Helps eliminate miscoupling safety issues
After completing successful trials of a safety fifth wheel from Fontaine Europe, Somerset-based distribution and warehousing operator, Massey Wilcox Transport, has fitted a further eight wheels with LED sensor systems which, says the company, provide a fail-safe for drivers when coupling tractor units to semi-trailers.
With the fleet’s tractor units constantly interchanging with a variety of dry freight trailers, Massey Wilcox needed a fifth wheel which could help eliminate potential safety issues caused by miscoupling.
“The first fifth wheel we tried from another manufacturer was not completely reliable because the sensor device failed to deliver a signal or sent false alarms when it was obscured by grease or dirt,” explains managing director and owner Robert Wilcox. “We turned to Fontaine Europe, whose LED Sensor system can’t fail in this respect because the mechanism relies on a combination of jaw sensor, handle sensor and a good old safety clip to get a ‘green light’ and confirm that the tractor is fully coupled.”
“We have conscientious, experienced drivers, but even so, mistakes can be made – particularly when things are busy and the light is poor,” continues Wilcox. “With the Fontaine system, we have not seen any miscouplings and it is definitely an advantage from a health and safety and equipment protection point of view.”
After engaging, the driver needs to check that the fifth wheel safety clip is attached, in which case a highly visible green LED light will show, both by the handle on the fifth wheel and in the cab. If for some reason the driver has not confirmed that the safety clip is attached, a red light will show in the cab, alongside a flashing green light and an alarm will sound for 30 seconds. As an additional safety procedure, the external LED light can be checked by security before the vehicle departs.
