Being well-equipped when heading off on tour is vital. CPT’s Operations Team is here to help you
In some professions the onset of summer means a bit of a quiet time. A lull in the working year perhaps, however not in our case.
Politically speaking, the Parliamentary Recess has meant no let up so far as CPT is concerned. In addition to lobbying hard on all of the issues affecting our members, we are preparing for the forthcoming Transport Select Committee Inquiry into the health of the bus market as well as making sure that our voice is heard in the run up to the Comprehensive Spending Review, which we believe is not too far away.
On the bus side, travel patterns will undoubtedly change due to the lack of the school run, but our passengers still need services to take them to holiday clubs, tourist attractions, leisure facilities and wherever else takes their fancy during the summer holidays.
Expert advice
The readers of this magazine do not need me to tell them what the summer season means for coach operators. However, more than ever before, coach operators must make sure that they are fully prepared when heading off on tour (particularly those undertaking continental work).
We are increasingly aware of operators being caught out by obscure legal requirements of European countries and then having to pay hefty fines. These could and should have been avoided. CPT does its best to make sure that its members don’t fall foul of local laws in the first place.
If you call our Operations Team you will receive expert advice and guidance to assist you with preparations for your journey. CPT will also provide you with a number of helpful checklists and supporting guidance documents available to members, all of which can be accessed from our online Compliance Manual.
It does not stop there. You may be stopped by the local enforcement agency and find yourself subject to a fine which you simply do not understand and, in some cases, is completely unjustified.
Language barriers
How do you argue your case if you are unable to speak or understand the local language? This is where CPT’s translation and interpretation service, provided by our Commercial Partner LanguageLine Solutions, can step in. LanguageLine Solutions has a proven track record of saving coach operators many thousands of pounds over the years, so do make sure that you and your drivers have their details readily available each and every time one of your vehicles heads into Europe.
All of this brings us back to the headline at the top of the page. To ‘be prepared’ does make you a boy scout; but it does mean that by being a member of CPT you can make full use of the services on offer.
Have a great summer.
