Handbrake Alarm

What is Tail Swing?

Tail swing is the rear-end movement of a large vehicle, typically a truck, bus, or trailer, which swings out in the opposite direction of the front of the vehicle during a turn.

This creates a wide arc at the rear, which can lead to damage to nearby vehicles, roadside infrastructure, or pedestrians if sufficient space is not allowed.

The extent of tail swing depends on:

• The distance between the rear axle and the end of the vehicle or trailer
• The angle and tightness of the turn

As vehicle lengths increase, particularly with the use of Longer Semi-Trailers (LSTs), and with the introduction of rear-steer axles on trailers and buses, tail swing has become a more significant and visible risk in day-to-day operations.

How Can Tail Swing be Managed?

Tail swing cannot be eliminated, as it is a natural result of vehicle geometry. However, the risk can be reduced by improving driver awareness at the point of manoeuvre.

SCC’s approach is to provide an early warning to the driver when an object is at risk of being struck.

Sensors are positioned at the rear of the vehicle or trailer, at the point where tail swing is most pronounced. When an object is detected within a defined range, both audible and visual warnings are provided to the driver in the cab, indicating the side of the potential hazard.

As the vehicle moves closer to the object, the warning escalates, allowing the driver to adjust their manoeuvre and avoid a collision.

Understanding X-Wire Technology

Developed by SCC Worldwide, X-Wire is a unique communication technology that allows a camera and/or sensors installed at the rear of a vehicle to communicate with a display at the front of the vehicle by sending a coded encapsulated signal down the vehicle’s existing wiring loom. This provides all the advantages of Wi-Fi camera systems but without any of the pitfalls, as the system is still hardwired and does not require any pairing.

Key Components of X-Wire

Unlike conventional systems, X-Wire requires no additional cabling as it uses the vehicle’s existing wiring to communicate between front and rear. All an installer requires is a front and rear X-Wire module; once they have been installed, the existing vehicle wiring does the rest.

Crucially, X-Wire technology has been designed to work with any camera products currently available on the market, not only those sold by SCC.

Both front and rear modules are housed in high grade anodized extruded aluminium, ensuring lasting durability in some of the most extreme and unforgiving working conditions.

SCC are proud members of Made in Britain and X-Wire, like a number of their other innovations, is designed and manufactured in the UK

X-Wire comes with a three year warranty as standard.

Advantages of X-Wire

• No additional cabling saves hours on installation time:
  – significantly reduces installation costs
  – means vehicles can get back out on the road earning sooner.
• No extra suzies again reduces installation time and costs and also means one less thing for drivers to do.
• Automatic communication between tractor and trailer when the two are connected up as normal; no additional input from the driver is required.
• Universal Fleet Compatibility, meaning any tractor with a front X-Wire module will automatically communicate with any trailer with a rear X-Wire module without any additional pairing or input required from the driver.
• Safety can never be compromised due to human error.
• Not Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other “through the air” method, meaning there is no risk or mispairing or of any outside interference affecting the quality of the image.

Conclusions: The Future of X-Wire

One area in truck safety that has been largely overlooked in the past, but is being discussed more and more in recent safety developments, is the rear of trucks, especially articulated ones. Anyone who has worked with trucks will be fully aware of the fact that this is the most dangerous part of the vehicle, yet to date there is very little included in the different standards that stipulates anything to protect this area.

However, as with everything this is set to change, and sooner rather than later, as version 7 of FORS, that came into force in January 2025, already stipulates that rigids over 7.5 tonnes shall be fitted with a camera system that monitors the rear vehicle blind spot. How many further versions will there be of FORS, DVS, or any other standards, before this becomes mandatory for all vehicles, not just rigids?

By installing X-Wire on their vehicles, operators will not only be ensuring they are at the forefront of vehicle safety, but it means their vehicles will be ready for any further changes that are introduced to any of the pre-existing standards, like FORS and DVS, whilst also pre-empting any new ones that may be introduced.