All Posts by Kevin Wood

0 Are your forklift inspection routines putting your business at risk?

What should forklift operators check, and when?

While most forklift accidents are caused by the operator (they get complacent about safety, and push boundaries to speed up work processes), many could be avoided with a daily forklift inspection. In this blog post, you’ll learn what your forklift operators should be checking before they begin work and at the end of a shift.

How bad can a forklift accident be?

It’s easy to assume that a forklift accident will, at worst, lead to damaged goods, or perhaps a mechanical problem with the forklift. Unfortunately, statistics show otherwise. According to Safe Work Australia, since 2003 there have been 61 deaths caused by forklift accidents in Australia.

In addition to these fatalities, there are regularly more than 900 serious injury claims each year, because of forklifts. A serious injury claim is one that causes one week or more of lost time from work. The industries where most serious injury claims are made are manufacturing, followed by transport, postal, warehousing, wholesale, and then retail.

And get this: the average time off work as a result of incidents with forklifts in 2014/15 was 5.4 weeks, at an average cost of $11,043 per claim.

Australian industry is losing, on average, around 4,860 weeks of productive work, just because of forklift accidents!

How can you reduce forklift accidents in the workplace?

To reduce the number of accidents, injury claims, and fatalities caused by forklifts in the workplace, it is, of course, essential that forklift operators observe forklift handling rules always. Regular training and retraining may be necessary, and supervisors should emphasise safety over speed.

However, over and above operator error, many injuries and fatalities could be avoided by ensuring equipment is properly inspected before and after the operation. Unfortunately, forklift inspections are often neglected, with sometimes catastrophic results.

When should forklift inspections be carried out?

Operators should certainly inspect their forklifts before starting work. Yes, the warehouse may be busy, and the forklift operator will get the blame for holding up loading and delivery. Truck drivers are waiting, and their time is running down. But none of this is an excuse for shoddy safety routine.

Checking the forklift at the beginning of the shift should be the operator’s first priority. It could save their life and the lives of others. When the shift is finished, the operator should inspect the tyres again.

There is no excuse for not inspecting your forklift before a shift begins or when a shift ends. Forklift operators, supervisors, and the business should ask themselves what is more important – avoiding a ten-minute delay in delivery, or avoiding a death or serious injury on site?

What if problems are found?

If a problem is uncovered during a forklift inspection, there is only one course of action to take: pull the forklift from service. Get the problem fixed. If the forklift’s tyres are the issue, have them repaired onsite. The forklift should not be put back into operation until it is deemed safe to do so.

What should be on your forklift inspection checklist?

Each operator should have a pre-operational checklist to complete. Forklift manufacturers may supply examples, but you may need to update and modify according to your actual operations. A simple tick list of checks will ensure the operator carries out a thorough inspection, and that your operation is a safer place to work.

Here are a few suggestions as to what should be checked at every inspection:

• Check oil, water, and hydraulic fluid level
• Check and test mast chains
• Make sure that the load backrest functions properly
• Check finger guards
• Test seatbelts, horns, and lights
• Check the brakes and steering
• Look for visible signs of forklift damage
• Examine electrics, including cables, wires, and batteries
• Take notice of coolant levels, and ensure air filters and radiators are in good condition
• Check the condition of forklift tyres – look for cuts and gouges
• Check forklift tyre pressures

Also, the operator’s manual and log book should be with the vehicle always.

Check your forklifts and stop costly accidents occurring

It’s simple really. Any accident at work will harm your business. There will always be a cost involved. At best, this may be a few hours of work lost. At worst, an employee or workplace visitor could pay with their life. Your company’s reputation will suffer, as will its finances.

Ensuring that your forklift operators carry out pre-shift checks and complete a comprehensive checklist will help to reduce accidents in your workplace – all of which are avoidable.

On top of the obvious safety issues, regular checks will mean problems are discovered early. Downtime will be reduced, as will maintenance costs: caught early, small maintenance issues shouldn’t become large and expensive mechanical problems.

To find out about our comprehensive tyre services for forklift operators in Queensland, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your business and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 How truck fleet managers can reduce the top cause of breakdowns in Queensland

A truck tyre strategy for every day and roadside emergencies

In studies across Australia and around the world, tyres are the number one reason trucks break down while on the road. In this article, you’ll find out how you can reduce tyre issues while your truck is on the road, and what to do if you do break down on the roads around Brisbane and Queensland.

Cutting costs is a top priority for Australian truck fleets

It’s likely that your fleet is already investing heavily in cutting costs.

• Recently, we’ve discussed how routing software helps fleet managers to more easily optimise routes on the fly and in real time. It helps keeps trucks on the road for longer, and should help smaller fleets and single truck owners thrive in a challenging environment.
• We’ve also considered that the era of the executive truck driver could be upon us, with a single driver in charge of a convoy of autonomous trucks platooning around Queensland and the rest of Australia.

However, the competitive and cost benefits of modern technology and new working routines will be lost with truck breakdowns. So why do they happen, and what could they cost you?

What could a roadside breakdown cost you?

A roadside breakdown often triggers a domino topple of costly actions. You may need your truck to be towed. There will be downtime. You will probably have to dispatch another truck. You have a driver with wasted hours.

And the money saved by platooning a convoy could be a drop in the ocean compared to the damage a single truck breakdown within the convoy could cause: dozens of missed deliveries or pick-ups, and a previously unblemished reputation shattered. You could lose customers.

How likely are tyres to be the cause of roadside breakdowns?

Tyres are the number one cause of truck breakdowns on the roads, but just how much more likely is your truck to suffer a tyre issue than any other while on the road?

The most telling data available comes from FleetNet America. They compiled data from 60,000 truck repair vendors across the United States, over a five-year period. The research found that one in four roadside truck breakdowns was because of tyre problems. Tyres cause roadside problems twice as often as brakes.

What a difference it could make to your fleet costs and efficiency if you never had a tyre failure, or when you did, it was dealt with more quickly.

Use a strategy to help your tyres last longer

Improved maintenance procedures should help to reduce tyre problems on the road. In our blog post ‘Truck tyres in Brisbane – tyre management strategies that slash costs’, we detailed a 7-step fleet tyre management strategy to cut tyre costs:

1. Purchase the best tyres that fit the required purpose
2. Track truck tyres from day one
3. Delegate responsibilities
4. Create a tyre maintenance policy and set out procedures
5. Carry out regular tyre cleaning
6. Decide on a tyre replacement and buying policy
7. Analyse why tyres have been scrapped

With a comprehensive tyre maintenance strategy in place, the occurrence of tyre failures while your trucks are on the road should drastically reduce. But there will still be occasions when even the best tyre maintenance program can’t stop a tyre failure on the road. How you handle this could be the difference between retaining and losing customers.

Your on-the-road tyre emergency plan

Before your trucks leave the depot, make sure that your drivers are prepared for a tyre failure on the road:

• Ensure that mobile phones and radio systems are fully charged and that drivers have fully charged spare batteries onboard
• Drivers should have contact details for all customers on their route – phone numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts – to warn them of altered delivery times as soon as they can
• Routes should be checked for accidents, roadworks, and other obstacles (e.g. weather) before leaving the depot
• Check that the truck is fitted with emergency equipment, including jacks, fire extinguishers, food and water
• Emergency numbers of 24/7 roadside maintenance and repair services

While prevention is always better than cure, it pays for your truck fleet to be prepared for all eventualities.

To find out about our comprehensive services for truck owners and fleets, including our 24/7 truck and commercial mobile service – covering Queensland from south of Southport to north of Warana and east of Laidley – contact Darra Tyres today. Your fleet should never be stranded on roads in and around Brisbane again.

Keeping your business and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 The era of the Executive Truck Driver is upon us

Why driverless fleets could need highly paid specialist truck drivers

Truck fleet owners are getting serious about driverless trucks. The benefits are obvious. Fuel costs and driver salaries combined make up almost two-thirds of a fleet’s cost base. Autonomous trucks will remove the need for almost all drivers, and allow ‘platoons’ of trucks to drive within just a few metres of each other. Fewer drivers will slash salary spending, and ‘platooning’ cuts fuel costs by up to 10%.

The truck industry is one of the most dangerous in Australia, with 15 times the number of deaths among drivers as there are among employees in other industries. Automated truck technology promises to improve safety levels.

Driverless platoons are forecast to hit Australia’s roads by 2025. Where will this technology leave today’s truck drivers? Will truck drivers become redundant overnight?

Truck driver jobs will be lost, but the impact may be less than expected

At the end of May, the International Transport Forum said that autonomous vehicles would reduce freight costs, slash exhaust emissions, and improve road safety. The cost of these benefits, it said, would be seen mostly on driver jobs. It expects between 50% and 70% of truck driver jobs to be made redundant. Such job losses in Australia would need to be managed, but may not impact truck drivers as much as they might expect.

The freight market in Australia is expected to grow by 26% over the next ten years. If this transpires and there will be no change in the way that truck fleets are operated, this would create a need for another 25% more driver jobs across the country. By dovetailing the introduction of driverless technology with the increase in freight, job losses wouldn’t hit so hard. Also, there will be retirements which will also reduce the technological impact. Some drivers will decide to move to other industries.

In summary, while the International Transport Forum may be right about the scale of truck driver jobs lost, the impact on drivers currently in the industry is likely to be a lot less than they might think.

In Australia, truck drivers will have new opportunities

Driving in Australia is very different to driving in Europe or America. The first place we’re likely to see driverless trucks in convoy is on major roads and highways. As the technology becomes proven, truck fleets will probably seek to extend service to the Australian Outback.

It will present a whole new set of challenges to the technology employed: animals running into the paths of trucks; heat; and roads that are more like farm tracks, taking their toll on engines and tyres.

Truck convoys could be hundreds of metres long. Loads might include livestock, fuel, or hazardous materials. Dust is a problem for other vehicles that want to overtake.

As GPS technology, truck-to-truck cameras and links, road and traffic and truck sensors increase in ability and fleet use, driverless convoys are likely to become the norm.  But a driverless convoy may be a step too far. Enter the Executive Truck Driver.

What might the Executive Truck Driver of the future be?

It’s likely that the lead driver in a driverless convoy will have more responsibility. They’ll have to control the convoy, using in-cab technology to monitor how each truck is performing.

The Executive Truck Driver of the future is likely to be more technologically experienced than the truck driver of today, and enrol as a multitalented supervisor. They will need to be ready to take control of the truck and pursuing platoon when it’s needed. They will need to obtain information about roads and weather and liaise with customers. They will also control maintenance on the road, and ensure that engines and tyres are in top condition for the journey ahead.

The Executive Driver will need to input reams of data into onboard computers, allowing sensors to adapt to immediate and upcoming conditions and environments. In short, the job of a driver is changing.

How fast will platooning take off in Australia?

The software that will allow trucks to drive together in a close convoy is being tested as I write, and it’s being improved almost daily. Truck manufacturers are preparing for rollout within a couple of years. The truck industry is likely to force through change. Lower fuel and employee costs, as well as better on-road safety, will encourage firms to change sooner rather than later. Uptake of platooning is likely to snowball.

Eventually, it’s probable that most if not all trucks in Australia will be driverless. But as we transition to this state, the best drivers will be required to lead the charge and platooning convoys. And they are likely to be very well paid to do so.

To find out about our comprehensive services for truck owners and fleets, contact Darra Tyres. Never be stranded on roads in and around Brisbane again – even when most of your trucks are driverless.

Keeping your business and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Can you afford routing software for your truck? Can you afford not to?

Real-time decisions made in the cloud could energise the future of your truck business

Whether long haul or local deliveries, fleet managers want the same thing: to get deliveries made as fast as possible, while maintaining safety and decreasing costs. It used to be that drivers would start work in the morning, furnished with a route that had been put together to the best of a fleet’s team’s ability.

Today, software and hardware available have not only streamlined this job but made it more effective to meet route optimisation goals. And with mobile communications and cloud-based applications, routes can be dynamically re-engineered to account for weather, road conditions, accidents, tyre damage, etc. and maintain the fleet manager’s targets.

Routing vs. Navigation

It is the key difference between routing and navigation. Navigation doesn’t account for all the factors that can affect time on the road. It simply plans a route, usually based on distance, load, speed, and any restrictions such as low bridges. While great navigation can reduce mileage and fuel use, it doesn’t do what routing can do – dynamically adjust navigation to optimise performance and delivery.

Does routing work?

Already companies have started testing technology’s ability to deliver. Pilots by Daimler and Uber in the United States have shown how autonomous trucks can increase productive hours of a truck on the road. A two-man truck will remain idle for around six hours of a day. During these down hours, fuel is used to control cabin temperature.

Platooning, driverless truck strategies are expected to massively reduce fuel use. Vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems will allow truck convoys to travel further, more efficiently, and more safely. Costs could be slashed, as fleets will save on both fuel and driver costs (which together make up around 65% of a fleet’s costs).

Routing achieves the three most basic goals of fleet management:

• Reduces costs by reducing miles
• Increases customer satisfaction by uplifting in-time performance
• Enables fleets to better manage compliance with driving hours

Combined with autonomous driverless trucks, automated real-time routing should enable the fleet manager to achieve all three of these goals with minimal effort.

Different routing software is needed by different fleets

Different fleets will have different routing needs, though these can be broken into two main types:

• Long haul requires routing on highways and optimising using standard mileage and fuel usage.
• Local deliveries may have multiple stops to make, and routes may change every day. These routes must consider factors such as traffic, narrow streets, and local loading and unloading restrictions.

However, as same-day delivery grows in popularity, fleet managers will find that route optimisation software is an imperative tool in their armoury. Being able to alter routes in real time should help reduce both pick-up and delivery times.

The software will not only need to account for on-road elements, but also for package requirements – extra parcels may need to be picked up along a route, for example. Loading this data into the software should enable fleet managers to take advantage of such opportunities, increasing revenues while simultaneously cutting costs and enhancing the customer experience.

In other words, the shortest route is no longer always the optimal route.

Can your fleet take advantage of route optimisation software?

Routing is becoming a strategy that fleets must perform. Retailers and warehousing will increasingly demand exceptional delivery capabilities, and the fleets with the best records are likely to win the most business.

In the United States, UPS has already realised that this will be the way of the future. It has fully deployed its ORION route optimisation software in the United States and is set to expand its use into international markets. But where does this leave smaller fleets? The cost is prohibitive, so does this mean that small fleets will be buried by the big boys who are able to invest in new technologies?

Get your lead in the cloud!

While the bigger outfits have the finances to fund development of their own routing software or to install standalone systems, there are many programs available in the cloud at a much more affordable cost. Deploying these should allow a smaller fleet or sole truck operator to compete on a level playing field.

The speed and cost advantages that routing programs enable should help smaller businesses survive and thrive in an increasingly challenging environment.

To find out about our comprehensive services for truck owners and fleets, contact Darra Tyres. Never be stranded on roads in and around Brisbane again – even when most of your trucks are driverless.

Keeping your business and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Are driverless trucks coming to Brisbane?

Are you ready for a trucking industry revolution?

The biggest shake-up in Brisbane’s trucking industry for decades appears to be on its way. Driverless trucks are a topic on which everyone has an opinion.

Some say they’re dangerous, and that they could be prone to accidental damage caused by fallen eucalyptus trees and wayward kangaroos. Others say they simply won’t work in Queensland’s outback, where tech support will be difficult and costly to find.

Supporters say they will save billions of dollars in costs, and that they will eliminate the shortcomings of tired drivers making fatal mistakes.

Despite America being ahead in the race to pass laws and test driverless trucks on the roads, they could become the norm here in Queensland first. In fact, they’re already proving to be a hit in some parts of Australia.

America is racing to be the first country to have driverless trucks…

In America, they are gearing up for driverless trucks on the highways. Congress looks set to pass laws that will push the Department of Transportation to draft regulations for self-driving cars next year. Lawmakers acknowledge that self-driving technology is going to disrupt the way people travel.

However, getting the laws that exempt autonomous vehicles (as they are also known) from some safety requirements written and passed through the system could take years, especially while overhauling industry safety standards. Even so, 20 U.S. states have passed their self-driving car regulations already.

In preparation for nationwide laws to come into force, Daimler has already been licensed to test self-driving trucks on U.S. highways.

Daimler has said that driverless trucks are a decade away from becoming a reality, despite predicted safety and efficiency benefits. But this isn’t because the technology needs to be developed. It’s already there. The hold up in America is because of the legal issues highlighted above.

Australia doesn’t have any laws governing driverless trucks as yet. So, it would appear that we’re behind the game. However, the reality is that driverless trucks in Queensland and other Australian states could be closer than we think.

…Yet self-driving trucks are already working in Australia…

The debate about self-driving trucks is probably making Rio Tinto executives chuckle. They’ve been using them in Australia for almost a decade. And not just any old trucks. Huge great 400-ton beasts, in the harsh conditions of quarries and mines in Western Australia.

Rio has dozens of these driverless trucks working 24 hours each day, hauling iron ore across four job sites. They drive themselves using a combination of GPS, radar, and laser sensors. A team supervises the job they are doing from more than 700 miles away. It’s proving a safer and cheaper way of operating, though if something does go wrong, human help (such as emergency servicing, mechanics, and tyre changes) is a long way away.

…And self-driving trucks could transform Australia’s deadliest industry…

Truck drivers on Australia’s roads are 15 times more likely to die than workers in other industries. Even the Australian Trucking Association has said that self-driving trucks could make the industry safer. And with road freight set to nearly double between 2010 and 2030, there aren’t enough drivers to meet demand.

Geoff Crouch, the chairman of the Australian Trucking Association, believes that self-driving trucks are the future of the industry, but that it won’t be an overnight transition. He believes that the transition will begin with autonomous braking technology as standard in all vehicles before progressing from there.

This said, ‘platooning’ – a convey of autonomous trucks travelling within feet of each other – is being tested in Western Australia this year. The lead truck ‘talks’ to those following, warning of obstacles and road conditions and synchronising speed and braking. By driving so close together, it is estimated that fuel costs can be slashed by as much as 20%.

Of course, truck drivers don’t only drive. They perform other essential tasks, such as loading and unloading, vehicle checks, and customer liaison.

Perhaps this gives a clue as to how driverless truck convoys could work in the future:

• First stop is for the truck’s technology to remove increasing responsibilities from the driver: the need to brake, plan routes, steer, etc.
• Once this technology is embedded, then platooning could happen with the lead vehicle manned, and other vehicles driverless.
• The lead driver will control the fleet, monitoring performance and problems. He or she will oversee loading and unloading, and all the other tasks required of drivers today.
• Eventually, as other functions become automated, platoons of wholly driverless trucks will become commonplace on the roads of Queensland and Australia. These convoys will be controlled by human intervention hundreds of miles away.

The only question remaining is how mechanical issues are dealt with. That may not change much from today, with services like Darra Tyres’ 24/7 truck call out service dealing with a truck’s tyre problems local to Brisbane. The difference here, of course, is that instead of speaking to the driver, the technician will be speaking to a controller who may not even be on the same continent. Interesting times ahead, we think.

To find out about our comprehensive services for truck owners and fleets, in demand today and prepared for tomorrow, contact Darra Tyres. Never be stranded on roads in and around Brisbane again.

Keeping your business and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 What do truck operators need to ensure success in the new environment?

Is your truck operation prepared to benefit from the retail revolution?

As business conducted online is increasing, the opportunities for truck and haulage companies are growing. That’s great news for truck operators. However, much of the retail growth is likely to be in the ‘fast delivery’ space, where the competition for retailers is fierce. Competitors promise better delivery services.

Consequently, though there are opportunities for truck operators, there are also hurdles that must be negotiated – what happens if your truck breaks down, or you have a tyre blow-out during operations?

Who delivers the retailers’ products?

Very few retailers have their delivery trucks. They don’t do haulage for several reasons. One is it’s not their area of expertise. Cost is also a factor: contracting services are usually cheaper than building and running their own. Instead, they use national and local haulage companies to deliver their products. For example, Amazon mostly uses UPS or FedEx.

It said, smaller operators can be more flexible. Some national haulage companies don’t operate on a Saturday: more opportunity for independents.

How tight is the market for retailers?

It’s likely that more retailers will need to offer more efficient and faster delivery services to meet the competition head-on. The pace of life is increasing, and people are becoming happier to order online rather than spend time travelling to the city, parking, shopping, and then returning home. Time is saved, and aggravation avoided. The delivery cost is deemed good value for money, and so those retailers that deliver to the door promptly are increasing their market share.

If we take this developing market to its natural conclusion, every retailer will offer delivery. If we assume that there is little difference in the quality of goods, then, to beat their competition, retailers will begin to rely on their delivery capability as the differentiator. The faster and more efficient delivery provider will gain market share.

For truck operators in this market, the capability to offer fast, efficient, and reliable services is likely to prove to be a winning formula. But while this business can be very lucrative to the haulage company or owner-driver, there may be penalties for late deliveries written into contracts. The ultimate sanction would be a loss of the contract.

Uptime is a critical factor for a truck owner-driver’s success

There’s not a lot you can do about traffic on the road. You can plan your routes and timings, but a road traffic accident, unexpected roadworks, or other obstruction can cause problems. However, all such issues can be excused – what happened to your deliveries in such circumstances would have happened to others.

But other events won’t be excused by retailers. The worst roadside problems always happen at the most inconvenient times. A breakdown or blown tyre will hamper deliveries, harm your record, and could cost you your living. You shouldn’t hope for the best without planning for the worst.

What today’s truckers need to meet the retail need of tomorrow

If you don’t have emergency breakdown cover, you could be jeopardising your business. Here at Darra Tyres, we’re already beginning to see an increase in the use of our Raid Response service, as the call on truck and haulage operators increases. This service offers a 24/7 emergency breakdown coverage for truck operators, ensuring you get back on the road with minimal fuss and maximum speed. One of the most used features is the tyre repair and replacement service – it’s surprising the toll that Brisbane’s roads can take on a vehicle, its wheels, and tyres.

Your success depends upon uptime. If you don’t choose the right tyres and haven’t got the best roadside service agreement, then you are putting your business at risk. With all these elements in place, your ability as a truck operator will be given a chance to drive your future business success.

Contact Darra Tyres today and make sure you are properly prepared to profit from the retail revolution as it gathers pace in Queensland. Never be stranded on roads in and around Brisbane again.

Keeping your business and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 9 tips to get the best from your off-road truck tyres in Queensland

How to drive safe and sure when you’re off-road

Goodyear’s Wrangler DuraTrac tyre was recently voted the best off-road truck tyre by readers of ‘Off Road’ magazine. It’s the fifth year running that it’s won the accolade, and once more the tyre polled over 20% of the votes from 20,000 readers. Goodyear has now won best off-road tyre in the annual poll every year that the magazine’s readers have been surveyed.

Goodyear’s Chief Marketing Officer for Europe said, “This award is particularly important for us because the readers of ‘Off Road’ magazine are true experts with high demands when it comes to off-road tyres. It shows that the Wrangler DuraTrac lives up to its promises.”

In this article, you’ll learn how to get the best from the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tyre, or any other off-road truck tyre you buy.

1.    Drive with momentum rather than acceleration

When you’re driving in muddy conditions, or through sand, avoid the temptation to put your foot down on the accelerator. Instead, you should accelerate into the mud or sand and use your momentum to travel, keeping your speed constant. It will prevent your truck tyres from spinning, losing traction, and becoming stuck.

2.    Select the right gear and turn off the ‘diff lock’

It’s best to drive in a lower gear and make your engine work harder when driving through mud or sand. If your truck has a differential lock (a diff lock) make sure it’s turned off. The diff lock makes sure that wheels on the same axle rotate at the same speed. On smooth roads this is great, but off-road you’ll want to allow the wheels to rotate with resistance. A wheel with less resistance will spin faster, and you’ll get more grip.

3.    Don’t fight resistance, and brake gently

As you drive off-road, you’ll come across a range of different terrains. You’ll meet resistance, too. Don’t fight this. Go with the flow. Your off-road truck tyres will find the best route through.

When driving through mud or sand, deflate your tyres a little. It increases the footprint and helps you to accelerate in a lower gear as you build momentum to carry you through. Always accelerate and brake gently.

4.    Plan the course ahead

As you are driving through different terrains, try to plan the course you want your vehicle to take. Rocky outcrops are particularly tough on truck tyres, and sand can hide sharp rocks below. These could slash your tyres and damage your truck. Remember, your tyres will try to find a way through, so don’t fight resistance. Instead, use it to inform your course.

5.    Don’t drown the engine!

When you’re crossing a river or flood, take extra care. You may not see rocks in the water. Sandy bottoms can quickly suck you in. Look at the terrain around the water to figure out what type of river bed you are probably dealing with.

Take note of the flow of water if you are crossing a river. It can tell you a lot about how you should traverse the river, and where you should enter and exit.

Disconnect or jam the fan belt to avoid it damaging the radiator or causing water to splash over your vehicle’s electrics.

Drive at a steady speed, and once clear of the water brake gently to lose water from the brakes. Stop, check the truck over. Look at the engine, gearbox, and axle oil for signs of water. If the oil is a milky colour, it means water has mixed with it. If this is the case, you’ll need to drain the oil and replace before continuing.

6.    Drive with company

It’s always best to make off-road trips with at least two vehicles. If you get stuck, the other vehicle can haul you out (providing you have the right equipment – tow ropes and shovels, for example).

7.    Remember that your company changes terrain

The vehicle in front of you will change the terrain as it passes over it. Rocks get dislodged, and mud and sand become ridged and rutted. Coming out of rivers, banks can become extra slippery. Watch for changing terrain and alter course and momentum accordingly.

8.    Know how to get unstuck

Everyone gets stuck at least once when driving off-road. Here’s how to get unstuck:

• Don’t panic.
• Attempt to reverse the way you came, slowly.
• If this doesn’t work, start digging!
• Dig around your truck tyres to clear a run-off.
• Place the mats or branches where you have dug to provide your off-road tyres with extra grip.
• Use a low gear to creep through, accelerating slowly to build momentum.
• If you are with company, if it’s possible to do so always have them pull you out.

9.    Buy the very best off-road truck tyres you can afford

Finally, don’t neglect your tyres when planning an off-road trip. Check your tyres before you leave, and make sure they are the best your budget can buy. And, whatever you do, do not neglect your spare.

Contact Darra Tyres today and make sure you are properly prepared to go off-road in Queensland. We have an extensive range of off-road and truck tyres to suit all vehicles and budgets.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Which repair is best for my agricultural tyre?

How to tell a poor repair, and which tyre specialist to use

If your agricultural tyre is damaged, you’ll have two types of repair that you could make: temporary and permanent. In this article, you’ll learn how to spot that your tyre repair has been bodged.

When might you need a temporary agricultural tyre repair?

Temporary repairs should only be made to get your vehicle or machinery back to the yard. Patches should not be used for more than 24 hours, and may not be possible if the damage is too large. For this type of damage, you should have the tyre repaired permanently.

You might be tempted to make a temporary repair, especially if time is tight (when isn’t it?), but a professional repair will prolong the life of your tyre and save money and time in the long run.

Do you need a permanent agricultural tyre repair?

Permanent repairs are more expensive than temporary fixes. This cost saving, though, is as temporary as the temporary. A temporary repair could be a false economy.

When considering which type of repair is best for your agricultural tyre, you should consider what work it will be doing. The heavier the load and tougher the ground, the harder your tyre will need to work. A temporary fix could fail fast.

It’s very tempting to make a temporary fix on tyres that are used on handling equipment. A temporary repair is quick and cheap, and the equipment is only used in a confined area and only now and again. But what if the tyre fails? Suddenly you have an expensive repair, and, most importantly, you’re putting the operator at risk.

What type of permanent repair is best?

When a tyre is repaired permanently, the repair can be made by hot or cold vulcanising. You should know the difference before deciding which you need.

Vulcanisation is the tyre equivalent of welding. Using sulphur, the tyre and patch are bonded together, making a permanent seal.

Hot vulcanising is faster than cold, and best for larger damage. However, it requires specialist equipment, and your tyre will need to be sent away for repair.

For smaller repairs in the centre of the tread, cold vulcanising may be best. The repair will take a day to make, with the tyre and patch bonded at 18 degrees Celsius. Usually, this process can be made at a tyre shop, though it may be necessary to send the tyre away for repair, depending on the extent of the damage.

If you decide on the wrong type of repair, even if it is done perfectly the result could be as bad as the right repair done poorly. Always take advice from a tyre specialist before making your decision.

How can you tell a bodged tyre repair from a good one?

There are several giveaway signs that a temporary repair has been bodged. These include:

• Rough edges to the repair
• The patch is pulling away
• Bulges are visible
• Multiple repair patches

If you spot any of these conditions, you should stop using the tyre immediately and take it to a tyre specialist for a full examination. Multiple repair patches are a sign that the wrong type of repair has been made, and made badly.

Poor permanent repairs are harder to detect because most of the work is internal. A spectrometer is needed to inspect the tyre. It is like an X-ray for tyres and examines behind what might look like a perfect patch on the outside.

How can I tell which repairer to afford?

If a tyre repairer is offering a bargain basement price on a tyre repair, the chances are that you’ll get a bargain basement repair. Agricultural tyres and repairs are the same as most commodities – you get what you pay for. If your agricultural tyre is damaged, have it checked by a reputable tyre specialist.

Contact Darra Tyres today and get your damaged agricultural tyre checked by the professionals. We’ve been serving South and West Brisbane for more than 40 years, supplying all major brands and at all price points.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Why you should check your tyres regularly, and how I know you don’t

An underinflated tyre could cost more than a few dollars

When a customer comes into our tyre shop in Brisbane, I can tell almost immediately if they haven’t checked their tyre pressures for a long while – or if they only check them now and again. I’m not a mind reader. I don’t have a second sight. And I’m not a magician. But I do know my tyres.

In this article, you’ll learn how often you should check your tyres, and why.

How do I know you neglect tyre pressure checks?

You can tell a lot from tyres. I can see if you drive fast into corners and if you brake harder than you should. One of the easiest things to tell is if you leave it too long between tyre pressure checks. The sign is worn shoulders on the inside and outside: it means your tyres have deflated, and this is usually because you haven’t checked the tyre pressure in a while, or you leave it too long between doing so.

Why do tyres deflate?

Most drivers think that if they have the valve cap screwed tight, their tyre pressure will remain the same. I expect you know that heat affects tyre pressure – in hot weather your tyre pressure increases. But did you know that all tyres deflate over time?

It’s a slow process, but your tyre is constantly losing air. Usually at the rate of around 3PSI every month. It happens because all tyre rubber has small holes in it. Miniscule holes, through which air molecules can (and do) escape. If you inflate your tyres to a high pressure, the air will escape faster because the molecules are forced out. It’s a natural process, and cannot be avoided. The only treatment is to regularly check your tyre pressures, and make sure you re-inflate to the right pressure.

How do incorrectly inflated tyres affect you?

Driving on incorrectly inflated tyres will affect your pocket, and can affect your safety; and that of your passengers and other road users.

Incorrectly inflated tyres will cause increased and uneven wear. It will affect handling, and increase braking distances. You’ll find it harder to negotiate bends and corners, and that distance between you and the vehicle ahead might not be enough anymore.

Underinflated tyres could fail prematurely. The tyre must work harder, and the rubber flexes more – and breaks down faster. Abnormal conditions become problematic. Debris and gravel become lodged in the rubber more easily, and your control is impeded.

Increased wear also increases fuel consumption. That’s a direct hit on your pocket. And the longer you run your tyres under or overinflated, the greater the wear and tear on them – and the less time they’ll last. Poorly inflated tyres could need changing tens of thousands of kilometres earlier than correctly inflated tyres. You could be buying three sets over a period that two sets should cover. That’s hundreds of dollars in unnecessary costs.

How often should you check your tyre pressures?

At the very least, you should check your tyre pressures once a month. Preferably, check them every two weeks. Re-inflate to the recommended pressure.

Other times you should check your tyre pressures are:

• Before a long trip, or before and after driving in the outback
• When you rotate your tyres (make sure you adjust pressures according to front and rear tyre requirements)

Don’t forget to check your spare tyre every time you check your other tyres. The last thing you need to happen is to find your spare tyre is unusable miles from home and assistance.

How do you know what pressure to inflate to?

First, you should usually ignore all the writing on the tyre sidewall when inflating your tyres. The correct tyre pressure to inflate to is dependent upon your vehicle and its load. You’ll find the tyre pressure recommendations either on the tyre placard on the door jamb or in your vehicle’s driver’s manual.

The exception to this rule (there’s always an exception, isn’t there?) is if you replace the original tyres with different tyres. In this case, refer to the tyre manufacturer’s recommendations – and if you’re in any doubt, call in at our tyre shop in Brisbane and ask me. See if I can tell how long it’s been since you last checked your tyre pressures while you’re here. Just for fun, of course!

What if your tyre keeps losing pressure fast?

If you find that your tyre pressure is reducing rapidly, or has lost more than 4PSI to 5PSI in a month, you could have a problem with another part of the tyre. Most commonly this will be the valve stem. Don’t leave this tyre condition to chance. It’s dangerous, and you could find your tyre suddenly deflates while you’re driving – often on the motorway. If this is the case, contact Brisbane Tyres today and get your tyre checked before it’s too late.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 The perils of over or underinflating agricultural tyres

How to work with the optimum footprint in all conditions

Agricultural tyre pressure is one of the most important factors in getting the best from your tractor and other farming vehicles. Many operators run their agricultural tyres with the wrong inflation. In this blog post, I’ll examine the consequences of getting the air pressure wrong on your agricultural tyres, and how to ensure you run your tyres at the optimum footprint.

Be prepared for expensive field work with the wrong tyre pressure

Your tyres are hugely important in the field. The wrong tyre pressure will affect vehicle performance. Soil will be compacted and crop production affected. And poorly inflated tyres wear faster and damage more easily. Many operators ballast their tyres in attempts to increase performance.

Manufacturers’ studies have shown that incorrect tyre inflation can mean as much as a 40% loss of engine power. It is caused by slipping and poor rolling resistance. Add this to power loss from the transmission and additional equipment, and you’re looking at up to a 50% reduction in power. This amount of power loss puts an incredible strain on a tractor’s engine. It must work harder and uses more fuel. Repair and maintenance issues will increase. All this adds up to a big hit on your pocket.

Functionality depends on footprint

Increased traction depends upon its footprint – the amount of tyre surface area in contact with the ground. The greater the footprint, the greater the traction. So, you would think that running agricultural tyres at the lowest possible inflation would increase efficiency because a larger footprint gives less wheel slipping, and results in longer tyre life and less soil compaction. Wins all round. But it’s not quite this easy.

Agricultural tyres must also carry loads without causing damage to their construction. When this happens, all bets are off. Damage to tyres increases, power is harmed, and costs increased. So, it’s imperative that you run your tyres at the optimum pressure for optimum results.

Agricultural tyre footprint – a constantly changing factor

The optimum tyre footprint doesn’t simply depend on tyre pressure. It also depends upon the load being supported and the tyre size, and ground being driven on. The optimum footprint will constantly change, as the load being carried changes. So, you need to reach a happy medium.

How you do this is to stick within the tyre manufacturer’s guidelines – the tables they produce on tyre sizes, maximum loads, tyre pressures, and speeds. Operate a tyre at 10% below its stated optimum pressure, and you’ll decrease its life by 15%.

The perils of overinflation of agricultural tyres

It’s not only underinflation that can affect tyre life and performance in the field. Over-inflation will increase the likelihood of tyre damage and more. For a start, driving on overinflated tyres will hit your driver hard. Every bump reverberates up the spine. Comfort reduces, and performance isn’t far behind. It is indicative of what over inflation does to tractor performance – wear and tear on tyre and vehicle increases. You’ll use more fuel, increase soil compaction, and reduce tyre life.

What’s worse – overinflation or underinflation?

There isn’t much difference between the effects of overinflation and underinflation. A 20% overinflated tyre causes 30% loss in performance, while a 20% underinflated tyre will cost you 26% of your performance.

However, if you drive your tractor on the road with underinflated tyres, the lugs will start to wear faster. Your rear lugs will be more severely damaged. It could cause bead slip – and leads to rapid destruction of the tyre.

Check your tyre pressure regularly

Neglecting your tyre pressures on your agricultural vehicles will impact your bottom line.

An underinflated tyre will increase fuel consumption, lead to sidewall damage, uneven wear and bead slip, which eventually destroys the tyre.

An overinflated tyre will increase fuel consumption, increase wear on the vehicle and tyre, increase soil compaction, and result in reduced tyre life.

When it comes to your tyres, check tyre pressures regularly. Keep them within the manufacturer’s guidelines for load, size and speed. One final tip: make sure your tyres have a valve cap. It keeps dust and dirt out of your tyre, but, equally as important, it prevents the natural air loss through tyre valves.

For all your agricultural and other tyre needs here in Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood