News
Bowmonk Gains ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation
Wednesday 12th June 2019
Bowmonk are pleased to announce we have achieved our accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 This standard specifies the general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories across the globe, signifying that a facility produces valid and reliable results that can be trusted across countries. The new edition of the standard was released in November 2017 to... Read more...
Industry News: DVSA systems catch overloaded trucks. See how they work
Wednesday 19th September 2018
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has special WIM sensors and roadside cameras all over the country. It helps the agency fight the overloaded delivery trucks and lorries, which pose a threat to road users and damage road infrastructure. At the beginning of this decade, the DVSA automated the existing manual weight-control systems. The new solution is a combination of WiMS sensors (Weigh in... Read more...
Industry News: FTA launches events to assist operators
Thursday 16th August 2018
The FTA has launched a series of events to help operators understand and adapt to the changing international regulatory landscape. International Road Transport Operator Conferences 2018 will take place on 1 October at Milton Keynes Dons FC; 9 October at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool; and on 24 October at Mercure, Brands Hatch. They will provide attendees with information on the latest regulatory... Read more...
Bowmonk to be represented at Extractive Industries Ireland
Tuesday 10th July 2018
Bowmonk will be represented at Extractive Industries Ireland, a health & safety conference and exhibition for the mining, quarrying and construction products industries, held on 26th September 2018 at Doran's Pit, Blessington in County Wicklow. JMH Services, a specialist provider of testing solutions to the plant and lifting industry, will represent Bowmonk at the show by demonstrating BrakeCheck4Quarries.... Read more...
Brake Testing for Fast Tractors
Sunday 20th May 2018
From today, 20th May 2018, roadworthiness testing is mandatory for fast tractors which are used for transporting a load that isn’t related to agriculture, horticulture or forestry operations, and which are used more than 15 miles from their operating base. A fast tractor is defined as one that is capable of exceeding 40 km/hr. Tractors requiring testing must have their first test 4... Read more...
Industry News: DVSA officially launches Earned Recognition scheme at CV Show
Wednesday 25th April 2018
The DVSA officially launched its Earned Recognition scheme at the CV Show yesterday morning, on what the agency described as a fantastic day for road safety. The scheme rewards operators for keeping their vehicle fleets and drivers compliant at all times. Click here for more information. Read more...
Less than 2 weeks until the 2018 CV Show
Thursday 12th April 2018
Bowmonk Tapley will again be exhibiting at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show, which runs from 24th to 26th April 2018 at the NEC in Birmingham. We will be demonstrating BrakeCheck – the popular DVSA-approved portable brake tester for recording and printing brake test results. BrakeCheck is fully approved for interim safety inspection brake tests and for the 3-monthly voluntary... Read more...
Industry News: Drivers' hours exemptions in extreme weather
Saturday 3rd March 2018
The Department for Transport has published guidance on special dispensation for HGV drivers to exceed drivers' hours to find a safe stopping point in the event of extreme weather. In a statement on its website, the DfT said: “During special circumstances, such as extreme weather events, normal drivers’ hours limits can be exceeded in order for drivers to reach a safe stopping... Read more...
Industry News: DVSA gains power to fine on the spot for previous offences
Friday 2nd February 2018
As of yesterday, the DVSA can issue fixed penalties for offences that took place in the previous 28 days. The offences covered include drivers' hours offences and any breaches to the weekly rest rules. Examiners are able to issue on-the-spot fines of £300 for up to five drivers' hours offences in the previous 28-day period. This means that any one driver could face a total fine... Read more...
Industry News: First MOT to remain at 3 years
Friday 19th January 2018
The government yesterday announced that plans to extend the MOT exemption period for new cars from 3 to 4 years has been scrapped, a decision which has been welcomed by the industry. This follows a consultation during which the Department for Transport received 1,970 responses, the majority of which did not support the proposal to move the first MOT test from 3 to 4 years. The consultation... Read more...
Registration open for CV Show 2018
Wednesday 10th January 2018
Free visitor registration for the 2018 Commercial Vehicle Show, at which Bowmonk Tapley will be exhibiting on Stand 4D30, has now opened. The show takes place from 24 to 26 April 2018 and will welcome back leading names from across the road transport industry. Visitors can register for free to attend on the CV Show's website. Read more...
New on-board weighing system for LCVs
Thursday 21st December 2017
In addition to our existing range of on-board vehicle weighing systems, Bowmonk can now offer LCV operators a comprehensive weigh scale system for vehicles of 3.5T GVW. The system is a variant of our successful 7.5 - 44T on-board application. The system will cater for all vehicle types including Luton vans, flat bed and tipper bodies, scaffold trucks, works vans and mobile maintenance vehicles. The... Read more...
On-board weighing systems for agricultural trailers
Thursday 14th December 2017
We are pleased to announce that we are now sole UK distributors for a variant of our already successful commercial vehicle On-board Weigh Scales - the 'Agri Load Manager' from LoadMaster. Agri Load Manager is an inexpensive, easy to install system available for all agricultural trailer types, affording such benefits as: Easy calibration Accurate weight of the total amount... Read more...
Traffic Commissioners call for Brake Testing Improvements
Thursday 9th November 2017
The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain have called upon operators to improve their approach to brake testing, after warning that the issue of poor brake testing is appearing "far too frequently" during enforcement investigations. The industry regulators said that many operators are failing to carry out testing at the frequency required under O-licensing law, or at all, and are... Read more...
Skanska chooses Bowmonk BrakeCheck
Monday 6th November 2017
Skanska, one of the world's leading project development and construction groups, has chosen Bowmonk's BrakeCheck portable decelerometer to help achieve the highest possible level of vehicle safety across its infrastructure services business. Click here to read the full case study. Read more...
Aggregate Industries invests in BrakeCheck4Quarries for HME Fleet
Tuesday 17th October 2017
The HME (Heavy Mobile Equipment) management team at Aggregate Industries have recently taken delivery of a quantity of BrakeCheck4Quarries electronic brake testers from Bowmonk Tapley, plus associated training. Click here to read the full case study. Above from left to right: Steve McNamara, John Kirk, Chris Bailey (Bowmonk), Chic McGregor & Mark Singleton. Read more...
Bowmonk featured in Garage & MOT Professional Magazine
Monday 18th September 2017
Bowmonk Tapley is this month's profiled company in Garage & MOT Professional magazine. The detailed article, appearing in issue 263 of the magazine, covers the company's history and products, including the DVSA-approved BrakeCheck portable decelerometer. The full article can be read here. Read more...
Introducing BrakeCheck Geo with built-in GPS
Wednesday 30th August 2017
We are pleased to announce the release of a new addition to the BrakeCheck family of products - BrakeCheck Geo, which includes a built-in GPS receiver. When combined with the optional wireless printer, BrakeCheck Geo includes the latitude and longitude of the brake test finish point on the receipt, thereby providing a record of the brake test location. The GPS facility can be turned... Read more...
Reminder: Motorcycle MOT Test Bays must be equipped with decelerometers
Wednesday 2nd August 2017
For over a decade the DVSA has required all motorcycle MOT test stations to have a decelerometer to allow brake testing to be completed in the event of a roller brake test failure, or if the motorcycle in question is not suitable for use with a roller brake tester. Many modern motorcycles have dual line brake application, which operates both front and rear brakes from one lever, and... Read more...
Industry News: TC cautions against "name only" transport managers
Wednesday 26th July 2017
West Midlands Traffic Commissioner (TC) Nick Denton has warned operators not to use "name only" transport managers who do not carry out their duties. He also urged transport managers to take action if circumstances change and they can no longer carry out their responsibilities, and consider resigning from their role if their concerns are not listened to by the operator. Click here for... Read more...
Minimising operational costs and maintaining productivity
Friday 7th July 2017
The following article was written by Chris Bailey, Bowmonk's UK Technical Executive. "How can we keep our operational costs at a minimum?" "How do we maintain the level of productivity necessary to generate the highest possible margins?" "In doing so, can I stay on the right side of the law?" These are probably 3 of the most frequently asked questions... Read more...
Lorry emissions checks to start at the roadside
Monday 26th June 2017
From August 2017, roadside checks of lorries carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will include an emissions check. DVSA will be target lorry drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions. The new checks will target those who break the law and will help to improve air quality. Products such as the DVSA-approved SmokeCheck offer a convenient way for... Read more...
12V version of TrailerCheck available
Friday 23rd June 2017
Following its debut at Automechanika earlier this month, we are pleased to announce that we now offer a 12V version of TrailerCheck, for testing the lighting circuits of 12V trailers and caravans. TrailerCheck 12V includes a similar feature set to the 24V (HGV) version - including the single operator auto test mode - but also displays the internal battery voltage. For more information please... Read more...
BrakeCheck is ideal for Mobile Servicing - Commercial Vehicle Dealer Magazine
Monday 12th June 2017
BrakeCheck is ideal for the mobile servicing technician, as discussed in the following article published in Commercial Vehicle Dealer magazine (June 2017 edition). Click here to read the article. Read more...
Industry News: UK heavy truck market registrations outperform European rivals
Friday 26th May 2017
The UK heavy truck market outperformed European rivals in April, according to ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers Association). The UK lagged behind other European countries in the first quarter of the year, but against a backdrop of overall decline in European registrations in April it saw growth in both the medium (3.5-tonnes up) and heavy (16-tonnes up) segment of the market while others... Read more...
Bowmonk to exhibit at Automechanika Birmingham next month
Monday 8th May 2017
Following a successful Commercial Vehicle Show we are pleased to be exhibiting at next month's Automechanika Birmingham show, the UK's leading exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and supply chain. We will be demonstrating BrakeCheck – the popular DVSA-approved portable brake tester for recording and printing brake test results. BrakeCheck is fully approved for interim... Read more...
2 weeks to go until Commercial Vehicle Show
Tuesday 11th April 2017
Bowmonk Tapley will again be exhibiting at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show, which runs from 25th to 27th April 2017 at the NEC in Birmingham. We will be demonstrating BrakeCheck – the popular DVSA-approved portable brake tester for recording and printing brake test results. BrakeCheck is fully approved for interim safety inspection brake tests and for the 3-monthly voluntary... Read more...
Enterprise Flex-E-Rent invests in BrakeCheck Training
Tuesday 4th April 2017
Enterprise Flex-E-Rent has recently invested in a comprehensive brake testing training programme for its 50 strong fleet of mobile vehicle technicians and national network of workshop based testing centres, each having their own dedicated portable DVSA-approved brake test kit from Bowmonk Tapley. For full details please read the case study. Read more...
Bowmonk exhibits at B-APCO Exhibition
Thursday 23rd March 2017
Earlier this week Bowmonk's In-CarPC division had a successful show at the 2017 B-APCO Exhibition & Conference, the trade show for the public safety communications sector. Visitors to our stand saw live demos of our range of fanless in-vehicle PCs, plus the T5 Event Data Recorder. Read more...
FAA confirms the importance of airport runway friction readings
Friday 3rd March 2017
Recent changes to the process of assessing and reporting airport runway conditions, introduced in October 2016, are discussed by the FAA in the following webinar: Title: Airport Condition Reporting and the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) Presented by: HQ FAA / Office of Airports Presented to: Airport operators and stakeholders... Read more...
Industry News: Overloading tops the list of LGV offences in 2015/16 and is 5th most common for HGVs
Wednesday 22nd February 2017
The DVSA has recently released statistics showing the most common offences for prosecution in 2015/16 relating to Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). For LGVs the most commonly reported offence was the vehicle being overloaded - a situation which was also the case in 2014/15 and 2013/14. In total during 2015/16 there were 236 reports of overloaded LGVs,... Read more...
Industry News: DfT extends trial of longer semi-trailers (LSTs)
Monday 6th February 2017
The DfT’s trial of longer semi-trailers (LSTs) for articulated goods vehicles, which began in January 2012, has recently been extended – both in terms of time (an extra 5 years) and in terms of the total number of LSTs (increased by 1,000 to 2,800). The operational trial aims to see if using longer semi-trailers brings about anticipated environmental and economic benefits. More... Read more...
Dawnus chooses Bowmonk on-board weighing system
Monday 30th January 2017
Dawnus Construction has chosen Bowmonk's on-board weighing system for two Scania tractor units, both of which pull 'swan neck' trailers transporting heavy plant equipment. For full details please read the case study. Read more...
Industry News: RHA calls for tougher sanctions for drivers' hours falsification
Friday 20th January 2017
The RHA has called for sanctions for drivers’ hours falsification to be increased, particularly for non-GB drivers, as drivers’ hours breaches continue to top the DVSA’s list of most commonly-committed offences. Vehicle enforcement data published by the DVSA this week showed that some 46% of the 3,271 offences detected during checks of both GB- and non-GB registered trucks in the... Read more...
Show Dates for 2017
Sunday 1st January 2017
We have already booked stands at the following shows, so please add these dates to your 2017 diary: B-APCO Exhibition & Conference - the trade show for the public safety communications sector. See our In-CarPC division on Stand E3 at The International Centre, Telford on 21 & 22 March 2017. Commercial Vehicle Show - the UK's largest and most comprehensive road freight... Read more...
Merry Christmas (& Opening Hours)
Tuesday 13th December 2016
We would like to thank all our customers for their business throughout 2016, and we look forward to working with you in 2017. Please note that we will close for the Christmas break at 12.00 on Friday 23rd December, reopening at 08.30 on Tuesday 3rd January 2017. We will also be closed on Wednesday 21st December from 12.00. We wish you a very merry Christmas! Read more...
Industry News: 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show to be Biggest Ever
Tuesday 6th December 2016
The 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show, at which Bowmonk will again be exhibiting, will be bigger than ever before, with over 500 exhibitors expected to attend. Vehicle manufacturers will be well represented, with DAF and MAN taking large stands and Iveco dealer Guest Trucks flying the flag for the Italian marque. Numerous light commercials will be on show from the likes of LDV, Ford, Citroen,... Read more...
Industry News: DfT report suggests no adverse impact to raising HGV speed limits
Wednesday 9th November 2016
The RHA has welcomed the DfT’s first-year evaluation report findings on the HGV speed limit increases for England and Wales that came into effect last year. Under the changes the single carriageway speed limit for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes rose from 40mph to 50mph from April last year. Dual carriageway limits increased from 50mph to 60mph at the same point. The DfT has found that awareness... Read more...
Industry News: OCRS changes expected next year
Tuesday 18th October 2016
The DVSA is to make several changes to its OCRS system, which include removing the function that sees an operator’s score go straight to red if a single serious defect is discovered. The changes, which are expected to be introduced early next year, also include revisions to the number of points given for various types of infringement; the inclusion of the results of traffic examiner visits... Read more...
3 weeks to go until Euro Bus Expo
Tuesday 11th October 2016
It is now only 3 weeks until Euro Bus Expo 2016, the free-to-attend premier showcase for the bus and coach sector. On our stand we will be showing: BrakeCheck: the DVSA-approved portable decelerometer SensorCheck: the portable EBS/ABS diagnostic tool The new T5 Event Data Recorder (EDR) In-CarPC on-board Wi-Fi hotspot 4G routers In-CarPC on-board vehicle computers In addition... Read more...
Industry News: Tougher penalties for drivers using mobile phones
Thursday 29th September 2016
The Road Haulage Association has applauded the government's decision to apply much tougher penalties in equal measure to motorists and HGV drivers caught using their hand-held phones while driving. From early next year, penalties will double, with all drivers caught using their mobile phones automatically receiving six points on their licence instead of the current three. They will also... Read more...
Industry News: DfT may extend longer semi-trailer trial
Wednesday 14th September 2016
The government is considering extending the longer semi-trailer pilot, despite the latest annual report revealing that the full allocation is still not running on UK roads. According to the fourth annual report, 1,674 of the full allocation of 1,800 longer semi-trailer permits were in use as of July 2016; an increase from the 1,511 at the end of 2015. With the full trial allocation almost reached,... Read more...
Industry News: A third of DVSA stops in 2015 lead to prohibitions
Wednesday 31st August 2016
Almost a third of trucks and trailers stopped and checked by the DVSA last year were issued with a prohibition for a mechanical defect. Prohibition figures released following a freedom of information request by Commercialmotor.com show that 31% of the 51,079 HGV and trailer checks carried out last year resulted in a PG9 being given to the operator. Of the 15,815 PG9s issued between 1 January and... Read more...
We now offer on-board weighing solutions for all suspension types
Monday 22nd August 2016
Bowmonk are now the sole UK distributors of Sense-Tech`s Kimax range of on-board weigh scales. This new partnership means Bowmonk can now offer an on-board weigh scale and axle overload warning system for all vehicle types from a 3.5 tonne van to a 44 tonne articulated combination. For more details follow the links below: For vehicles with all-air suspension For twin-axle vehicles... Read more...
Introducing the T5 Event Data Recorder
Monday 15th August 2016
We are pleased to introduce the T5 Event Data Recorder, which will make its official European debut at the Euro Bus Expo in November. The T5 is an on-line EDR with a built-in accelerometer, digital inputs and connection to the CAN bus, capable of recording a wealth of information at very high resolution. Data is sent to a cloud-based reporting solution which allows fleet managers to view... Read more...
Latest FAA AC makes it easy for Airports to use the AFM2 with ABS-equipped vehicles
Wednesday 10th August 2016
The latest FAA Advisory Circular (number 150/5200-30D) no longer requires airports to disable the ABS system on vehicles which are used to conduct runway friction tests with portable electronic decelerometers like the Bowmonk AFM2. With no requirement to disable the test vehicle’s ABS, it is now even easier for airports to use the AFM2, and means that they no longer face the risk of vehicle... Read more...
Industry News: Majority of van drivers unaware of load carrying limits
Monday 8th August 2016
A recent study has revealed that 53% of van drivers are unaware of the maximum load carrying capacity of their vehicles, and that almost half of businesses do not carry out regular weight checks on their vehicles. In 2015 the DVSA stopped over 10,800 vans on UK roads and found 89% to be overloaded. Products such as Bowmonk's AxleCheck provide an easy way to monitoring van weights to ensure... Read more...
Clarification on DVSA approval for trailer brake testing
Wednesday 3rd August 2016
Over the past 18 months we have received numerous enquiries asking whether our portable brake testers are approved by the DVSA for trailer testing. Our answer to this has always been that no decelerometers are approved for trailer testing, despite some within our industry implying the opposite. We are pleased that the GEA, who operate the MOT equipment approval service on behalf... Read more...
Bowmonk at Euro Bus Expo 2016
Thursday 21st July 2016
The Euro Bus Expo, held at the NEC in Birmingham from 1-3 November is fast approaching. Bowmonk Tapley, the world leader in portable brake test equipment, will be showing BrakeCheck - the DVSA-approved portable decelerometer - and launching the new T5 Event Data Recorder (EDR). The T5 is an on-line EDR with a built-in accelerometer, digital inputs and connection to the CAN bus, capable... Read more...
Industry News: SOLAS Container Weight Verification
Friday 1st July 2016
A change to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation will bring in new laws which will dictate that all containers must have a verified weight certificate in advance of being loaded onto a ship. The new laws, which came into force on 1st July 2016, are an attempt to reduce the number of accidents at sea caused by loads being poorly distributed on ships. Whilst port operators generally have... Read more...
ContiPressureCheck TPMS available from Bowmonk
Thursday 9th June 2016
Bowmonk has partnered with Continental and now offers the ContiPressureCheck Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Please visit its product page for more information. Read more...
Industry News: Myth-busting on lorry driver employment tax
Tuesday 7th June 2016
The Road Haulage Association has been myth-busting in a campaign to improve compliance with tax law relating to lorry drivers. RHA members have been alarmed at a growth in tax evasion and the increasing market pressure on firms to break HMRC rules. Various ploys are being used by which lorry drivers are said to be "self-employed". That is fine for genuine owner-drivers,... Read more...
Industry News: London Mayor proposes tough air quality proposals
Wednesday 25th May 2016
Newly-elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan is proposing to extend the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the North and South Circular roads, beyond its previously proposed reach within the Congestion Charging zone, as well as bringing forward its roll-out to before 2020. More information is available from various sources, including http://www.commercialmotor.com/news/mayor-hits-hauliers-air-pollution-challenges... Read more...
Industry News: UK roads among safest in EU
Friday 13th May 2016
The European Commission recently published figures confirming that European roads remain the safest in the world, with the UK having one of the lowest road death rates of all EU countries (4th lowest out of 29). The importance of frequent vehicle safety checks - such as the annual MOT test - is key in keeping our roads safe. Click here to read the full article (opens... Read more...
Visit Bowmonk at next week’s Commercial Vehicle Show
Monday 18th April 2016
As usual, Bowmonk will have a significant presence at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham from 26 to 28 April. Our 30 square metre stand, number 4D30, will showcase numerous products from our range, including: BrakeCheck, the DVSA-approved portable decelerometer for recording and printing brake test results. BrakeCheck is approved for interim safety... Read more...
Industry News: Keeping your operator license promises
Friday 15th April 2016
An article recently published by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner gives a reminder of the obligations placed on HGV operators - including keeping vehicles and trailers roadworthy. Products like BrakeCheck, our DVSA-approved portable brake tester, make it easy for operators to meet their obligations. The full article can be read at https://movingon.blog.gov.uk/keeping-your-operator-licence-promises/... Read more...
Industry News: Drivers' hours and tachographs rules: goods vehicles
Tuesday 15th March 2016
Changes have recently been made to the rules on drivers' hours and tachographs for goods vehicles in Great Britain and Europe. For more details please visit the DVSA's website at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drivers-hours-goods-vehicles (opens in new window). Read more...
Selwood partners with Bowmonk for plant hire brake testing
Tuesday 15th March 2016
Equipment hire specialist Selwood is to use cutting-edge brake testing technology on its entire fleet of wheeled plant after entering into a partnership with Bowmonk. Please read the full case study for more information. Read more...
New Bowmonk Website
Monday 14th March 2016
We are excited to launch our new mobile-friendly website, featuring in-depth product details and high quality photography. The new site is much more user friendly than its predecessor, using responsive design and containing an interactive Products Grid displayed on the home page which gives a clear overview of all our products. The website also features our new, redesigned logo. ... Read more...
