Jost UK Limited

Promised trials and deployment of self-driving trucks are getting closer, but questions remain about when the technology will be ready for commercial adoption. Full autonomy could easily be a decade or more away, but semi-autonomous technologies and other driver aids are already beginning to have an impact: driving up safety, economy, convenience and availability. Paul Clayton, Technical Sales and Support Manager at JOST UK, explains the current market trends.

JOST UK is to supply Edbro hydraulic systems for 57 new aggregate tipper lorries ordered by CEMEX. The vehicles involved are all eight-wheeler rigid trucks rather than tractor-trailer units, with a gross load capacity of 32 tonnes. They are to be delivered in stages through 2019 and the order to build them has been split between two different OEM companies.

Coined the ‘8x4x4’ warranty, MAN offers a four year warranty on rigid tipping bodies from Thompsons Group in its Trucks2Go programme. The warranty will include Edbro CX15 hydraulic tipping gear and is being supported by Thompsons Group’s Service capabilities. Tipper trucks generally work long, hard hours to earn narrow profit margins for operators. The tipping mechanisms are expected to work smoothly and be dependable in all circumstances; regularly lifting enormous loads yet operating safely at all times. 

Tip-Ex 2019, the UK’s leading exhibition for tipper and bulk transport held in early June, was a win-win event for one of its regular exhibitors. JOST UK had - as it always does – its principle stand near the entrance, which caught the eye of everyone as they came into the event. Elsewhere, the company hosted its legendary hog roast BBQ in the outside area, while many JOST products could be seen on customer vehicles around the show.

It has been announced that JOST UK has added a new video to its ‘How To’ series, demonstrating the ease with which the rotation of an EBA Tipper Pump can be reversed. Aimed at busy vehicle service engineers and mechanics, it is only about 3 minutes long yet shows in detail the process of a pump being opened, adjusted and reassembled. 

Edbro’s technical centre for on-vehicle hydraulic systems has been designed to help fleet managers, maintenance managers, body builders and any other industry professionals who use Edbro tipping gear. On it, visitors can quickly and easily access information about spare parts, cylinder specifications, and the services and support offered by Edbro.

Customer service is vital in today’s busy and complex world of truck operation and fleet management. Here, Danny Broomfield explains that as well as a wide range of products JOST UK pulls out all the stops to support its customers – and their customers too. Every truck on the road should be supremely fit for purpose. They have to be able to operate profitably and efficiently in all conditions, winter and summer, put in long hours, be easily serviced and be safe at all times.

The adoption of disc brake technology for articulated trailers has been slower in the UK than the rest of Europe. With no regulations making them a requirement, many operators feel that the additional purchase and maintenance costs outweigh the potential performance gains. However, the tanker industry typically specifies disc brakes as standard. JOST examines the benefits of disc brakes and asks if other sectors of the haulage industry can learn from tanker operators.

Jost has produced a new step-by-step video guide to servicing a hydraulic cylinder, as part of a programme to improve in-field servicing of its Edbro tipping cylinders. The programme also includes extending the JOST service and support network, providing free cylinder care training to end-users, new service manuals and a series of other new videos. 

One of Europe’s road haulage groups has expanded its fleet, ensuring that each of its new vehicles are specified to the highest standard. The new fleet is comprised of tankers and dry freight curtain siders, to which JOST UK was selected to supply axle systems and all-wheel steering systems.

With its Modul B range of modular trailer support legs, JOST created a new paradigm for landing gear which could be tailored to individual requirements. Now the company has introduced a further innovation, with the option of electric actuation. Author: Paul Clayton, JOST.

This year’s Tip-Ex exhibition in Harrogate saw a JOST stand that was offering a complete range of components and accessories for tippers and tankers. Many of the display vehicles from a large number of manufacturers were fitted with several products from the JOST World of brands, which includes JOST, ROCKINGER, TRIDEC and Edbro. 

Did you know it is the operators of commercial vehicles who are responsible for ensuring vehicles are properly maintained and all equipment, including tipping gear, is in good working order, under health and safety legislation. Operators could arguably be defined as the vehicle’s owner, the fleet manager or the driver, so to avoid the pitfalls of tipper maintenance and protect your fleet, follow a few simple steps we have for you here. 

A tipping gear for any given vehicle can make a long-term contribution to operational profitability over its entire working life, if you select the best one that is. Gear must be optimally sized to safely tip the heaviest likely load, but so that it is as lightweight as possible in order to maximise payload. Further, selection of high quality tipping gear means maintenance costs will be reduced over the life of the vehicle. Also, correctly installing, testing and maintaining the tipping gear will enable safe and reliable operation at all times.

Purchasing non-OE parts may seem like a quick fix and easy way for fleet operators to reduced maintenance costs and save money, however, Gavin Takel, Technical Sales Manager at JOST Axle Systems, takes a further look and explains that this short term fix can work out more expensive in the long term, with original equipment parts proving cheaper in pence per mile, as well as safer.

At this year’s Tip-Ex exhibition in Harrogate the JOST stand stood out in particular with the most complete range of components and accessories for tipping and commercial vehicles yet. The JOST World consists of a number of unified brands including JOST, ROCKINGER, TRIDEC and EDBRO. As usual JOST exhibited on two stands: the indoor displaying a range of components and the outdoor showing several customer vehicles and hosting the traditional Edbro BBQ.

Worked hard by their operators trucks have the tough assignments of hauling agricultural grain, which can involve loads heavy enough that they that could affect steering and which also create potentially damaging dust. Additionally the trucks will have to cope with the whole spectrum of driving conditions from rough farm tracks to high speed highways. Here Danny Broomfield, UK Sales Director for JOST UK looks at the special considerations for designing grain trucks.

  Special safety seminars are being run by JOST UK, to ensure safety whilst on the road, with the most recent one being held for a service provider, to a major European fleet. The seminars provide training on safe operation and proper maintenance of JOST Fifth Wheel Couplings.

Conforming to the company’s ‘right first time’ philosophy the first of JOST’s new format Service Days has won high praise from the delegates and provided a template for future events. The objective of Service Days is to ensure its Service Agents have all the knowledge and expertise required to offer the best possible service to end-users.  

Because a breakdown or fault during a delivery could happen at any time, operating to the strictest of standards is essential for Hauliers that specialise in temperature controlled haulage for food products. As such, they must work hard to develop strong relationships with high quality suppliers for the components on all of its vehicles.