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How operators prepare emergency kits for Europe and Middle East
EXPERIENCE teaches haulers running to the Continent ind the Middle East that a well-prepared lorry is the mst precaution. But expoience dictates that carrying in emergency repair kit is 'No essential, however selfom an operator's drivers nay expect to use it. The sloint is: how extensive Mould the kit be?
One haulier with extensive )xperience of long hauls werseas is White Trux Internelona! of Canterbury, which runs 15 late marque Volvo F89s.
The company says: "We Delieve in preventive mairitenmce. Each unit and trailer is 'Lilly serviced before each trip in accordance with a set procedure Jependent on its routeing and iestination. Every conceivable 'actor is dealt with in order to -ninimise the need for the unit to :arry any other spares than really necessary.
"Our associate company, White Trux Transportation Saudi, in Jeddah, also follows the same principles as the UK operation. Here again, the company maintains its own vehicles to a very high standard and does not find that adverse conditions in the area cause undue problems."
Roger Nixon -told CM what is contained in these kits for overseas runs. "UK-based vehicles carry snow chains in winter months dependent on conditions," he said. "Plus these they have:
Fan belts and other beltings; Emergency injector pipes; Wheel-changing gear; Spare set of bulbs and fuses; Chocks and safety triangles; 41/2 gallons of engine oil; Service manual and driver's handbook; One spare wheel for the prime mover; Two spares for the trailer; And drivers carry their own tools by arrangement."
Saudi-based vehicles carry a similar range of parts plus fuel filters and oil filters, etc, which need replacing more regularly owing to a higher atmospheric dust content.
Another operator, Essex International Transport, of Chelmsford, said its drivers carry "everything you can imagine". One man going this week has £100 of food with him because it's so expensive abroad and, like most drivers, he does not like Middle East food. The firm's eight Scanias each have two large toolboxes fitted and these have separate compartments for food.
Frank Tuffs, transport manager, said that another must — for runs to Iran — is snow chains, particularly to cope with thick mud on the Tahir pass.
The drivers are regarded as the most precious equipment. "What they want in the way of equipment we will get," said F-ank.
"They either carry their own tool kit or one of ours. First-aid kits, red triangles, wheel chocks, fan belts, bulbs, sometimes a propshaft, fuel sediment bowl — because they're made of glass — are carried. Also five gallons, sometimes 10 gallons of oil are carried, because you cannot be sure what sort of oil you're buying in the Middle East, strange to say. Trailers carry two spare wheel carriers.
"The drivers also carry water purification tablets and salt tablets. And they're given their currency in Deutschmarks: that way, they get the best exchange rates.
We also had a word with BRS Overland_ Peter Kite, director, said the company has a two-kit system: No 1 is the Marathon emergency kit for driver running repairs and No 2 — "non-driver involvement" — has added items.
No 1 kit, for the cooling system, has a set of fan belts and more than a dozen assorted hoses; for the fuel system, injector pipe, oil pipe, two elements, %in and 1/2in tubing, nut unions, ferrules, Jubilee clips; electrical, voltage regulator, starter relay, wiper blades; gaskets, decoke set joints.
To this list, emergency kit No 2 adds more items (see table 1).
"Besides these items," said Peter, "we have two spare wheels on the trailer in hopefully pilfer-proof welded steel boxes. We always run in multiples of two, and one driver at least has put-back-together knowledge Table 1, emergency kit 2 Non-driver involvement (as in kit 1 with the following items) Fuel system Injector 3 Element (fuel filter) 2 Repair kit lift pump 1 Cooling system Water pump repair kit 1 Coldstart equipment Cannister 2 Braking equipment Repair kit (footbrake) 1 Repair kit springbrake 1 Repair kit hand control 1 Hose 1 Gearbox Repair kit master valve 1 Repair kit slave valve 1 Gasket kit 1 Electrical Bulbs 18 Fuse 10amp 10 Fuse 20amp 10 arid can re-do bearings, steeringbox and that sort of thing at the side of the road. Fuel air lines can be rigged between vehicles.
"Snow chains are carried all the year round. Each driver carries his own personal kit, borne of experience. And he is provided with a first-aid kit."
Operators can, of course, turn to manufacturers for advice on what to take. British Leyland will draw up a special list for hauliers venturing beyond Europe. For Marathon operators to the Continent, says BL, provided the vehicle is well maintained, what is advised besides Euro service guides are a spare thermostat, injector pipes, fan belt and light bulbs.
Scania says it gives and advises for the driver of its vehicles a tool kit comprising: Pliers, Screwdrivers, Adjustable spanner, Box spanner, Wheel brace, OE/ring spanner, OE spanner, Socket wrench, Tool roll case, Hydraulic jack, Jack lever, Rim wrench, Tyre inflator, Step clamp (for model LB81 /86), Step clamp X2 (for model LB11/141), Pressure tube (full nj), No. plate holder, Fan belts — sets, Wardrobe (for sleeper cabs), A separate "first-aid" kit is recommended for a Volvo running singly. This one has: 7 Radiator hoses — various, 4 Hose clips 2 Oil filters 1 Air filter (Donaldson) 2 Fuel filter insert 1 Fan belt kit — upper 1 Fan belt kit — lower 2 Alternator belt 10 Tail lamp bulbs 1 Mirror head 2 Tail lamp lens 1 Flasher lens — front RH 1 Flasher lens — front LH 2 Market lens — front (parking lamp) 10 Side lamp bulbs 10 Flasher lamp bulbs 10 Parking lamp bulbs 2 Headlamp bulbs 20 Fuses 8A 5 Fuses 25A 2 Wiper blades (windscreen) • 10 Wheel nuts Injector pipes for each of 6 cylinders 1 Fuel pipe — injectors to pump 1 Leak off — line 2 Injector nozzle holder 2 Push rods • 1 Cylinder head 1 Piston/liner kit 1 Oil sump gasket 1 Main bearing St (STD) 'I Thrust washer set (STD) 2 Thermostat 1 Radiator cap (header tank) 1 Turbocharger 2 Starter solenoid 1 Manifold heater 1 Clutch disc (Single disc) or 2 Clutch disc (double plate) 1 Propshaft kit (joint cross) 1 Range-change cable 1 Overdrive cable 1 Throttle cable 1 Inlet valve 1 Exhaust valve 4 Lock (valve cotter) 2 Cylinder head gasket kit 1 Big end set (standard) Volvo also assembles a kit for a convoy running abroad; it is carried in a TIR sealed case, and is usually in the charge of a foreman driver.