In Brief
Pre-season inspection — before the May–September peak — catches deferred failures before they cause roadside breakdowns. PHS Magnum checks 12 systems including TDT-critical pressure fittings, pneumatic aeration, brakes and EBS. A full pre-season service takes 4–8 hours. March and April slots fill quickly — early booking is essential.
End of winter is the time when fleets return to full capacity. Silo trailers that worked through harsher conditions — frost, road salt, material fatigue — enter the season carrying deferred problems. At PHS Magnum, with 30 years of experience, we know what fails most often and how to catch it before the vehicle leaves the yard.
What you can’t see — and what it costs
Experienced operators know that silo trailers don’t break down “suddenly.” A typical scenario: a minor leak at a safety valve, which wasn’t a problem for a month — until a TDT inspector or client at unloading detects the leak. The trailer comes back. The client files a complaint. Downtime.
The cost of that downtime — losing one delivery run is often €700–2,000 — is many times higher than the cost of a preventive valve replacement (€70–170 including labour).
What we check in a seasonal inspection
At PHS Magnum, a silo trailer seasonal inspection covers a systematic check of every module:
Pneumatic system
- Compressor — working pressure and maximum pressure test, seal and belt inspection
- Safety valves — opening test at correct pressure (no calibration = TDT disqualification)
- Ball and butterfly valves — pressure seal integrity, PTFE seal condition
- Pneumatic hoses — cracks, abrasion, trace leaks
- Gauges and thermometers — current calibration certificates (TDT requirement)
Tank and chambers
- Sight glasses — cleanliness, seal integrity, no cracks
- Hatches and lids — seal and tension bolt condition
- Tank interior — previous cargo residues, caking, corrosion at nozzles
- Loading and unloading nozzles — geometry, no deformation, seal condition
Undercarriage and chassis
- Chassis corrosion — especially at the lower section and axle mounts
- Suspension — air bags, linkage rods, shock absorbers
- Lighting — any failed lamp is grounds for ITD roadside stop
- ADR markings — panels, stickers, number values
When to inspect versus when to replace outright?
For pneumatic fittings, our rule is: if a component is over 5 years old and shows signs of wear — replace it without waiting for a failure. A safety valve that works “almost correctly” is worse than no valve — it creates a false sense of security.
High-quality DN100/150 ball valves (BRAY, EBRO, VAG) cost €50–120. A failure at the customer’s site — lost contract, towing and field repair costs — is many times more.
Planning inspections for larger fleets
Divide your fleet into two groups — trailers with TDT inspection due this year and the rest — and stagger inspections alternately. So they never all fall due at the same time.
At PHS Magnum we service fleets from 5 to over 30 silo trailers. For regular clients we maintain service records — we know when each valve was last replaced and when the next gauge calibration is due.
Book in advance
Spring and summer is peak service season. March and April slots fill up quickly. If you want your vehicle checked and ready for the May transport peaks — contact us now.
Location: Chorula near Opole, Poland – 4 km from the A4 motorway. ISO 9001:2015 certified. Invoicing in EUR available.
Tel: +48 602 716 551 | Roland Sobota (TDT inspections): +48 504 788 385
Related: Silo trailer service · TDT inspection preparation · Pneumatic system repair
