Having revealed my secrets on how to retain drivers in the last edition of On Target, let’s start at the beginning, attracting those from outside of our industry to join us as Bus and Coach Drivers. Note I said ‘outside of our industry,’ not pinching someone else’s driver, who already has a PCV licence. Ask […]

Allow me to explain the economics of training my own drivers from car licence level. Many of my fellow operators tell me they can’t afford to train drivers, instead relying on others to do it; or have potential drivers self-funding to get their ticket. I look at it this way; some employees change jobs for […]

Over the past few weeks, we have explored recruiting drivers, especially those who don’t presently drive buses or coaches for a living, and subsequently training them to PCV level. Having got this far – and given the expense of your brand-new recruits – how do you keep them? Well, firstly, don’t allow your operations people […]

Like many owners and directors in our industry, I hold and retain a PCV driving licence. For many years, we didn’t have to do anything other than submit to a medical every five years after the age of 45, and consequently I have had a few of the latter… so far with a clean bill […]

I have several Euro VI vehicles in my fleet, certainly enough to ensure I don’t pay fees to go anywhere, at least for now.  I also have a diesel car, but I won’t be able to pop into London without paying £12 as it is only Euro 5 spec. Not that I would want to […]

With the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone introduced on 8 April and the zone being extended to greater London for buses and coaches from October 2020, it has suddenly seen our industry wake up to the reality that we haven’t got the fleet to match. Admittedly the Mayor has brought this forward, but even so, […]

Private hire is flexible, and the traveling public’s perception is that certain times will cost more. However, I often find that my competitors charge much the same, without thinking about the time of year or a date. This is an opportunity missed. My view is, I will charge more where demand is likely greatest. That […]

Whichever the type of private hire, getting the price right is the hardest part. In theory, it follows the same rules as pricing a contract, as I explained in my school contract costing example. By the way, I won the contract, the school accepting that there was a need to recognise that coaches had to […]