Notes on a gloomy economy and other bright moments

Not so long ago the government and other optimists were reluctant to acknowledge any sort of economic slowdown, let alone a recession. What a contrast with the here and now. Today there certainly is no shortage of doomsayers.

Four County Transit staves off drought

Rain is grace, wrote the late author John Updike. In southwest Virginia, Four County Transit (FCT) has found his notion to be very true. Over the course of two stormy days this past winter FCT managed to captured 10,000 gallons of precious rainwater — enough to wash 400 buses.

Xcelsior gives a spirited ride

Xcelsior is more than a name at New Flyer. The company believes the tag encapsulates its spirit of continuous improvement, seeing this new 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid vehicle as the next step in the customer-centric evolution of transit buses.

Lil’ Easy works for the Big Easy

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In the New Orleans Lower 9th Ward, a ride on one of three 14-seat Lil’ Easy Dodge Sprinters requires a reservation.

In October 2008 the New Orleans Regional Transportation Authority (NORTA) contracted Veolia Transportation to take over operations in the first turn-key, delegated management contract of its kind in the United States. Veolia Transportation immediately committed to a strategic rebalancing of service for the citizens of post-Katrina New Orleans with its unique proprietary EasyBus, an on-demand circulator service.

When the going gets tough…

A down economy presents challenges of every sort. One of the subtler is to nail down the one maxim that keeps everything in perspective. Over the last couple of months I have talked and listened to motorcoach operators and industry leaders who only reconfirmed my belief that when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.

Measure then manage

Along with rising insurance rates bus companies also face growing concerns and exposures from a competitive standpoint. In this environment a growing number of carriers are evaluating their operations carefully in order to make improvements and create a roadmap for long-term success.

Don’t move that bus!

It is not very often a motorcoach gets a spot on primetime television. But on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the show just would not be complete without its bus.

Raise the seatbacks; raise the bar

Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) handed down a landmark rule that addresses the ongoing debate of seatbelt use on school buses. Among other changes, the rule requires an increase in the seatback height on both large and small school buses and mandates the installation of three-point seatbelts on smaller buses.

Shorter tours keep operators afloat

Tour operators have weathered a faltering economy with a focus on short trips and the continued draw of several favorite destinations.

What a difference a driver makes

Hiring and retaining highly qualified drivers is among an operator’s greatest challenges. With increased ridership and greater focus on public transportation, the pressure to find safe and responsible drivers becomes more crucial as bus operations experience further expansion, but it is not necessarily risky business.