The weather is getting colder but motorists can be confident that new hi-tech equipment in the Black Country will keep roads clear as salt levels are monitored during gritting.

Wolverhampton-based Tarmac is using an integrated salt tracking system to maintain close attention to stock levels to avoid a shortage.

Bad weather last year saw stocks of grit across the region run dangerously low.

Grit bins were plundered as the scramble for dwindling supplies escalated.

Tarmac agreed a £30 million contract with Walsall Council earlier this year to carry out road maintenance across the whole of the town.

Bay sensors detect Tarmac’s salt stocks and when an agreed trigger level is reached a new delivery is made to Tarmac within two days.

Quantities are also recorded on an on-line stock management database, ensuring that enough salt is available to grit roads.

The management system is being used by Tarmac National Contracting as part of a deal with Salt Union, a leading UK supplier of rock salt.

Walsall Council transport chief Councillor Tom Ansell said: “By working with Tarmac we are working with leaders in the field who can bring cutting edge ideas into play.

“A lot of hard work is being done to keep the roads moving that people are not always aware of. This is another example of that.”

Nine gritters used by Tarmac are fitted with on-board weighing systems which monitor the amount of salt loaded onto each of the vehicles.

The weighing sensors then detect how much salt is used on the region’s roads.

Drivers are able to keep tabs on the figures as a display screen inside shows the amount still available during gritting and a detailed record is kept for each delivery.