One of the requirements for transport with Long Heavy Vehicles (LHVs) in the Netherlands and Belgium is being able to demonstrate how heavy the vehicle is on the road. As it is not always possible to drive an LHV to a weighbridge, Prometheus has developed a software solution together with Squarell Technology that provides real-time insight into all axle loads.

This solution makes it possible to use different vehicle combinations and to show the axle loads in real time to the driver in the cabin. In Belgium, for example, a permit is granted on the basis of the information shown and not every vehicle or vehicle combination has to be inspected separately. In addition to insight into the axle loads and the route driven, this gives the planner the freedom to use any of the available trailers or trailer combination.

It works like this; both the tractor and trailer have a CAN bus, the system by which all of the electronic devices in that vehicle/trailer communicate with each other. The data from CAN buses of both trailers are combined by the Squarell device into a bluetooth message that is sent to the Prometheus portal. This portal makes this information available on both it’s mobile solution in the vehicle, and on the telematics portal available in the office.