If you have read our recent article on the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS for short), you are surely aware of the importance of this technological advance in the field of automobile safety.
Considering that nearly 75% of flats are caused by improperly inflated tires, it’s easy to understand why it’s vital to be able to easily check their pressure. That’s exactly what this small device, now standard on all passenger vehicles, has been doing for several years. However, in commercial transportation, it’s more complicated. On a trailer that often changes hands, it is imperative that the pressure monitoring system be compatible with all vehicles, which makes them more difficult to develop.
Aftermarket solutions
For trailer owners, the easiest solution to date is to purchase an external TPMS, designed by a third party. They have the advantage of being inexpensive and work on virtually any type of vehicle, but their quality can sometimes leave something to be desired. Reliability is paramount in this type of system, so installing one that is not manufacturer-approved is not optimal.
Furthermore, finding the right choice for your vehicle and trailer can sometimes be complex since the market is very varied. For transportation companies, the high cost of these types of devices can also be a deterrent. This is why more and more car and transport truck manufacturers are interested in integrating a trailer tire pressure monitoring system directly into the vehicle.
This is notably the case for Mercedes-Benz, whose British division recently unveiled a revolutionary system designed for trucks with the help of the German tire manufacturer Continental. Using ContiPressureCheck technology and the Mercedes Truck App Portal, this new type of TPMS feeds tire pressure info to the driver in real time thanks to a reliable system that is completely integrated into the dashboard. It is the collaboration between the independent TPMS for trailers developed by Continental and the Mercedes Actros display system that makes the product extraordinary. Adaptable to all types of trailers, the TPMS then connects to the central unit via Bluetooth and displays the temperature and tyre pressure.
Safer trucks and trailers
With a product of increased reliability and lower installation cost, Mercedes’ goal is to encourage truck owners to drive safely. While there are still challenges ahead, such as the high weight and increased temperature caused by the friction of wide tires on the road, which the sensors have to deal with, it seems that the technology has finally arrived. All that remains is to see it integrated on our roads over the next few years.
