Trailer safety campaign to launch in May
26th April 2021
Tilly Pass is set to launch a trailer safety campaign on 1st May, running through the main harvest towing season, to raise awareness of recommended machinery safety, available through the Head to Tow app.
To kick things off, NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts will deliver the first safety message on Friday 30th April; and over the coming months, Tilly Pass will be talking to trailer manufacturers, dealerships and farmers about trailer safety.
The Head to Tow app is available to download and use for free on smartphones and tablets, and information is also available on the website www.tillypass.co.uk. The app gives operators the opportunity to access both daily machinery checks and operators’ manuals, either from their smartphone or by printing them out.
It is especially suited to seasonal workers who can check their equipment, not only promoting safe practices, but also helping to prolong the safe working life of old and new machines.
Since the app’s launch 12 months ago, Tilly Pass says it has seen an increase in the number of main UK trailer manufacturers looking to promote the need for trailer safety and there has been a huge uptake by operators looking to safeguard themselves while towing.
While Tilly Pass says it hopes all employers have the correct knowledge when it comes to machinery checks at both the beginning of a shift and should the need occur at a change of combination; a much wider understanding of the help available must be achieved if we are to see a decrease in farm fatalities during harvest ‘21.
Agricultural vehicles are not registered for road use in the UK and, unlike commercial trailers, are not subject to an annual Ministry of Transport (MOT) test. This can lead to inadequate maintenance and the potential for illegal trailers running in a dangerous and unroadworthy condition.
The Tilly Pass is a scheme run by Farmers in Bedfordshire that works closely with the main trailer manufacturers throughout the UK and Ireland to give farmers and owners of trailers a clear understanding of their duty of care.
Each new trailer purchased through one of its authorised dealerships will start its working life with a Tilly Pass at point of PDI. This is an important step forward for farmers, giving them an opportunity to purchase a registered trailer which will be inspected annually, providing a detailed history of compliance.
