Supporting coach drivers for over 35 years, the Coach Drivers’ Club is inviting coach operators to spread the word of its wide range of benefits available to their drivers
Camaraderie among coach drivers is undeniable.
Ask any coach driver and most will say that their career is a way of life, as well as a means of putting food on the table.
And from knowing where to park their coach, to understanding drivers’ hours rules and rest periods, a coach driver’s role is varied and fraught with rules and safety concerns.
That’s where the Coach Drivers’ Club (CDC) comes in.
Since 1982 the CDC has not only been bringing professional drivers together, but providing them with vital information, advice and support needed for them to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of their profession.
Headed up by a team that is passionate about the coach and bus industry, the CDC understands the significance of coach drivers’ contributions to the industry, and the importance of enhancing their status and professionalism throughout the UK.
Tracey Harrison, CDC Membership Team Manager, says: “Through a monthly magazine, social media and phone calls, we strive to assist coach drivers in making the most of their profession and give guidance wherever possible.”
Joining the Club
Annual membership to the Club is free and with this, members receive a welcome letter, a membership card, access to the password-secured sections of the CDC website, and they can also view online editions of the Club’s monthly magazine – CDC News.
Optional add-ons include 12 copies of CDC News for £16.99 and the CDC Tourism Yearbook, which CDC members can purchase at a discounted rate of £16.99 (£29.99 + postage for non-members).
Sectioned into regions, the CDC Tourism Yearbook provides coach parking details for towns and cities across the UK. It also includes listings of destinations, visitor attractions, meal stop locations, coach drop-off and pick-up points, and other points of interest – all the information coach tour drivers will find invaluable on the road.
Says Tracey: “The Yearbook – often referred to by drivers as ‘the coach driver’s bible’ – is a mammoth task each year. However, it is important that we get it right so that we are providing an up-to-date and beneficial resource to our members.
“We have lots of new additions currently being worked on for next year’s edition, which we can’t wait to share with members in due course.”
Available either online or in print, CDC News keeps drivers informed on the news affecting them and the coach industry in general.
Says Membership Executive Martha King: “As well as news, features in the magazine cover a variety of topics, from legal advice, product reviews and court reports, to interviews with CDC members and destination pieces that focus on a particular coach-friendly location.
“CDC News also has its lighter side, with monthly polls, new member bios and puzzles – with prizes up for grabs – to while away driving breaks.”
The benefits
As well as these publications, the CDC’s website includes industry-related news, full details of all the member benefits, and a search engine to find out coach parking details.
This is all free to coach drivers who are current members with a log-in, says Martha.
Adds Tracey: “Coach drivers can call us to sign up to the Club, renew their existing membership, or purchase CDC News or the Yearbook, but this can all be done via our website too.
“As the website is mobile phone-friendly, drivers can search for coach parking details on their phones, rather than having to download an app.”
Additionally, the CDC also has a closed Facebook page, which provides the ideal forum for coach drivers to share their on-the-road experiences and ask their peers for work-related advice, says Tracey.
For coach drivers who require work-related legal advice, they can rest assured that they are covered as members of the Club, with free legal advice available courtesy of transport solicitor Andrew Sanderson.
There’s more
Historically, the CDC has been all about assisting professional drivers in their day-to-day working life. However, more recently, the Club has started to focus on providing benefits for drivers’ outside of their work capacity as well.
“The Club will always be about supporting professional drivers in their day job, but we decided that it would be great to offer them off-duty benefits too,” says Martha.
“We have teamed up with a number of attractions to offer members such things as free sightseeing cruises in a variety of locations, free attraction tickets, and discounted food and drink. What’s more, these discounts also include the coach driver’s family.”
Other benefits include money off a home security video system, gift experiences and optical services.
Furthermore, with CDC Insurance – in partnership with Cornmarket – coach drivers are rewarded for their professional driving skills by being offered discounted car insurance.
Says Tracey: “We’re asking operators to put up the CDC poster included in this week’s issue of routeone somewhere their coach drivers will be able to see it, so that their drivers can join the 1,000s already taking advantage of all the benefits the Club has to offer.”
