R&J Coaches has been hugely impressed with Wheely-Safe Connect after the real-time monitoring system saved the business sending one of its vehicles out on tour with an underinflated tyre.
The Ashford-based public transport operator is in the process of fitting the technology across its entire fleet, following a successful trial on five Mercedes Sprinter minibuses.
Leigh Swan, Compliance Manager at R&J Coaches, says: “We started with the minibuses, largely due to the difficulty of keeping track of the pressures on the inner wheels which are traditionally very hard to monitor. It worked out so well that we quickly took the decision to roll it out to all our vehicles, and we’re very happy we did.
“We’ve had a couple of instances now where we have been notified overnight that a tyre is losing pressure. One of the alerts came in over Christmas, when no one was in. The coach was due to depart on a big tour and there had been a significant loss of pressure in one of its tyres. In the past we would have been totally reliant on the driver turning up for duty and noticing the issue. But with the connected Wheely-Safe kit fitted we were able to safely deal with the issue before the vehicle went out.”
Wheely-Safe technology combines intelligent tyre pressure monitoring with wheel loss detection, as well as wheel rim temperature monitoring. The latest generation system enables data to be transmitted not only to the driver in the cab but also to the transport management team back at base.
This real-time information allows for quicker identification of issues, improving fleet management, reducing downtime, and enhancing vehicle safety.
“We have it set up so the email alerts come into a few of us on the team,” explains Leigh. “As a passenger transport operator, safety is always foremost in our decision making, and the 24-hour monitoring gives us huge peace of mind. It’s an intuitive dashboard display, which gives valuable data on the health of the tyres, wheels, hubs, and braking system. Long range tour work is a big part of what we do, so to have that connectivity with the vehicles now while they are out on the road will be a real boost to our compliance and efficiency of our operation.”
Family run R&J Coaches operates five Mercedes Sprinter minibuses, 16 coaches – a mix of Mercedes Tourismo and Vanhool vehicles – and two service buses. Its work includes school contracts, private hire and tours across the UK and into Europe.
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Notes to editor:
Wheely-Safe is an innovative automotive technology company established in 2010 by Gary Thomas and Gary Broadfield. Combining their complementary expertise – Thomas as Director of a transport compliance consultancy and Broadfield as a Director of Technology and prolific inventor for a leading Japanese electronics manufacturer – they set out to address two critical challenges in the automotive industry: wheel loss and under-inflated tyres.
In its early years, Wheely-Safe focused on securing global patent protection and developing compact, durable technology suitable for all vehicle types – from cars and vans to trucks and trailers. The company introduced its first commercial products in 2018, followed by a second-generation range in 2023, further advancing safety and efficiency standards across the sector.
For more information, please visit www.wheely-safe.com.
For further press information please contact:
Dan Jones or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler PR on 020 8647 4467 or by email to dan.jones@garnettkeeler.com / james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
To access Wheely-Safe’s online newsroom please visit https://www.gk.news/wheelysafe
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