vehicles over three years old being driven on the road in the UK. HGVs are no exception – in fact the regulations governing safety standards for these big trucks and trailers are, fittingly, far more rigorous than they are for cars and vans.
We are competent to prepare and present trucks and trailers for MOTs at our workshop in Haydock, Merseyside, but to keep their transport operator’s license our clients must also ensure that their heavy vehicles are tested and inspected at least every six to 12 weeks. These frequent regular HGV inspections are known as PMIs (Preventative Maintenance Inspections), and we schedule them on a pre-planned system to keep our clients compliant.
A PMI includes checks on things like:
Our workshop in Haydock is equipped and staffed with skilled personnel who are competent to carry out legally required tests and examinations on HGVs to comply with LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) and DVSA guidelines for a minimum of four laden roller brake tests annually.
HGV operators who have vehicles fitted with tail lifts, mounted cranes, skip loaders or any sort of lifting equipment are required under LOLER to have Statutory Thorough Examinations (STEs) at specific intervals by accredited experts like us at TC Motion Repairs Ltd. We then supply a detailed report outlining the condition of the equipment and any defects that were identified.
Brake performance is critical for HGV safety, which is why laden roller brake tests are increasingly encouraged to check brake efficiency under realistic operating conditions.
We carry out loaded brake tests on trucks and trailers according to DVSA guidelines, where the vehicle is loaded to 65% of its design axle weight, to measure the ratio of braking force to vehicle weight; brake imbalance between wheels on the same axle; variations in braking force during wheel rotation; and whether vehicle’s brakes are sticking.
As technology makes incursions into all areas of the transportation industry the adoption of advanced safety systems is proliferating and growing more sophisticated as it is increasingly integrated in new vehicles – or retro-fitted into older models.
The safety of HGVs, their drivers and other road users is of paramount importance to our team at TC Motion Repairs Ltd., which is why we have specialists who can install, check and, if necessary, repair warning and monitoring systems and safety devices to assist HGV drivers.
Speak to us about installing and calibrating essential equipment such as:
