This post is courtesy of Midlands Truck & Van.
West Midlands-based operators of fuel tankers and other vehicles used to transport hazardous goods are welcoming the new service being provided by Midlands Truck & Van for specialist maintenance and repair back-up.
The Mercedes-Benz Dealer has opened a workshop bay at its branch in Birmingham compliant with ADR and Petroleum Regulations, open to operators of all makes of tractor unit and rigid truck used to transport petroleum, including petroleum tank semi-trailers.
As a further service to their customers, the workshop will be operational on a round-the-clock basis, from 6am on Mondays until Saturday lunchtimes.
Midlands Truck & Van began trading towards the end of 2020 from its purpose-built, £7-million Dealership in Cornwall Road, Smethwick. The ‘Pet. Reg’ bay, which opened early in the New Year, is located at the far end of the workshop. It has a 15-metre pit and, for safety purposes, is separated by a wall from the rest of the building, which boasts six drive-through truck and trailer bays, and others for vans.
To comply with the Health and Safety Executive and Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations the Dealer has invested some £75,000 on specialist and custom-built inspection equipment and ADR Hazardous Goods training for Truck Service Manager Dean Bennett and the four hand-picked technicians manning the bay. ‘Big ticket’ items include a bespoke working-at-height facility, while the inventory includes vapour tightness testing systems and dedicated gas detector units, adaptors and connectors to facilitate the safe opening and closing of valves.
Midlands Truck & Van’s technicians are fully trained to identify possible leaks and will be permitted to maintain and replace items of service equipment in accordance with the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Guidance on the application of EN 12972. A vapour tightness test will be undertaken following completion of a repair or replacement. The Dealer is authorised to issue the Safe Loading Passes required by participating fuel terminals, confirming that certain additional mechanical and electrical systems fitted to a road tanker have been maintained to an acceptable safety standard.
Managing Director Steve Hunt confirmed: “We’d planned from the outset to establish a Pet. Reg. operation at Smethwick, and the bay was incorporated within the original design of the building. It was ‘mothballed’ while we focused on delivering the mainstream repair and maintenance support that our customers rely upon.”
Consultancy advice on equipping the new bay and on-site training was provided by Melville Wilby, of Cardinal Solutions, and Eric Gillespie, of EBG Services, both of whom have long track records in the petroleum engineering and associated sectors. Members of the Dealer’s technical team have also attended a J Coates (HGV) Services course on driving ADR hazardous goods vehicles, so they are qualified to move trucks and trailers in and out of the bay.
Steve Hunt continued: “The very significant investment we’re making in our new Pet. Reg. service reflects Midlands Truck & Van’s commitment to provide customers with a truly comprehensive, ‘one-stop shop’ service.
“I’ve every confidence that by adding this additional string to our bow, we’ll also be opening the door to conversations and opportunities to grow our business with operators that don’t currently have relationships with us.”
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