Getting your financial house in order No house stands without a sturdy foundation, and the same can be said of a motorcoach operator’s “financial house.” Without basic fundamentals in recordkeeping, accurate financial information and benchmarking, no motorcoach operator can grow their business or have a successful and profitable business. Charabanc, Atlanta, GA, is a diversified […]
Raising expectations with a low-floor By Ken Becker We all know the commercial bus industry can be both challenging and rewarding. However, the challenges we experience are trivial in comparison to what people with disabilities face every day of their lives. One friend who is faced with real challenges is Kristina Rhoades. She is a […]
How to get the most out of fleet inspection data By Kevin Price Monitoring and ensuring the health of the fleet: it can be a well-managed, efficient process or something much more haphazard. Having vehicles out of service when least expected and possibly when needed most creates safety, cost and potentially legal issues. How can […]
Camera surveillance systems: Where’s the evidence? By Colin Smith Why do agencies use camera surveillance systems on buses? We can ultimately consolidate their uses into two major categories: enhancing visibility and affecting crime. While many providers tout these as true, we often lack evidentiary knowledge. Let’s examine further. First, let’s examine the claim that cameras […]
The Van Hool TDX25 Improvements to the double-deck round out the 2015 Van Hool line By David Hubbard On any weekday, shiny Van Hool double-deck coaches are on the move in the San Francisco Bay area, transporting employees to and from their occupations along State Highway 101. Such high-end employee shuttle service on luxury coaches […]
Fire-Resistant Cushioning Adding Safety to Bus Interiors By Anthony Tomasello & Alicia Dixon Safety is naturally a major concern when it comes to public transportation. Compliance to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is often assumed to be sufficient in keeping passengers safe. But what if there is more that should be done, specifically with […]
Lap and shoulder belts aid maintenance By Roberto Montoya The need to provide greater protection for intercity and touring passengers has been a priority in recent years for the North American motorcoach industry. Years of analysis, testing and joint efforts between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and various representatives of the industry have […]
The science of the three-point seat belt By Jürgen Mill Since the majority of new over-the-road buses will need FMVSS 210-compliant three-point-safety belts, it’s important to note that they are perhaps the greatest single device in making transportation safer. When the first three-point seat belts became mandatory for motorcoaches in many European countries about 25 […]
Volvo launches all-electric bus Chinese manufacturers have made the greatest progress in developing and introducing full size all-electric transit buses, capable of all-day operation. In Europe, the major manufacturers have been slower to go down the all-electric route. The main manufacturers make their own diesel engines, often shared with much higher truck volumes, and understandably […]
Setting performance targets for key indicators By Mary Sue O’Melia You have decided on key performance indicators (KPI), identified data sources and started collecting data. You can now monitor if you are getting better or worse relative to prior periods. But how do you know if you are good and getting better or are just […]