A survey of nearly 1,400 ArrivaClick customers in Merseyside has found the service is encouraging more people to swap cars and taxis for public transport. ArrivaClick is an on-demand minibus service that responds to customer demand through an app. It was launched as a pilot in Sittingbourne, Kent, in 2017. Services have been extended to […]
Arriva Bus & Coach is planning a workshop expansion and more than doubling its service team at its satellite aftersales unit in Wellingborough. The site – which was once the HQ for Van Hool – has been an unsung hero of the operation for many years, with much easier access from the Midlands and southern […]
The Confederation of Passenger Transport has warned that, if the UK exits the EU without a deal on 31 October, severe disruption of Channel-bound traffic is likely. “The most up to date estimates currently modelled by the Border Delivery Group are that during the first three weeks after a no-deal BREXIT the flow of HGVs […]
I see that Newcastle’s promising start to setting an agenda for a Clean Air Zone has collapsed into weak-kneed populism. The initial idea was to stifle car use with a congestion charge and/or bridge tolls but after the consultation encouraged 19,000 angry responses from car drivers, the spineless local authority has caved in, thereby ensuring […]
For most coach operators and indeed bus operators who hire buses to groups, the words ‘private hire’ cover a whole range of business, which presents itself as an opportunity to either fill in gaps around the bread and butter contract business, or as an enterprise. But what exactly is ‘private hire’? The dictionary definition is:- […]
On Target is a title that sums up my philosophy. We are all target driven in business, or should be, as that is the only way we can measure our success or otherwise. My company is long established as am I and with some very capable people supporting me, I find myself with time to […]
By far the biggest issue in our wonderful industry is the shortage of drivers in the bus sector, but even more so, a shortage of good coach drivers. There are many ‘steering wheel attendants’ who have no pride in their profession and use their licence to fill in between their perceived ‘proper job’ – for […]
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 […]