Thanks for that.
If you find the part number I'd be grateful, I can see a lot of time spent in the depot searching the parts department computer.
Wots this nonsense now on trailers?
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If you find the part number I'd be grateful, I can see a lot of time spent in the depot searching the parts department computer.
The main problem these days is that "kids my age" I'm 24 but this will apply to anyone really born from say 1997 onward have been wrapped up in cotton wool soo much that they have no "health and saftey" thought process of there own as every other bugger before them has done it for them, common sense isn't a thing anymore I'm sad to say, the world truly has gone mad, and they wonder why we're over populated
no natural selection anymore 
such rubbish.The main problem these days is that "kids my age" I'm 24 but this will apply to anyone really born from say 1997 onward have been wrapped up in cotton wool soo much that they have no "health and saftey" thought process of there own as every other bugger before them has done it for them, common sense isn't a thing anymore I'm sad to say, the world truly has gone mad, and they wonder why we're over populated
- Location
- Lincolnshire
It’s not entirely rubbish though is it. People now seem to drive to just within the limit of their brakes whereas when I was a lad you didnt expect the brakes to do anything much and you drove within the capability of engine braking and selection of a lower gear to get you safely down a hill with no reliance on brakes at all. Now everybody goes full tilt down the hill and hits the brakes at the bottom. In the event they aren’t working there is no back up or second chance as well it being an incredible waste of fuel.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Generally there is just less knowledge of the mechanical aspects of machinery so drivers now tend to give the transmission and brakes a hard time. I hear people setting off with foot to the floorboard and the poor old auto transmission having to cope with all that power while changing up. Well it might sound impressive but somewhere there’s a synchro or a clutch plate getting a hell of scrubbing or oil smoking.
- Location
- Darlington
And they are trained to drive like that.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
There was a time when you parked a 3 ton trailer on each headland and you didn’t need to move them till dinner time. Now it’s all rush and tear so yes drivers are encouraged to push things right to the limit and some unfortunately go that bit over. I think that kind of managerial mentality has done more to cause accidents than poor equipment myself, though that same mentality undoubtedly leads to inadequate checks on the equipment. Peer pressure to be the quickest turnaround doesn’t help. Don’t miss silage season in the village here. Phone box was usually flattened.
Captain Sensible
Member
- Location
- mid-Norfolk
There's a good bit truth in all these points of view, but let's be honest about how things have changed over the last 30 - 40 years:-
- We never had the levels of engine power available which we do now in modern tractors used transport jobs.
- We never had the tractor transmissions to let us accelerate easily up to (& travel at) higher road speeds
- Probably most importantly, we didn't have the axle & cab suspension systems to actually make it feasible/half-comfortable to consider driving along rural roads at higher speeds.
You put all that lot together ..... Power, Speed Capability & (adequate) Driver Comfort, add a bit of 'Seasonal Pressure' and surely you can only really expect one outcome? The daft thing is that, putting safety & legal compliance to one side for a moment, decent trailer/trailed implement braking systems actually make sound financial/business sense. If done properly (not all are
) they will make your tractors last longer & enhance their resale value. The same applies to the trailers ....... What's not to like?
- We never had the levels of engine power available which we do now in modern tractors used transport jobs.
- We never had the tractor transmissions to let us accelerate easily up to (& travel at) higher road speeds
- Probably most importantly, we didn't have the axle & cab suspension systems to actually make it feasible/half-comfortable to consider driving along rural roads at higher speeds.
You put all that lot together ..... Power, Speed Capability & (adequate) Driver Comfort, add a bit of 'Seasonal Pressure' and surely you can only really expect one outcome? The daft thing is that, putting safety & legal compliance to one side for a moment, decent trailer/trailed implement braking systems actually make sound financial/business sense. If done properly (not all are
) they will make your tractors last longer & enhance their resale value. The same applies to the trailers ....... What's not to like?
two-cylinder
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
Tiredness is a bigger problem than most will admit.
I know of tractor drivers who admit to doing 100hrs a week, simply because their employer expects it.
Saw an advert last week in a monthly periodical, applicant must be willing to work 7 days a week and do long hours as required.
It's a recipe for accidents to happen, no matter how well the machinery is maintained.
Tired drivers, fast tractors, oversize trailers, poorly maintained roads, things that won't be fixed by a trailer test.
It's no coincidence that many tractor accidents happen late in the day, doing the last load.
I know of tractor drivers who admit to doing 100hrs a week, simply because their employer expects it.
Saw an advert last week in a monthly periodical, applicant must be willing to work 7 days a week and do long hours as required.
It's a recipe for accidents to happen, no matter how well the machinery is maintained.
Tired drivers, fast tractors, oversize trailers, poorly maintained roads, things that won't be fixed by a trailer test.
It's no coincidence that many tractor accidents happen late in the day, doing the last load.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Sooner they jail some of those employers the better. No need for cowboy behaviour like that and wouldn’t be tolerated in any professionally run outfit.
two-cylinder
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
You might be surprised how wide spread it is in the Fens.
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
3 drivers keeping 2 tractors going 24hrs a day on digester silage I’m told. 16hrs on 8 off
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Not really. I know it happens a lot, but that doesn’t mean we should condone it.
two-cylinder
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
Agree entirely, In many instances I'm sure hours could be reduced with better planning.
This subject has been taxing my mind for years. Sadly as Insurance Brokers we have been involved with a number of fatal/ serious tractor & trailer accidents over the years. Thank God none of our clients has had a prosecution mainly I believe because they had been encouraged to keep regular maintenance and inspection records. These are gold dust when the worst happens. Agree 100% with your comments on Tilly and Merit. I strongly believe in the type of training courses on tractor/trailer/implements run by the likes of @Captain Sensible and BAGMA/AEA. I would like to see more of these carried out on farm for Farmer Groups, giving the farmer/operator the knowledge to do the checks/adjustments/repairs themselves.
All Insurance policies say that you must comply with all current legislation, therefore insurance companies are within their rights to throw out claims where weight limit exceeded etc. I have not seen any yet- but it will happen.
As a company we are considering setting up some sort of inspection service but it is crucial to have the right person running it that knows this subject thoroughly and trying to link it to a service to do any repairs remedial/ work required-not many people would I trust to weld on a new ring hitch on a trailer!
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
Surely its fairly pointless setting up yet another inspection service?
Can you offer an insurance discount to those that inspect and test their trailers annually?
Th could be Tilly / BAGMA / on farm for people with competent staff, followed by local RBT / Merit / BAGMA for the test. Obviously BAGMA is the one stop shop which will make it attractive.
I suppose the difficulty is trailers aren’t directly’ insured, some farmers have 2 and other have 20 for the same number of tractors.
The discount idea wont work as Insurers do not charge to insure trailers, they are automatically insured as long as you have comprehensive cover on your tractors. I am also wary of Insurers adding premium on and then taking it off as a "discount". Still considering whether Acres offer a service or whether we just encourage people to use that offered by BAGMA. Could be a combination of the 2. Keeping Regular inspection and maintenance records get you halfway where people need to be.