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HGV Brake Testers

Commercial vehicle roller brake testers are heavy-duty diagnostic systems used to measure the braking performance of trucks, buses and other large commercial vehicles. These systems simulate real braking conditions by rotating rollers beneath the vehicle wheels while sensors measure braking force, imbalance and efficiency.

HGV brake testers are essential equipment for Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs), commercial vehicle workshops and fleet maintenance centres where accurate brake testing is required to meet safety regulations.

GEMCO supplies professional commercial vehicle roller brake testers designed for heavy axle loads, DVSA compliance and reliable performance in demanding workshop environments.

OUR RANGE OF HGV BRAKE TESTERS

What Is an HGV Brake Tester?

An HGV brake tester is a specialised roller brake testing system designed to measure braking force on heavy goods vehicles and other commercial vehicles.

During a brake test, the vehicle’s wheels are driven by powered rollers while sensors measure braking performance when the driver applies the brakes. The system records brake force, efficiency and imbalance between wheels.

Brake testers are used to ensure vehicles meet road safety requirements and are capable of stopping safely under operational conditions.

Commercial Vehicle Brake Testing for ATF Lanes

Commercial vehicle brake testers are widely used in Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) where statutory brake testing is carried out for heavy vehicles.

These systems are designed to test a wide range of vehicle types including:

  • Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)

  • Trucks and tractor units

  • Buses and coaches

  • Trailers and articulated vehicles

  • Commercial vans and fleet vehicles

Because of the higher axle weights involved, commercial brake testers are engineered with heavy-duty roller beds, powerful drive motors and advanced sensor systems capable of measuring braking forces on large vehicles.

Types of Commercial Vehicle Roller Brake Testers

Commercial brake testers are available in several configurations depending on workshop layout and testing requirements.

  • In-ground systems are permanently installed into the workshop floor and are commonly used in ATF testing lanes. These installations provide stable testing conditions and are designed for frequent heavy vehicle testing.

  • Mobile commercial brake testers can be transported and used in temporary or flexible testing environments. These systems are often used for fleet inspections or temporary testing setups.

Both types provide accurate brake performance measurements while supporting DVSA testing procedures.

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Sherpa Commercial Vehicle Brake Testers

The Sherpa range of commercial vehicle brake testers includes heavy-duty systems designed for ATF lanes and commercial workshops.

The Sherpa BPS KOMPAKT 15t in-ground commercial vehicle brake tester is designed for ATF and Class IV + VII ATL installations. The system uses DVSA compliant software operated through a tablet interface which guides the user step-by-step through the brake testing procedure and generates a pass or fail test result.

The Sherpa BPS MOBILE commercial vehicle brake tester provides a mobile testing solution while still offering the same DVSA compliant software and user-friendly tablet control system.

The Sherpa BPS TWIN 18t in-ground commercial brake tester is designed for heavier commercial vehicle testing and provides robust braking performance measurement in demanding workshop environments.

These systems are manufactured in Germany using high quality components and are supplied with a three year parts and labour warranty.

Tecalemit Commercial Vehicle Brake Testers

The Tecalemit DE9700 commercial vehicle brake tester is designed specifically to meet the requirements of UK Authorised Testing Facilities.

The system features a heavy-duty roller bed powered by two high-performance 15kW motors and includes soft-start technology to provide smooth operation during testing.

An integrated axle weighing system with eight sensors allows the system to automatically calculate brake efficiency while an integrated vehicle database allows results to be stored for inspection records.

The DE9700 brake tester is capable of testing:

HGV and commercial vehicles

trucks and tractor units

rigid vehicles and trailers

buses and coaches

Optional upgrades allow the system to support Class 4 and Class 7 MOT testing as well as load simulation systems used in specialist testing environments.

Features of Commercial Roller Brake Testers

Modern HGV brake testers include a range of advanced features designed to improve testing accuracy and efficiency.

Common features include:

  • Heavy-duty roller beds

  • High performance drive motors

  • Integrated axle weighing systems

  • DVSA compliant testing software

  • Tablet or PC based control systems

  • Automatic brake efficiency calculation

  • Vehicle database storage

  • Optional load simulation systems

These features allow technicians to perform accurate brake testing on heavy vehicles while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Installation and Support

GEMCO supplies and installs commercial vehicle roller brake testers across the UK for ATF lanes, commercial workshops and fleet maintenance facilities.

Our team provides full support including equipment installation, DVSA compliant setup, calibration and ongoing maintenance services to ensure reliable brake testing performance.

We can advise on the correct brake tester configuration based on workshop layout, vehicle types and testing requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions about commercial Brake Testers

  • An HGV brake tester is a heavy-duty roller brake testing system used to measure the braking performance of trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles.

  • Commercial vehicle brake testers are designed to test trucks, HGVs, buses, trailers, coaches and other large vehicles used in transport and logistics.

  • Yes. Commercial vehicle roller brake testers are commonly installed in Authorised Testing Facilities where statutory brake testing is carried out.

  • HGV brake testers are designed for much higher axle loads and include heavier roller beds, more powerful motors and larger measurement systems than standard car brake testers.

  • Yes. Brake testers used in official testing lanes must comply with DVSA specifications and be calibrated to ensure accurate brake performance measurements.