Rescue Online has launched a portable, replacement airline and electrical line kit to enable drivers to repair damaged susies, rather than call out a breakdown recovery vehicle.
According to figures from sister print title Commercial Motor's annual Breakdown Test, a recovery vehicle can take up to four hours to arrive. However, Simon Kay, director of Rescue Online, says that a driver using Recoilkit can fix a problem in just 10 minutes, saving the operator both time and associated call-out costs.
Kay estimates that across the UK there are 120,000 tractors pulling 500,000 semi-trailers, and that a tractor/semi-trailer combination will typically damage, snap or lose two lines a year. He explains: "The most likely incident to cause damage is close-quarter manoeuvring, such as tight u-turns where an air or electrical line will be torn off."
The company already offers replacement air and electrical line kits through its 60-strong service network, but it is now rolling the product out to operators in a container that fits into the external lockers on trucks.
The standard Recoilkit box includes a high-visibility jacket, male and female electric lines, red and yellow airlines, 12-piece adapter kit, three adjustable spanners, safety glasses, disposable sack and gloves.
An operator can add twin-electric lines, ABS lead, C-couplings, two palm couplings, electric socket, and ABS socket, as options.
The standard kit costs £125 (ex-VAT), and Kay says it will "pay for itself after its first use".
CM has already put the product to the test and will publish its findings in January 2010.