LAG Trailers and Total Belgium stun with new project
Total Belgium created its own training for fuel transport. LAG Trailers engineered the mobile tool to put it in practice.
Pioneering fuel training
Total Belgium spends a lot of attention to its drivers’ training. The company noticed a lack of professional schooling that fitted its specific needs.
The Belgian fuel transporter fittingly decided to take on the pioneering role by creating its own educational programme. Karl D’Hont, Project Manager for Total Belgium, explains how the company handled the project:
‘We aimed for the most ‘practical’ implementation of our training. We only needed the right educational tool to get started on a safe, mobile, flexible and realistic way.'
By way of brainstorming, the idea of an educational trailer came to fruition. Total contacted its frequent partner LAG Trailers to help them out.
Miniature testing environment
LAG Trailers has been the first fuel trailer manufacturer with its own test center. LAG’s experience made it the right partner at the right moment. The company managed to incorporate the crucial elements of its 460 m² large testing environment onto a surface of 8 m².
To provide a complete educational experience, the mobile test center is filled with all possible bells and whistles. 3 tanks are foreseen to simulate the loading and unloading of fluids. Just like on the real tankers, the trailer provides a measuring installation, pump and over pressure valves like a float system, whistles and electronic probes. The company can simulate an almost limitless amount of real-life situations using the LAG educational tool. This happens in a safe and easy way, thanks to working with a closed water circuit.
LAG Trailers has built everything on a frame, to ensure a removable installation.
Service Supervisor Patrick De Leeuw and the LAG Service team designed a realistic exercise circuit together with Rudy van den Brande, Transport Advisor for Total Belgium.
‘You need to keep your head straight during the schooling’ states Patrick De Leeuw. ‘Every programmed pitfall is a possibility on-the-job as well. We need to get this under the attention of all drivers.’
Spreading the word
A thorough Belgian training for fuel transport seems needed. Total Belgium opened up talks with multiple organizations to certify and share the educational training on a larger scale. Total’s knowledge as well as LAG’s educational trailer appear to be necessary parts on the road to a safer fuel transport in Belgium.