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Driving safe practice in the transport industry

A simple but effective in-cab warning device, co-developed by Shell, should help to reduce the risk of tanker rollovers during product deliveries and could have wide-scale application across the transport industry.

The response from drivers has been very positive and has confirmed the system provides realistic warnings.

Chemical tanker truck rollovers are a fortunately rare but potentially serious safety risk.

Chemical tanker truck rollovers are a fortunately rare but potentially serious safety risk, both in terms of loss of product containment and personal injury.

Excessive speed while cornering can adversely affect the stability of a trailer. “Sudden or severe changes in direction or speed can create inertia in the load being carried which, in certain situations such as on roundabouts, is sufficient to tip the trailer over,” explains Riccardo Magliocchi, Shell Chemicals HSSE (health, safety, security and environment) Advisor.

He says drivers of road tankers are usually unaware of an impending rollover: “By the time they see or feel something wrong, it’s usually too late.” The rollover threshold varies according to the type and make of vehicle and load being carried, but tipping can occur at speeds as low as 30 kilometres per hour.

Shell Chemicals teams in Europe have been engaging with contractor hauliers and drivers to raise awareness of the risk and consequences of rollovers. To help further reduce the risk, they have now developed a simple device that provides in-cab early warning of when a vehicle is at risk of tipping, giving drivers the chance to take corrective action.

The Shell early Rollover Warning Device (RWD) was developed in collaboration with Bertocco, an automotive components manufacturer, and Studio Merli, an engineering company. The RWD consists of a sensor that is attached to a road tanker trailer and a receiving unit that can be fitted to the dashboard of the truck cab. The system can be fitted to road tankers of any type, shape, configuration or age.

“There was nothing like this available on the market so we had to develop a system ourselves,” explains Magliocchi. If the acceleration data being sent by the sensor exceeds the safe theoretical rollover threshold for the vehicle, the device displays a visual LED traffic light warning as well as an acoustic alarm.

Industry applications

In 2009, the RWD is being piloted with Star Chemical Logistic in Italy, where it has been installed on eight vehicles. “We are analysing the data and driver feedback from these trials to finalise the system design,” says Jaap-Jan de Bokx, Land Logistics Manager for Europe/Africa. “The response from drivers has been very positive and has confirmed the system provides realistic and useful warnings, especially when the drivers’ attention is focused on road or traffic conditions.”

The system has been presented to hauliers in both Europe and the US at industry events and has attracted the attention of truck manufacturers. Initially, it will be promoted to Shell Chemicals contractor hauliers in Europe as a voluntary measure.

“Future legislation in Europe may require a form of rollover warning to be fitted to commercial vehicle trailers,” says de Bokx, “and our unit represents a very cost effective interim solution for our road transport providers.”

Did you know…

- Rollovers involving Shell Chemicals contractor haulier’s vehicles have reduced dramatically in recent years thanks to increased focus and engagement on logistics safety.

- ISO container vehicles are at greater risk of tipping due to their higher centre of gravity.

- The Rollover Warning Device has been externally verified, tested and approved for use in the transportation of products classed as Dangerous Goods in the European Union.

This feature was added to the Innovations section in August 2009