The Commercial Vehicle Podcast

When we’re talking workshops, there’s a lot of focus on the vehicles. It’s all about lifts, pits, tyre changers, and brake testers – the big-ticket equipment that does the heavy-duty work and gets all the attention on the shop floor. But in practice, there’s so much more going on in the workshop. And if the layout of your workspace isn’t efficient – with optimised storage and easy access to tools...

If you’re running a workshop that’s looking to upgrade, the choice of different lifts can be overwhelming. You need to think about the vehicles you’re servicing, the floor space you have, and the amount you’re willing to invest in a long-term piece of kit. And for some workshop owners, that can make an in-ground lift seem like a big commitment.

We sit down with James Atkins, Key Account Manager for Totalkare to get to know his background and answer some quickfire questions.  Need to speak to an expert? Visit https://totalkare.co.uk/

Let’s be honest: changing tyres isn’t an everyday job. In most cases, it takes years on the road (or tens of thousands of miles) before your vans and coaches need a new set of treads. But when we’re talking about scale – fleets with dozens of commercial vehicles, or busy workshops with high demand – things start to get serious. And that’s when a dedicated tyre changer can save your business some s...

We’re in the business of building the safest workshop equipment around. But even the best equipment out there can be dangerous in the wrong hands. And if your teams aren’t properly trained, you could be putting them at risk. Here’s how Online Mobile Column Lift Training can save you time and money:

There’s a lot of red tape when it comes to MOT testing. From the layout of your site to the equipment you use, you need to be sure you’ve got all the right parts in place before you commit to investing your cash. So to help you get started – and so you know what’s ahead – we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to setting up shop as a Class 7 MOT test centre.

No matter how you go about it, lifting a 10-tonne (or heavier) vehicle is serious business. And despite all the rigorous testing and meticulous design that comes with 40 years of supplying our flagship Mobile Column Lifts , there’s one universal truth that applies to every workplace in the country: A tool is only as safe as the person using it.

When you’re working with vehicles, space is at a premium. And unless you’re running a workshop in an expansive warehouse premises, you need to squeeze the most value out of every precious square metre you have. So how can you make sure that every inch of your workshop is being put to good use on a daily basis? With the kind of equipment that’s flexible, mobile, and adaptable to different spaces an...

Although the UK isn’t known for its blinding hot summers, your air con system is usually used more often than think! Whether it’s cold in the morning and you need warming up, or it’s a hot summers day and you need cooling down. The unpredictability of the weather means you need certainty in your air con – you never know when your drivers will need it, and you never know how much use it’s going to...

When your workshop was young and your fleet was small, it probably made sense to outsource your brake testing to a test centre with its own brake tester. Equipment can be costly, with an up-front investment that takes time to recover – and it’s not always clear how long you’ll have to wait to start seeing savings. But as your company grows (and your fleet grows with it), the long-term costs of out...

We’ve been in the mobile column lift game for a long time. (41 years, if you’re counting!) We’re proud of our exceptional quality and the robust safety features we put into every lift we build. But we’ve seen first-hand just how far and fast the technology has progressed in that time. Our latest mobile column lifts (like the T8DC and T8AC) are built on that progression – taking those same robust f...

When you’re running a vehicle workshop, it’s all too easy to focus on the big-ticket machinery – the lifts, the pits, and the high-tech testing equipment. But if you want to run the tightest ship you can (with efficiency and safety as a top priority) you need to take care of the everyday tasks, too. And when you’re servicing vehicles on a daily basis, o...

Explore how you can reduce your carbon footprint through in-house testing with our latest podcast celebrating Earth Day. 

Our latest 2-part podcast special discusses how our industry can help save the planet. We cover hot topics such as emission standards, how you can analyse your emissions and how to cut your emissions.

Testing for emissions isn’t just about hitting environmental targets – it’s an essential health check of your vehicles’ engines that can help your business to save money on fuel and maintenance. But while the smoke meters themselves are built to be user-friendly, understanding the readings isn’t as simple as it seems. Here’s everything you need to know about how a Diesel Smoke Meter works – and ho...

Fastening nuts and bolts might seem like a simple task. But when we’re talking about trucks and coaches – vehicles weighing multiple tonnes that are out on the road under huge forces – there’s really no room for error with fittings that are too loose or too tight. So if you’re running a fleet or a vehicle workshop, the safety of your drivers and your vehicles should be top priority – and that mean...

When you’re lifting heavy vehicles, safety is the top priority. But when it comes to wet work (like under-chassis washing), there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye. We’re all aware of the risks involved with weight, balance, and stability. But working with water has its own hidden dangers – and using the wrong equipment could lead to higher repair costs, unnecessary maintenance, or even ser...

What’s the most common defect that leads to vehicle MOT failure? The steering? The tyres? The suspension? They all sound believable. But they’re not even close. When we think about vehicles failing their MOTs, it’s natural to think about the high-profile risks – the physical mechanics of how the vehicle moves on the road. But here’s the truth: The number-one reason for a vehicle failing its MOT ha...

There’s been a lot of misunderstanding about inspection pits over the years. Despite the huge strides forward in technology and safety measures, some people are still stuck with the same out-dated image of what working in a pit is like: They think of a dark underground space with crumbling walls and a leaking floor – a place with poor ventilation that catches a few clumsy workers in its jaws every...

It’s an age-old debate: lifts or pits? But when you’re setting up shop to service vehicles, there usually isn’t a quick and easy answer. They’re all safe and effective. They’re all wise investments. They’re all robust and reliable pieces of kit, equipped with the latest innovations in modern technology. But they all have their own specific uses. And the right choice for your business depends on ex...

There’s a lot that goes into keeping your vehicles in good shape. With so much attention placed on the high-profile elements (like the brakes, the tyres, and the emissions) it’s easy to overlook the smaller details that can have a huge impact. But there’s one part of vehicle servicing that should never be ignored – and it could be costing you a lot more money than you think.

No company wants a huge tax bill – especially when it’s the hefty flat rate of Corporation Tax.  But this year’s Government Budget was met with a warm welcome from every company that pays corporation tax – and it’s all to do with the new rules around ‘Super Deduction’. So what does that mean? Let’s get into it:

Every workshop knows it needs a strong and reliable vehicle lift. But with so much focus on the heavy-duty equipment, it’s easy to forget about all the essential extras – the invaluable supporting tools that make working on vehicles safer and faster. So we’ve put together this essential list of the most important secondary lifting tools that no workshop should be without.

Anyone who works with vehicles knows that serious damage isn’t always visible. And often, it’s the smallest components that suffer the worst wear and tear. We all know the importance of regular safety checks – from brake testers and emissions testers to headlamps and tyre pressure. But not every workshop has their own dedicated equipment for testing their suspension and steering. Here’s everything...

Any tycoon will tell you that oil is pricey .  But there’s a lot more to saving money than just how and where you buy it.  At every stage of the journey your oil takes, good oil management can help your workshop save money – and the right equipment can help you make sure that every drop counts. Tune in to today's podcast to learn how managing your oil can make a difference to your busine...