Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring Systems - Read More
What is EBPMS?
EBPMS is a system that enables fleet managers to monitor the braking performance of the trailers in their fleets. It captures information from a trailer’s electronic braking system and calculates its performance, feeding it back to a platform where it can be monitored and reported on.
EBPMS helps fleets meet safety, compliance and maintenance requirements. The data that EBPMS generates improves trailer management efficiency and minimises trailer downtime, and associated costs, by reducing the number of roller brake tests required throughout the year.
In the event of under-performing brakes, an EBPMS alerts the user, prompting for action to be taken to investigate and remedy any defects. EBPMS can also enable users to monitor braking performance trends over time and produce performance reports for defined periods. Reports can be used as evidence of an operator’s preventative maintenance system.
How does it work?
When the truck’s driver brakes, his braking demand is first processed by the truck's electronic braking system (EBS). The brake pedal position is interpreted as a 'deceleration target'. The truck can use several means to reply to the braking demand. The truck manages these means so as to produce the braking force corresponding to its braking demand.
The truck's EBS computes, from the driver’s braking demand, a braking demand for the truck itself and a braking demand for the trailer. The truck's EBS chooses the demand to the trailer to reach identical wheel speeds for the truck and the trailer, thereby controlling the coupling force between truck and trailer and avoiding wheel slip.
The trailer receives the braking demand and processes it in the trailer's EBS. The trailer's EBS applies a brake pressure according to the demand and the trailer load.
The braking forces created by the truck and the trailer produce a deceleration. The truck's EBS measures the deceleration and compares it to its deceleration target. As long as the deceleration is not as requested, the truck's EBS adjusts its demands to the truck and the trailer.
EBPMS applications may rely on braking forces being correctly distributed between truck and trailer.
Near real-time data
An Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System will produce near real-time reports on underperforming brakes, which are available via the EBPMS platform, and will also provide notification, for example via email, to the user of any trailers with underperforming brakes. This will prompt the user to investigate the issue further and to take action.
Official guidance regarding EBPMS
The DVSA sets out the expectations of the Department for Transport with regards to fleet maintenance and roadworthiness in its 'Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness’ (GTMR) publication. The document outlines both regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
The Guide states that “every safety inspection must assess the braking performance of the vehicle or trailer”. It then goes on to state that “an Electronic Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) may be used to monitor in-service braking performance”.
This means that use of EBPMS is accepted as a means of assessing braking performance, albeit with certain conditions applying.
- the EBPMS used must meet the industry standard specification, as published by the DVSA
- the braking performance report produced by the EBPMS must be evaluated (by a ‘competent’ person) prior to every safety inspection
- the EBPMS must be able to produce a ‘braking performance value’, meaning that it must be able to measure sufficient braking events over a given period (in other words, EBPMS may not be an accepted means of assessing braking performance for infrequently used vehicles)
- every safety inspection record is expected to include the braking performance report
- the braking performance report must indicate a ‘pass’
TIP – contributor to industry standards
TIP, together with other industry bodies, worked in liaison with the DVSA to support the development and launch of a new industry standard specification for EBPMS compliance. The specification remains unchanged today.
TIP trailer hire & EBPMS?
As a leading provider of trailer rental, leasing, maintenance and repair to customers in the transport and logistics industry and having played a role in the development of the EBPMS specification, we are able to advise on the benefits of having EBPMS for your fleet.
Click here to read about TIP's EBPMS, BrakePlus.
If you would like to know more on whether EBPMS is right for your transport operation, please contact us.