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 […]
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 […]