Summer is a time to relax for most coach operators. Make the most of it while it lasts, says our expert
The sea is tranquil, the kids are building sandcastle, my wife is reading a book and I’m sitting on a sun lounger doing nothing apart from watching the world go by. It’s a million miles away from June and July and the height of the coaching season.
If I close my eyes, I can transport myself back to that time in seconds, and go to any random day over those two months.
Monday
1030hrs: A part-time driver, one who already does more hours than he wishes to, strolls into my office. “Just to let you know, I found a great deal on a cruise for me and my wife. We go tomorrow.”
My mouth says all the right things about that being great news and that they will really enjoy it. In my mind, I’m wondering whether I can force him to stay and work using a foam double-decker bus that I was given once.
1430hrs: A driver is struck down by a sickness bug and needs relieving. A straw poll at the depot reveals that there is only the office staff and myself left on site. A quick timetable print-out and off out I go.
Wednesday
I receive a call from a driver. “I have just caught the coach on a wall by the school.” In this case, there are only three questions:
- Are you OK?
- Are there any passenger or third-party injuries?
- Is the coach still useable?
You can choose your own order of importance. I get the golden ticket: Yes, no and yes. Then it’s time for a trip into the workshop to tell the bodywork staff that they will be working late this evening.
Thursday
I return to the depot from a swimming baths run. I had forgotten that we do so many.
I’m then told that a school is having such a great time on a trip that the teachers have decided to stay for another half an hour, so the two coaches on that job will not be back for their afternoon contracts.
There’s not a coach in the yard. We are going to have to get creative.
Friday
The last day of term. A part-time driver is back from his cruise, looking tanned and relaxed. I am genuinely happy for him.
Fleet utilisation is at 145% (we have 20-odd vehicles). I sit in my office hoping that nobody knocks on the door with bad news.
1800hrs: The last coaches have returned from the various theme parks. Every school has now finished for the summer. It’s over.
The people who work in our office tell me I’m obsessed with figures and always comparing KPIs. I want to know how we’re performing and where we need to improve. Over the last two months, we have covered every job, every school and every holiday, and we didn’t have a single breakdown.
The coach that was damaged was put right the same night. Our fellow operators, who we have worked with for years and who have again subbed for us, didn’t miss a beat.
Drivers to a man (or woman) put the hours in and made the jobs fit together that they didn’t think would. The office bought us time to sort problems when coaches were running late, with efficiency and good humour.
I am proud of us all. Cocktail anybody?
Enjoy what’s left of the summer.
