ATA unveils safety alerts

The Australian Trucking Association is rolling out a series of safety alerts to help highlight on-going safety issues that have come to the attention of the body's Industry Technical Council.

The first two alerts in the series are now available – one details potential problems arising from the use of incompatible airlines and fittings, while the other highlights the dangers of using Suzi coils to connect brake airlines across drawbar couplings.

According to ATA Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Melham, the safety alerts series reflects issues presented to its Industry Technical Council.

"Safety is the major priority for the trucking industry," he said.

"Preventative maintenance and workshop procedures play a crucial role in making sure the heavy vehicle fleet operates safely on the road. However, from time to time issues arise that aren't found in any manual.

"In one of our first safety alerts, operators are cautioned against using a Suzi coil – a very stretchy airline – to connect brake airlines across a drawbar coupling.

"In the unlikely event of a trailer decoupling on the road it is designed to fail safe, with emergency brakes coming on as soon as the airline connection is cut.

"Suzi coils meet the technical requirements for this connection but, in an emergency, the coil would stretch significantly before it was pulled apart – delaying the application of emergency brakes.

"It's a serious issue with a very simple solution. By distributing these safety alerts, the ATA aims to increase awareness of these considerations, and help trucking operators and workshops ensure that their vehicles are as safe as they can be."

The ATA safety alerts explain the urgency of each problem, indicate key personnel who should be made aware of the information, and provide clear follow-up actions to address the issues.

New alerts will be released as issues come to the ATA's attention.

Click here to view the first safety alert and here to view the second.