Pre-test smoke check sells meters
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• Bus and coach operators are buying smoke monitors to avoid being caught out in the annual roadworthiness test now they face more stringent diesel emission tests from this month.
One of the firms selling Vehicle Inspectorate-approved meters says it has sold nearly 100 to more than 20 bus and coach operators over the past month — fewer than 50 have been sold to 17 truck companies.
Rozone of Wednesbury in the West Midlands sells the Sun ASA 200, one of the five VIapproved meters. It says PCV operators are concerned about the test because they tend to operate older vehicles. The previous "eye" test where no equipment was used to check emissions, was more lax.
Deregulation of the bus industry has led to operators buying secondhand buses and cutting down on maintenance to improve their competitiveness, says Bill Wait, group product development manager for Rozone's parent Rubery Owen.
But he adds that many operators buy the equipment so that they can check their vehicles still meet emission standards after carrying out engine work, saving re-test costs.
Birmingham-based West Midlands Travel, Glasgow-based Strathclyde's Buses and Cannock-based Midland Red have also bought Rozone meters. WMT, which operates 1,750 vehicles, has bought three. The units cost nearly £3,500 apiece, with discounts for batch orders.