IRTE Northern Centre

Recently, IRTE Northern Centre Committee member, Rhian Hughes MIRTE MSOE attended the Royal Lancashire Show!

Whilst there, Rhian visited the team at Multevo UK , who are friends of the Centre.

Did you go to the show?

The IRTE Northern Centre rounded off the 2025 -26 schedule of planned CPD presentations with their first TechKNOW evening held at the Barton Manor Hotel near Preston.

The event was created to allow technicians (members/Non-Members) to visit the centre and be introduced to the advantages of being a member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers as well as meet some trade representatives who were on hand to give advice.

A remarkable turnout of 72 members and guests were in attendance and those present were initially allowed some time to circulate between the trade representatives of MEI, Renault Trucks (JDS), VTS Diagnostics, Fox Group and LTS (Lancaster Trading Services) and the local IRTE Centre representatives who were in attendance.

As a result of the head office staff from SOE being unable to attend the inaugural event, IRTE Northern Centre stalwart, who was the event co-ordinator, Chris Grime gave those present an informative presentation on the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) that was forwarded to him earlier that day by head office in London.

Chris covered the topic in much detail showing how the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) is brought to the industry by the unity of trade organisations with a primary goal of improving industry standards and professional practices, within commercial vehicle maintenance. ​

He explained that the initiative is there to propel forward the standards in commercial vehicle workshop compliance to new levels of engineering excellence.

The presentation showed how the scheme that is backed by the Traffic Commissioners and the associated government bodies is making MPRS the next generation of compliance in commercial vehicle workshop accreditation, that is in-line with all the future needs and expectations of the road transport industry.

Upon completion of the presentation an informative Q and A session was undertaken that covered not only the topics within the MPRS presentation, but also individual benefits of membership of the SOE/IRTE.

Happy Father’s Day to all dads from the Committee, members and guests of the IRTE Northern Centre!

We hope you’ve had a great day!

The IRTE Northern Centre May CPD event was a factory visit to the JOST GB premises in Heywood.

Jannine Burt, UK & Ireland Fleet Sales Manager and Paul Clayton, UK Technical Sales and Support Manager hosted the evening which started with presentation setting out the structure of JOST GB explaining what the wide range of sections of the business offered including Hyva, Quicke, Jost, Rockinger and Tridec.

The presentation demonstrated the many JOST innovations not least of which was the KKS fully automatic articulated trailer coupling system. This cutting edge system allows the driver to couple and uncouple a trailer without leaving the driving position in the tractor unit and includes the fifth wheel coupling operation, electrical and air line connections and lowering and raising the landing legs.

The presentation was rounded off with a question and answer session before heading outside to see a comprehensive and very impressive live demonstration of the KKS system on the JOST tractor unit and trailer. A truly amazing technological development for the industry which will no doubt lead to a safer and more efficient logistics industry.

The IRTE Northern Centre Committee were please to attend the Charlie’s Convoy vehicle display held at Great Eccleston in Lancashire in May.

Committee member John Haworth and Hon. Secretary Neil Mitchell went along as guest judges for the debut of the vintage commercial vehicle class at the annual charity event.

After viewing the vehicles on display, they decided to award the best-in-class accolade to Chris McGarrie from Longton near Preston, who was displaying and then taking part in the road run with a 1969 Atkinson tractor unit.

The lorry was acquired by his family who are engaged in haulage operations with a fleet of modern Scania tractor units around 4 years ago after observing it on an internet auction site, and have put it through a major renovation to bring it up to the condition that it is now presently in.

The vehicle that is fitted with a Gardner 6LXB engine and was originally in-service for many years with Bassetts of Tittensor engaged in general haulage operations before passing into private ownership.

Photo
L to R

Chris McGarrie and John Haworth

Chris McGarrie collects his trophy and certificate

Modern fleet with the Atkinson

Restoration work

Old original livery

The IRTE Northern Centre Young Engineers of the Year Awards 2026 is next month!

This is your opportunity to nominate a young employee/student base in South Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester & Merseyside who is engaged in Road Transport Engineering for these four prestigious annual awards

-Young HGV & PCV Road Transport Engineers of the Year - Post Apprenticeship
-Young HGV & PCV Apprentices of the Year

The employee/student you nominate can be a Technician, Auto Electrician, Painter or Body Repair Technician

For your information pack call the Hon. Secretary: 07715 321 682
or email: [email protected]

The IRTE Northern Centre are pleased & honoured to be asked to get involved with this local event.

Some of our committee members will be present on Saturday to view & judge the vintage Commercial Vehicle category.

Gates open at 10am - Saturday 16th May - At Great Eccleston Showfield

Following the invitation from the IRTE Northern Centre to attend their Dinner Dance in November and use it as a platform for their fundraising activities the invitation was reversed at the beginning of May when members of the Northern Centre committee were invited to attend the headquarters of Heartbeat NWCC in Preston.

The purpose of the visit was to show the committee members the work undertaken by the north west’s leading cardiac prevention and rehabilitation charity.

The committee were first given a tour of the facility that is located within the Preston North End complex at Deepdale that includes multiple gym and monitoring studios as well as learning and relaxing areas.

A relaxed quiz and test were then undertaken to gauge the knowledge of those in attendance that centred around the topic of the heart and related body systems, before a learning presentation was given to the committee, that included first aid responder actions and better living advice and health tips.

The evening was completed with a practical session in which all the attendees were then encouraged to get involved in revival practices and monitoring their own personal wellness.

The staff at HEARBEAT were thanked on behalf of the Northern Centre committee for the opportunity to have visited the centre by Hon. Chairman Tom Reed at the end of the learning session.

https://www.heartbeat-nwcc.org.uk/