Cozy Travel’s depot in Sandy, Bedfordshire, played host to an event marking a number of anniversaries, including the operator’s own 40^th birthday and the 80^th of industry training body, the Institute of Transport Administration (IoTA). It also partly marked the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s (CPT’s) 50^th and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner’s 95^th anniversaries.

The link between IoTA and Cozy Travel is Greg Powell, Director at the operator and the training organisation’s National Chairman. Founded in 1944, the Institute retains its original objectives, dedicating its purpose to career development in the practice of transport management.

Presentations

The celebratory day included an official opening of Cozy’s new training centre at its depot by Senior Traffic Commissioner, Richard

Cozy Travel’s new training centre plaque is revealed

Turfitt, who took part in a two-way discussion on compliance with transport solicitor Laura Hadzik, Head of the Commercial Road Transport at legal firm JMW. The discussion took in the subjects of periods of grace, Transport Manager issues, vehicle maintenance, self-employed staff and trigger points for PIs. Read about the presentation here.

The DVSA demonstrated its new Hades-5 under-vehicle inspection robot and gave a presentation on how it is using technology to better target non-compliance. Read more about this here.

There was also a presentation from DVSA on its Earned Recognition scheme, where the Agency’s Phil Breen revealed some shocking statistics about minibuses serving Glastonbury Festival. Read about that here.

Exhibits

Other exhibits during the day included a heritage coach from Dews Coaches of Huntingdonshire, and the UK’s first hybrid coach, an Irizar i4, which is part of the Cozy Travel’s fleet. Other vehicles on display included various coaches from Cozy Travel, a Routemaster and a Yutong electric coach from Pelican Bus + Coach.

There were also stands representing the Worshipful Company of Carmen, C9 Recruitment, DVSA and the IoTA among others.