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Staying on the road for safer deliveries
Road tankers often weigh over 50 tonnes and stand as high as several cars. Accelerating and braking hard or a sudden change in direction can tip them over – with serious consequences. Shell’s chemicals business has developed a system that gives drivers an early warning so they can respond immediately and take corrective action to avoid such incidents.
John Verghese drives a large articulated tanker in the Middle East delivering liquid products for oil companies. “Out on the road I am isolated in the cab,” he says. “I didn’t always feel safe as the trailer could tip without me realising in time and perhaps end in disaster.” His company, Tristar Transportation, wanted to change this.
In 2010 Tristar tried out a new device – developed by Shell Chemicals, engine manufacturer Bertocco and engineering company Studio Meril – that warns drivers when the trailer risks tipping. This helps improve safety on the road.
Early warning
Chemical tanker truck rollovers are rare but pose a potentially serious safety risk
A receiver in the cab receives and records details of the vehicle’s load, weight distribution and centre of gravity to calculate its potential tipping point. A sensor in the trailer detects the truck’s acceleration and tilt, then transmits this information to the receiver via a wireless connection.
A common cause of a tanker rolling over is an error of judgement on the part of the driver as it approaches a sharp bend. If there is a risk of tipping, the receiver triggers a light on the driver’s dashboard. It also activates an alarm which becomes louder until the driver takes corrective action. “Thanks to this immediate alert I realise sooner I must slow down or adjust my steering,” says John.
The system also delivers information on how many times each driver has faced the potential risk of rolling over. Using the on-board monitoring system and satellite tracking, managers can pinpoint where these potential tipping points occur. “We have been able to retrain our drivers and warn them of possible hazards where they must take extra care,” says Faisal Majeed Bhatti, Tristar Group HSE Manager.
Tristar drivers using the device have significantly reduced the incidence of potential rollovers. Tristar Transportation has now installed the device in all 40 of its vehicles in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
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