The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has praised Melbourne-based haulage company, Metropolitan Express and Australian trailer expert, Vawdrey, on the launch of a new trailer concept which is leading the way in safety and technology.
Philip Lovel AM, VTA Chief Executive and Chairman of the Transport Industry Safety Group presided over the launch proceedings in December. “In an environment where safety is number one, this is a very exciting development,” he says. “It is now the state of knowledge in the industry and customers will expect this concept to spread through the freight and logistics industry.”
Labelled FPSS, the new system provides a safer work environment while on top of a loading platform due to a collapsible safety barrier which cannot be passed over while the load area is occupied; the only access point is a security gate positioned at the front.
Vawdrey’s Managing Director, Paul Vawdrey, predicts that the new layout will create a whole new trailer category. “The FPSS model is a promising approach to improve safety and maintain productivity at the same time,” he says. “It can provide the security and weather resistance of a curtain-sided trailer with the ease of loading of a flatbed.”
FPSS provides a tarping solution for flat-top rigid and semi-trailers which does away with the need to supply safety platforms, harnesses or loading docks as required by OH&S legislation. The inbuilt safety barrier encloses the entire work area so no risk of falls when adjusting material or equipment. The flexible roofing system allows for overhead crane loading in addition to eliminating the need to tarp the load or access the roof.
After an 18-month development process, Metropolitan Express and Vawdrey have now managed to apply that knowledge to the manufacturing process. “We have gone so far as to create our own specialised type of trailer,” says Sam Pantou, Director of Metropolitan Express. “Of course, it’s also equipped with a state-of-the-art EBS system and an under run protection system.”
It is this total commitment to safety that has opened a lot of doors for Metropolitan Express – including ones at the local association level, like the VTA. “I have never met a anyone who was more passionate about safety than Sam Pantou,” says Lovel. “Like no other he has understood that safety must be our first priority and that innovative technology can save lives. The FPSS trailer is a great example of combining safety and productivity, and I hope it will inspire the entire transport industry to re-think their safety approach.”
Ross Pilkington, Director of Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture of WorkSafe Victoria was especially complimentary about the team’s vision, commitment and awareness. “The launch of the trailer was very important to all concerned as it demonstrated that companies and management are working towards a much safer industry,” he says. “Today alone over three workers had been killed in workplace accidents, and many more over the past two weeks”.
Pantou, meanwhile, says that FPSS is just another piece of the puzzle to create a safe work environment and provide a targeted transport service. “It’s our mission to provide a modern and specifically calibrated vehicle for the task at hand, which are inherently safer and are better for the drivers. We simply want to give the client exactly the right vehicle for the job.”
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